Will Air Force Smart Operations 21 be Enough? Why the Air Force Should Look at Reshaping Military Pay and Retirement Plans
Brian J. Heberlie
BiblioScholar
2012
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The Air Force has implemented a program called Air Force Smart Operations 21 (AFSO21) in an effort to minimize waste and maximize value. The service has incorporated industry tools such as Business Process Reengineering, Theory of Constraints, Six Sigma, and Lean into its daily processes to improve operations. The underlying goal is increasing productivity and reducing costs. Industry uses the tools mentioned above but has also shown more flexibility in achieving those same goals through the modification of pay and retirement structures as well. In several studies, the implementation of Pay-for-Performance packages increased individual and team performance across various organizations. The research also shows Pay-for-Performance substantially increases retention among higher performers, motivates average performers to produce more, and encourages marginal performers to separate from an organization. Organizations have also replaced or modified current company pensions in an effort to reduce capital expenditures. However, by implementing 401(k's) with a generous company match, employees can take advantage of time and compound interest to replace or exceed the lost income from pensions. Organizations like the Air Force can reinvest that capital into future modernization of its war fighting equipment. Along with the tools of AFSO21, the service can achieve the goals of increased productivity and reduced costs by modifying its pay and retirement structures. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
