Disruptive solutions process
The disruptive solutions process (DSP) is a form of iterative, low-cost, first-to-market development created in 2005 by fighter pilot and United States Air Force/Air National Guard Colonel Edward Vaughan. It is primarily used by the Air National Guard to prevent mishaps during the combat operations process. Overview. The typical defense industry bureaucratic approach to problem-solving involves long lead times and relative inflexibility. Long development cycles and lead times results in solutions that are no longer relevant. Recent attempts to resolve inefficiencies include overwhelming the problem with funding, resources, and manpower—for example , major weapon systems development, such as a new fighter jet or IT system. Conversely, when resources are constrained, bureaucratic staff adopt continuous process improvement, similar to kaizen, total quality management, and Lean Six Sigma. This perpetuates low-value programs that should be eliminated, rather than "improved". Because most preventable safety mishaps are caused by human factors, safety should apply a disruptive, iterative approach that may not be appropriate in hardware-focused programs, such as aircraft production. To address the cultural issues associated with mishap prevention in a large bureaucracy, the Air National Guard safety directorate used Boyd's Observe, Orient , Decide, Act Loop to assess the effectiveness of the process. This was the origin of DSP. DSP is persistent and adaptive:"Persistence is about refusing to give up even in the face of adversity. Adaptation is about shortening the time to success through ingenuity and flexibility. 'Adaptive persistence' entails alternating between anticipation, changing course, and sticking with it, deftly navigating that paradox with aplomb." History. The disruptive solutions process was first used in 2004, when a joint team led by Vaughan created Project "Black Mountain". The project evolved from a combined requirement to share real-time tactical data among ground and  air forces, as well as avoid mid-air collisions within the area of responsibility. The term 'disruptive' was borrowed from the marketing term disruptive technologies. More recently, DSP has been used in the Air National Guard and the United States Air Force to field mishap prevention programs: On September 25, 2009, Dr. John Ohab of the American Forces Press Service interviewed Vaughan about DSP.