High-Level Concepts for a Space Enterprise Portfolio Planning Framework

Abstract

Given the increasing complexity of the space domain, the need to acquire revolutionary and resilient space capabilities that can outpace a continually evolving threat environment and to operate as a highly synchronized enterprise in a joint all-domain fight has never been more critical. The complexity of establishing an integrated space enterprise architecture is driven by the physics of operating in space, the multi-domain capabilities required to enable assured space operations, and the increasingly hazardous and hostile environment of the space domain. The development and operation of an integrated, highly complex space enterprise requires that enterprise behaviors and performance are optimized over those of individual systems, or even individual mission areas. This enterprise level optimization requires investment decisions be made quickly and effectively across a complex portfolio of capabilities for the good of the enterprise. To enable this enterprise focus, a fundamentally new approach to investment decision-making is needed. The current DoD investment planning process, known as Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE), is not well suited to accomplish this task. The PPBE process does not utilize an integrated, data-driven approach; nor is it agile enough to enable continuous and coordinated reassessment of investment decisions across a complex and ever-changing portfolio tradespace. In order to address the rapidly evolving needs of the National Security Space (NSS) enterprise, specifically for the United States Space Force (USSF), the portfolio tradespace must be explored using new model-based, digital engineering methods and processes to enable data and analysis-driven investment decisions that can be evaluated continuously and optimized for the overall enterprise. This paper builds on a prior publication entitled the Five Pillars of Enterprise Portfolio Planning to define the concepts for an integrated, data and analysis-driven framework that will facilitate both the near-term and long-term portfolio planning necessary to establish a space enterprise architecture that aligns with stakeholder and user needs within inevitable budget constraints. This Enterprise Portfolio Planning Framework utilizes model-based systems engineering (MBSE), simulation, and data analysis approaches to serve as an “analytical engine” for the PPBE process. In order to demonstrate the value of the methodology, the framework will be applied to the USSF enterprise portfolio to evaluate and quantify a tradespace of portfolio alternatives using strategically defined scenarios, representing a range of stakeholder priorities and risk tolerances, that can be evaluated against a defined set of criteria.