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The Staggering Problems in Managing National Defense
George, Edwin B.
2/4  (Summer 1960): 73-83

The article focuses on the staggering problems in managing U.S. National Defense. In setting up military defenses, the U.S. Government is not dealing with firm values. Policy on defense posture itself is deployed in a two-front struggle. On the one, hand, this nation, as every other nation, must normally take calculated risks because of the impracticability of setting up perfect defenses against all contingencies. On the other hand, particularly as of now, many weapon concepts have been developed to the point that operating forces are demanding heavy production and sometimes premature adoption. The management problems thus thrust on the armed services are complicated by a prospect of flat appropriations over the next few years. More distinct problems, however, are created for business managers. Business management policies must be flexible enough to adjust to a national defense program that is liable to jump, sag or change shape. The ease with which the defense program can fluctuate will be better understood in light of the following analysis.

 

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