NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

1 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA MBA PROFESSIONAL REPORT Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool: Usage and Decision-Support for Performance Based Logistics By: Richard A. Clemens, Kristina K. Griffin, and James W. Grooms II December 2004 Advisors: Cary A. Simon, Don Eaton Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK i REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503.

2 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE December 2004 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED MBA Professional Report 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE: Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool: Usage and Decision-Support for Performance Based Logistics 6. AUTHOR(S) Richard A. Clemens, Kristina K. Griffin, and James W. Grooms II 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, CA 93943-5000 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Studies and Analysis Department Marine Corps Logistics Command MCLB Albany, GA 10. SPONSORING/ MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the Government. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

3 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) The Marine Corps is transforming its automated logistics programs to meet the increasingly complex operational requirements of the 21st Century. One program that is part of this transformation is the Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool (MERIT). Our research analyzed: how can MERIT be used as a decision support tool for performance based logistics (PBL) and what areas of MERIT are recommended for improvement. Included in the analysis is a description of current readiness procedures used in the Marine Corps, providing a point of comparison for how well MERIT enables the logistics transformation. The basis of our analysis was user perceptions, assessed by a user survey and focus groups. The conclusions of our analysis determined: MERIT has not received official Marine Corps endorsement for its continued use; MERIT is a valuable material readiness information tool used by the Marine Corps; there is a general lack of understanding by users regarding MERIT s logical architecture and operation; and there is a lack of training on MERIT throughout the Marine Corps.

4 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 179 14. SUBJECT TERMS Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool (MERIT), Performance Based Logistics (PBL), Material Readiness, Global Combat Support System Marine Corps (GCSS-MC), Equipment Readiness, Material Readiness, Decision Support Tool, Decision Support System 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT Unclassified 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE Unclassified 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT Unclassified 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UL ii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iii Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. MARINE CORPS EQUIPMENT READINESS INFORMATION TOOL: USAGE AND DECISION-SUPPORT FOR PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISTICS Richard A. Clemens, Major, United States Marine Corps Kristina K. Griffin, Major, United States Marine Corps James W. Grooms II, Captain, United States Marine Corps Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL December 2004 Authors: _____ Richard A.

5 Clemens _____ Kristina K. Griffin _____ James W. Grooms II Approved by: _____ Cary A. Simon, Lead Advisor _____ Don Eaton, Support Advisor _____ Douglas A. Brook, Dean Graduate SCHOOL of Business and Public Policy iv THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK MARINE CORPS EQUIPMENT READINESS INFORMATION TOOL: USAGE AND DECISION-SUPPORT FOR PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISTICS ABSTRACT The Marine Corps is transforming its automated logistics programs to meet the increasingly complex operational requirements of the 21st Century. One program that is part of this transformation is the Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool (MERIT).

6 Our research analyzed: how can MERIT be used as a decision support tool for performance based logistics (PBL) and what areas of MERIT are recommended for improvement. Included in the analysis is a description of current readiness procedures used in the Marine Corps, providing a point of comparison for how well MERIT enables the logistics transformation. The basis of our analysis was user perceptions, assessed by a user survey and focus groups. The conclusions of our analysis determined: MERIT has not received official Marine Corps endorsement for its continued use; MERIT is a valuable material readiness information tool used by the Marine Corps; there is a general lack of understanding by users regarding MERIT s logical architecture and operation; and there is a lack of training on MERIT throughout the Marine Corps. vi THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK viiTABLE OF CONTENTS I.

7 1 A. 1 B. 2 C. RESEARCH 2 D. SCOPE AND 2 1. 2 2. 2 E. ORGANIZATION OF 4 II. MERIT BACKGROUND AND 5 A. 5 B. HOW DOES MERIT WORK? .. 5 C. LOGICAL 7 D. MERIT 8 1. Funding 8 2. Development 11 E. WHY USE MERIT? .. 12 1. Analytical 12 2.

8 Unit Generated 12 3. Program/Life Cycle 4. Readiness Support Cost 13 5. Trend 14 III. PERFORMANCE BASED 15 A. B. 15 C. CURRENT USE OF 18 D. PBL APPLICATION TO GROUND E. MERIT AS A DECISION SUPPORT 19 IV. SURVEY 23 A. DEVELOPMENT AND SCOPE OF THE 1. Objective 1: Determine the Amount of Use of 24 2. Objective 2: Determine the Level of User Friendliness and Accessibility of 24 3. Objective 3: Determine the Users Perception of Benefits from Using 24 4.

9 Objective 4: Determine the Users Level of Satisfaction with 25 5. Objective 5: Determine Trends or Concerns with 25 B. DATA 25 C. 27 D. SURVEY RESPONDENT AND MOTIVATIONAL 27 V. SURVEY ANALYSIS, DISCUSSION, AND 29 viii A. QUESTION 5: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN USING MERIT? .. 29 1. Survey 29 B. QUESTION 6: ON AVERAGE, HOW OFTEN DO YOU ACCESS MERIT? .. 29 1. Survey 29 2. 30 3.

10 31 C. QUESTION 7: WHEN ACCESSED, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND IN MERIT? .. 31 1. Survey 31 2. 32 3. 32 D. QUESTION 8: WHILE DEPLOYED, HAVE YOU EVER USED MERIT? .. 32 1. Survey 32 2. 32 E. QUESTION 9: USING MERIT DURING DEPLOYMENTS WAS BENEFICIAL.. 33 1. Survey 2. 33 3.