Multiple perspective R&D portfolio analysis for the National Reconnaissance Office's Technology Enterprise

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Technology Enterprise desired to make R&D portfolio decisions by assessing how their portfolio supports the needs of future customers. We surveyed customers to understand their future needs for intelligence information. Based on customer needs, we qualitatively and quantitatively defined the potential future value of intelligence capabilities. The NRO Technology Enterprise leadership specifically requested the development of a value model with audacious objectives that would challenge their managers and technologists. The portfolio was analyzed from multiple perspectives: future customer value, R&D strategy, functional area balance, value gaps and time. The multiple perspective analysis gave insights not normally obtained in typical portfolio analyses that examine benefit and cost.