The CMF is a governance and management system that provides a transparent and robust process for ensuring effective, long-term investments in defence capabilities. The CMF is the means through which Government defence policy is translated into military capabilities that are able to meet the Government’s security objectives. The challenge of the capability management process is to find the best balance between current and future capability investment.
The CMF describes the practices and procedures for the development and delivery of defence capability. It articulates practices and procedures that have been operating since mid-2002. A major review of the CMF was conducted in 2006 and the CMF’s scope was widened. For example, it introduces new processes such as the Strategic Capability Planning Process (SCPP) that, while not predicting the future, is structured to shape an organisation that will thrive in a future that cannot be predicted.
The CMF strategy focuses on identification of all the functional components of the proposed capability and on the quality of the information required in major defence capability projects (new and upgraded), including cost estimates, operational assessments and whole-of-life management.
Strategic capability objectives will be derived from CMF processes. Internal CMF processes include:
- a continuously updated Strategic Trends Assessment (STA) that identifies the major global, regional and local trends most likely to impact New Zealand and the NZDF over the next twenty years;
- the NZDF Strategic Operating Concept (SOC) that describes new ways the NZDF will need to operate in the future;
- a Capability Requirements List that describes what functions the NZDF can and may need to perform to meet Government policy requirements;
- the use of evidence-based decision support tools throughout the CMF process;
- criteria for Capability Requirement Proposals, including the development of comprehensive operational requirements data and functional performance specifications;
- a regularly updated Long-Term (LTDP) that manages capability development across the 0 to 10 year period, supplemented by the Long-Range Capability Forecast (LRFC) that looks out beyond 10 years; and
- a variety of capability-related plans including acquisition strategies, training programmes, through-life capability management, and disposal.
The CMF provides clarity in responsibility, accountability and process for defence policy development, capability definition, acquisition, introduction into service and disposal of capabilities. The CMF process facilitates the development of a well-informed, cost-effective and professional Defence Force that embraces continuous improvement and management excellence.
The implementation of the CMF will enable the NZDF to develop fully mission-capable units and supporting components at degrees of preparedness that are matched to New Zealand’s defence policy objectives.
Previous | Contents | Next