Making the Soldier Decisive on Future Battlefields

Making the Soldier Decisive on Future Battlefields
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2013-06-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309284538

The U.S. military does not believe its soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines should be engaged in combat with adversaries on a "level playing field." Our combat individuals enter engagements to win. To that end, the United States has used its technical prowess and industrial capability to develop decisive weapons that overmatch those of potential enemies. In its current engagement-what has been identified as an "era of persistent conflict"- the nation's most important weapon is the dismounted soldier operating in small units. Today's soldier must be prepared to contend with both regular and irregular adversaries. Results in Iraq and Afghanistan show that, while the U.S. soldier is a formidable fighter, the contemporary suite of equipment and support does not afford the same high degree of overmatch capability exhibited by large weapons platforms-yet it is the soldier who ultimately will play the decisive role in restoring stability. Making the Soldier Decisive on Future Battlefields establishes the technical requirements for overmatch capability for dismounted soldiers operating individually or in small units. It prescribes technological and organizational capabilities needed to make the dismounted soldier a decisive weapon in a changing, uncertain, and complex future environment and provides the Army with 15 recommendations on how to focus its efforts to enable the soldier and tactical small unit (TSU) to achieve overmatch.

Measuring Performance and Benchmarking Project Management at the Department of Energy

Measuring Performance and Benchmarking Project Management at the Department of Energy
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2005-08-01
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 0309181763

In 1997, Congress, in the conference report, H.R. 105-271, to the FY1998 Energy and Water Development Appropriation Bill, directed the National Research Council (NRC) to carry out a series of assessments of project management at the Department of Energy (DOE). The final report in that series noted that DOE lacked an objective set of measures for assessing project management quality. The department set up a committee to develop performance measures and benchmarking procedures and asked the NRC for assistance in this effort. This report presents information and guidance for use as a first step toward development of a viable methodology to suit DOE's needs. It provides a number of possible performance measures, an analysis of the benchmarking process, and a description ways to implement the measures and benchmarking process.

Transforming Performance Measurement

Transforming Performance Measurement
Author: Dean Spitzer
Publisher: AMACOM
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2007-02-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0814430090

Performance improvement thought leader Dean Spitzer explains why performance measurement should be less about calculations and analysis and more about the crucial social factors that determine how well the measurements get used. Transforming Performance Measurement presents a breakthrough approach that will not only significantly reduce those dysfunctions, but also promote alignment with business strategy, maximize cross-enterprise integration, and help everyone to work collaboratively to drive value throughout your organization. Spitzer’s "socialization of measurement" process focuses on learning and improvement from measurement, and on the importance of asking such questions as: How well do our measures reflect our business model? How successfully are they driving our strategy? What should we be measuring and not measuring? Are the right people having the right measurement discussions? Performance measurement is a dynamic process that calls for an awareness of the balance necessary between seemingly disparate ideas: the technical and the social aspects of performance measurement. This book gives you assessment tools to gauge where you are now and a roadmap for moving, with little or no disruption, to a more "transformational" and mature measurement system. The book also provides 34 TMAPs, Transformational Measurement Action Plans, which suggest both well-accepted and "emergent" measures (in areas such as marketing, human resources, customer service, knowledge management, productivity, information technology, research and development, costing, and more) that you can use right away. Transforming Performance Measurement tells you not only what to measure, but how to do it -- and in what context -- to make a truly transformational difference in your enterprise.

Measuring and Improving Infrastructure Performance

Measuring and Improving Infrastructure Performance
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 132
Release: 1995-01-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309132568

The nation's physical infrastructure facilitates movement of people and goods; provides safe water; provides energy when and where needed; removes wastes; enables rapid communications; and generally supports our economy and quality of life. Developing a framework for guiding attempts at measuring the performance of infrastructure systems and grappling with the concept of defining good performance are the major themes of this book. Focusing on urban regions, within a context of national policy, the volume provides the basis for further in-depth analysis and application at the local, regional, state, and national levels.

Actionable Performance Measurement

Actionable Performance Measurement
Author: Marvin T. Howell
Publisher: Quality Press
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2005-06-30
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1636940684

Measurement is absolutely essential for any organization or company, functional area, department, business unit, project, or individual. Companies must know how their processes are performing, how well they are meeting customers’ needs, how targeted improvements are being achieved, and how management is doing. Accurate performance measures tell companies where they are, and to take action if they are not on track or if performance does not meet expectations.Actionable Performance Measurement presents many different methods to help readers develop metrics and performance measures. To aid in corporate measures development and strategic, tactical and/or business planning, a quick and effective method of identifying specific key results areas is outlined and explained. Both customer and employee focuses are presented: how to measure each, and how to develop good surveys. In addition, Howell explains several methods for setting realistic-but-stretch targets, as well as a technique for measuring “apples and oranges.”Readers will be able to measure employee and customer satisfaction, and be prepared to capably lead or be a member of a corporate or business unit measurement team to assess existing performance indicators effectiveness.Included is a student workbook to be used as a teaching tool in conjunction with the books.

Principles of Accounting Volume 2 - Managerial Accounting

Principles of Accounting Volume 2 - Managerial Accounting
Author: Mitchell Franklin
Publisher:
Total Pages: 746
Release: 2019-02-14
Genre:
ISBN: 9781680922943

A less-expensive grayscale paperback version is available. Search for ISBN 9781680922936. Principles of Accounting is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of a two-semester accounting course that covers the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting. This book is specifically designed to appeal to both accounting and non-accounting majors, exposing students to the core concepts of accounting in familiar ways to build a strong foundation that can be applied across business fields. Each chapter opens with a relatable real-life scenario for today's college student. Thoughtfully designed examples are presented throughout each chapter, allowing students to build on emerging accounting knowledge. Concepts are further reinforced through applicable connections to more detailed business processes. Students are immersed in the "why" as well as the "how" aspects of accounting in order to reinforce concepts and promote comprehension over rote memorization.

Measuring Performance in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Measuring Performance in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Author: Theodore H. Poister
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 315
Release: 2008-03-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 047036517X

In recent years, a commitment to increased accountability and improved performance has become essential in both governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. To help managers and executives in their ongoing quest for greater accountability and improved performance Theodore H. Poister, offers a comprehensive resource for designing and implementing effective performance measurement systems at the agency level. The ideas, tools, and processes in this vital resource will help organizations develop measurement systems to support such results-oriented management approaches as strategic management, results-based budgeting, performance management, process improvement, performance contracting, and employee incentive systems. Using this book as a guide, public and nonprofit organizations can accurately measure outputs, efficiency, productivity, effectiveness, service quality, and customer satisfaction, and use the resulting data to strengthen decision-making and improve agency and program performance. Read a Charity Channel review: http://charitychannel.com/publish/templates/?a=36&z=25

Incentives and Test-Based Accountability in Education

Incentives and Test-Based Accountability in Education
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 111
Release: 2011-10-18
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0309225078

In recent years there have been increasing efforts to use accountability systems based on large-scale tests of students as a mechanism for improving student achievement. The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a prominent example of such an effort, but it is only the continuation of a steady trend toward greater test-based accountability in education that has been going on for decades. Over time, such accountability systems included ever-stronger incentives to motivate school administrators, teachers, and students to perform better. Incentives and Test-Based Accountability in Education reviews and synthesizes relevant research from economics, psychology, education, and related fields about how incentives work in educational accountability systems. The book helps identify circumstances in which test-based incentives may have a positive or a negative impact on student learning and offers recommendations for how to improve current test-based accountability policies. The most important directions for further research are also highlighted. For the first time, research and theory on incentives from the fields of economics, psychology, and educational measurement have all been pulled together and synthesized. Incentives and Test-Based Accountability in Education will inform people about the motivation of educators and students and inform policy discussions about NCLB and state accountability systems. Education researchers, K-12 school administrators and teachers, as well as graduate students studying education policy and educational measurement will use this book to learn more about the motivation of educators and students. Education policy makers at all levels of government will rely on this book to inform policy discussions about NCLB and state accountability systems.

Performance Management in the Public Sector

Performance Management in the Public Sector
Author: Wouter Van Dooren
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2010-06-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1134197012

Tackling the key topics of reform and modernization, this important new book systematically examines performance in public management systems. The authors present this seminal subject in an informative and accessible manner, tackling some of the most important themes. Performance Management in the Public Sector takes as its point of departure a broad definition of performance to redefine major and basic mechanisms in public administration, both theoretically and in practice. The book: situates performance in some of the current public management debates; discusses the many definitions of ‘performance’ and how it has become one of the contested agendas of public management; examines measurement, incorporation and use of performance information; and explores the challenges and future directions of performance management. A must-read for any student or practitioner of public management, this core text will prove invaluable to anyone wanting to improve their understanding of performance management in the public sector.