Defence has a Force Design function, which, in the centralised strategic centre, is responsible for force structure assessments and force design decisions. Force Design has institutionalised a Defence Capability Assessment Program (DCAP), a process which kicks off by understanding changes to the strategic environment; qualifying and prioritising risks; developing capability investment options with an assessment of their value for money; and building a portfolio that fits within the budget envelope and schedules to deliver against strategic objectives. Defence needs to maintain a competitive edge and meet a wide range of Government-endorsed set of strategic objectives, imposing the need for a portfolio of diverse capability investments. This increases the complexity, and associated risks and costs of delivering on the portfolio. This presentation will attempt to put forward some ideas as to how complexity could be reduced at the design stage while still maintaining the requisite portfolio diversity.
