A New Method for the Examination of Policy Systems of Systems

This dissertation examines multi-agency policy environments as a policy system of systems (SoS). The research conducted for this dissertation establishes the need to develop a method of analysis suitable for the analysis of a policy SoS that allows for the examination of individual policy relationships while maintaining a holistic perspective of the entire SoS. The Three-Dimensional Policy Design Structure (3DPDS) is proposed as a method of analysis suitable for examination of a policy SoS. This dissertation focuses on application of the 3DPDS to three specific areas of space launch policy that impact space launch capacity: (1) policies related to space launch vehicles, (2) policies related to space launch facilities, and (3) the potential impacts of the cancellation of the Ares 1 launch vehicle. The first two applications of the 3DPDS provide a retrospective analysis of the policy relationships within the space launch policy SoS. The final application uses the results of the examination of policies related to space launch vehicles to systematically examine a current issue. The results of the first two applications, when compared against data gathered from subject matter experts during the interview process, provided a much more complete and holistic perspective of the policy relationships within the SoS, including identification of policy outliers. The third application enabled a systematic review of a current policy issue that incorporated information from formal policy documents with information provided by subject matter experts during the interview process.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Public Administration and Public Affairs

Department dc:contributor.department

Public Administration and Public Affairs

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Tami Lee

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Khademian, Anne M.
• Murch, Randall S.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Roberts, Patrick S.
• Dull, Matthew M.

• Three-Dimensional Policy Design Structure (3DPDS)
• Space Launch Policy
• Systems of Systems (SoS)

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-11082011-174349

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/29506