Coming to grips with measures of effectiveness

✍ Scribed by Noel Sproles

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 131 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1098-1241
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1520-6858(2000)3:1<50::aid-sys4>3.0.co;2-u

✦ Synopsis

Although Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) are referred to in systems engineering documents such as EIA/IS-632, there is no universally accepted meaning for the term. This paper provides an overview of this important topic by suggesting a definition of MOEs. The role of MOEs as the standards for identifying successful solutions is examined. They are shown to be mission or purpose oriented and not concerned with the internal details of the solutions per se. A clear distinction is drawn between the MOEs as established by the stakeholder and the quantified MOE, or figure of merit, established as a result of the analysis and evaluation of particular solutions. MOEs are seen to be the precursor to, hence the engines of, test and evaluation and of criteria. A study of the roles of other forms of measures enables a clearer understanding of the role and nature of MOEs to be established.