PROPER USE OF OPEN STANDARDS FOR COMMONALITY AND COMPETITION

This paper will describe layers of open standards, demonstrate the problems of standard top-down requirements flow-down and derivation, and show how the standard Analysis-of-Alternatives, as used at highest levels of Department of Defense acquisition, is appropriate for use at lower levels. Examples of how to (and not to) use open-standards in systems engineering specifications for best commonality and competition will be provided, intended for use as templates in specifications.