The U.S. Department of War (DOW) uses the annual Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process to determine which missions, capabilities, and programs it will fund each year. However, cross-cutting portfolios—those that indirectly support multiple missions—are often underfunded, in part because the PPBE process is not structured to defensibly articulate and prioritize their critical role in mission success.
The authors of this report developed an approach to guide the assessment of cross-cutting portfolios, along with a tailorable, prototype Excel workbook that implements this approach. They then tested and iteratively refined the evaluation approach through a pilot assessment of a subset of the enterprise information technology (EIT) portfolio. The approach structures the evaluation of capability gaps and associated investments, and informs the selection and prioritization of investments within a portfolio. It is designed to ensure that investments credibly address capability gaps and align with mission and strategy.
This report is intended to support those responsible for managing portfolios and programs in DOW, who must provide oversight and input to the PPBE process. Those responsible for cross-cutting portfolios with connections to multiple mission sets may find this report and evaluation approach it describes particularly useful.
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