SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

ABSTRACTS

TOPICS

• Test and Evaluation Based on Metrics, Measures, Thresholds, and Indicators - The Department of Defense (DoD) makes acquisition decisions based, in large part, on test results and the evaluation of those results extrapolated to missions. The test and evaluation (T&E) community is tasked with determining the effectiveness and suitability of systems to meet mission needs. The mission need can be as simple as automating payroll or as complex as emulating large force-on-force military campaigns. The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of some common, but often misused, terms in the T&E process. The paper presents short examples that clarify the meaning of and the differences between measure, measurement, metric, threshold, and indicator.