General Dynamics C4 Systems Innovation and Leadership: Core to Edge

This report discusses three best-practices implemented by the leadership and management teams at General Dynamics C4 Systems (GDC4S) in Scottsdale, AZ as observed by the author during a nine month assignment within the company as part of the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program (SDCFP) for academic year 2006-2007. During that time, the author was exposed to business strategy forums, financial reviews, business development opportunities, program management meetings, and enterprise-wide support venues. The purpose of the SDCFP is to study best-practices within private industry in an effort to assess their applicability to transform the business side of the Department of Defense (DOD). The author was embedded in three of GDC4S' seven divisions and was able to witness the daily execution of numerous business decisions and processes. These observations formed the foundation of this paper. The author describes the three most applicable practices with potential for DOD transformation: * GDC4S' system of systems innovation center: The EDGE. This endeavor displayed private corporate leadership among various defense and academic organizations to focus and help standardize the evolution of the US Army Warrior program. * Strategic alignment via GDC4S' unification strategy, Prime: Core to Edge. This effort linked common functions within each business division to guide unified effort and greater company communication.