One of the most important aspects of planning a project is the Technology Development Strategy document. This document, also referred to as a TDS, is the primary planning resource for projects and contains all of the important elements necessary to accomplish development and transition of the technologies to the customers.

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Below is an outline of a traditional TDS document to give you a better idea of its structure and what types of information are included:

Technology Development Strategy (TDS) Outline

  1. Project/Program Title: (A unique title specifically identifying this proposed project)

  2. General description of the technology solution: (Brief overview description of this technology and how it will provide an increased capability, if developed)

  3. Identify the development strategy (evolutionary or single-step-to-full-capability) and provide your rationale for adopting this concept and technology development approach.

    For evolutionary strategy:

    1. Describe how the program will be divided into
      1. Technology spirals
      2. Development increments
    2. Identify an appropriate limitation on number of prototype units that may be produced.
    3. Describe how these units will be supported (up to transition to the customer).
    4. Describe the specific performance goals and exit criteria that must be met before exceeding number of prototypes.

  4. Project/Program Strategy (describe the total R&D program strategy including all Spirals and so forth, to include the following):

    1. Overall Cost
    2. Schedule
    3. Performance Goals
    4. Program Deliverables

  5. First Spiral Demonstration

    1. Specific cost
      1. Development cost: (estimate from project start to transition to the customer)
      2. Transition and Integration cost: (estimate from when the customer receives the project for integration into the system until it is provided to user)
      3. Total Life-Cycle cost: (an estimate which adds O&S and Disposal Costs to the above)
    2. Schedule (Indicate number of months to reach each TRL from project start to transition)
    3. Performance Goals for the Prototype Demonstration
    4. Exit Criteria for the Prototype Demonstration phase
    5. Test Plan (Overview concept of how the prototype will be tested and how the results will be analyzed for Measures of Effectiveness)
    6. Risk Strategy
      1. Specify the Technology Advancement Degree of Difficulty with respect to “State of the Art” (1-well within, 2-within, 3-pushing, 4-hard push, 5-breakthrough required)
      2. Identify program risks for the first spiral
      3. Describe mitigation strategy
    7. Elements to be provided that support Sustainment
    8. Transition Strategy: (An overview description of when, to whom, and under what general conditions the technology solution will be transitioned)

  6. Next Spiral Demonstration (follow format established in E above)