Course - 2008 - Block Four

Block Four: Capability and Force Developement

Aim

Block Four provides all course members with an appreciation of the capability development process.  It also provides Australian course members with the opportunity to complete the Senior Leadership Group Financial Management Course adapted for the DSSC.

Description

In the first two weeks of the Block, course members are introduced to the concept of capability, including the eight fundamental inputs to capability (FIC) and the capability life cycle.  Course members are then taken through the various phases of capability development including the needs and requirements phases.  The acquisition process is reviewed and course members are then exposed to issues facing the Australian Defence Industry in its support to capability development.  Each of the eight FIC will be examined.  The first two weeks of the Block concludes with a short desk top exercise bringing together the risks associated with capability development through consideration of the various FIC components.  The third week of Block Four will be for Australian course members only.  It will comprise a financial management course which has been specifically designed for the Australian Department of Defence Senior Leadership Group.  An alternate program will be provided for overseas course members that will provide them with an exposure to ADF organisations and capability.  In the final week of the Block, all course members will participate in a desk top exercise to produce and brief a capability development related cabinet submission and an abridged version of a Capability Proposal – First Pass (CPFP).

Learning Objectives

• Understand how military strategy is translated into capability and force structure requirements.
• Identify the drivers of current ADF capability and force structure.
• Understand the Defence capability development process.
• Understand the FIC.
• Understand the true costs of developing military capability, in particular, the impact of through life support
• Identify the capability development aspects of force generation, mobilisation and preparation.
• Examine Defence budget planning considerations.
• Consider the drivers of planning/budgeting issues effecting Defence management and finance planning processes.
• Understand the role of the Australian National Audit Office.
• Examine key audit challenges for Defence.
• Prepare and brief a capability development Cabinet Submission and an abridged CPFP in an exercise setting.

Course Member Deliverable

Course members participate in a capability development exercise in Week Four of the Block. This involves individual and small group activities resulting in both verbal and written presentations.