A Q Methodology Study of Complex Adaptive System Emergence in the Defense Acquisition Structure

he Department of Defense's acquisition structure consists of multiple systems that are required to integrate with each other; the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) and Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) are two notable examples. Unfortunately, incongruence in the formal processes of the armed services' DAS and JCIDS organizations may lead to tensions with unintended consequences. These can include the formation of informal structures that operate outside the bounds of regulations. The purpose of this Q Methods study was to explore whether the conditions within each Military Service creates a level of adaptive tension that leads to self-organization and the emergence of complex adaptive systems (CAS). CAS theory describes how new structures emerge when formal systems and processes create insurmountable tension. Q Methodology was used to evaluate the perceptions of the lowest aggregate level in the DAS and JCIDS: the individual agent. Principal components analysis and varimax rotation of the Q Sorts conducted within the Army and Marine Corps were used to develop case studies of employee perceptions of the boundary conditions. The study's findings suggest that there is a considerable amount of tension between the requirements and acquisition systems. The factor loadings indicate that these tensions can lead to insurmountable obstacles causing paralysis in the process of reconciling requirements with their materiel solutions. This research supports DoD efforts to take holistic and systematic looks at these complex systems in order to improve processes, increase readiness, and decrease the...