Course

Course Summary
Credit Type:
Course
ACE ID:
DAU-0270
Organization's ID:
ACQ 315 or ACQ 315V
Organization:
Defense Acquisition University
Location:
Hybrid
Length:
4.5 days (ILT) or 5 days (38 hours) (VILT).
Dates Offered:
Credit Recommendation & Competencies
Level Credits (SH) Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate 2 management
Description

Objective:

This course covers a wide range of business acumen competencies including industry orientation, organization, cost and financial planning, business strategy/development, supplier management, incentives, and negotiating strategies. Business skills will be learned on aligning company strategies, finances, and operations that motivate company decisions to meet their business goals, gain fair and reasonable profits, while providing best taxpayer value to the government on defense products

Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe how a company’s organization adapts to strategy, resource capacity, and program phase.
  • Use standard company financial reports and metrics to assess a company’s financial health to enable best-value program decisions.
  • Explain the cost accounting basics defense companies use to manage direct, indirect costs, and rates for proposals and program execution.
  • Describe the importance of defense company cost estimating requirements, methods, and key process elements.
  • Identify and assess company management challenges in optimizing prime/sub-contractor relationships and decisions in its supply chain.
  • Assess opportunities and constraints companies weigh in prioritizing market opportunities, B&P resourcing, teaming, and strategy.
  • Apply strategies defense companies use to incentivize their workforce at various levels.
  • Develop a company negotiating strategy using business acumen tools that promotes a fair profit and better taxpayer deal.
  • Explain how scope and diversity of the current industry landscape influences companies’ methods of competing for defense contracts

General Topics:

  • Historical background of DoD industry evolution Large (first tier) and medium (second tier) small business strategies and processes DoD industry macro issues Direct, indirect costs Stakeholder constraints Role of external organizations, e.g., Securities Exchange Commission, rating agencies, accounting firms, etc. Financial statements Cash flow analysis Cost and financial accounting principles Standard cost estimating methods Outsourcing Financial metrics Bid & Proposal (B&P), Independent Research & Development (IR&D) and internal Research & Development funds Business intelligence Proposal analysis Financial metrics Negotiation process basics
Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Strategies:

  • Case Studies
  • Classroom Exercise
  • Discussion
  • Learner Presentations
  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

Methods of Assessment:

  • Case Studies
  • Examinations
  • Performance Rubrics (Checklists)
  • Presentations

Minimum Passing Score:

80%
Supplemental Materials