"SteveM8597" wrote in message
...
In a few words, software, systems integration, changing user requirements,
parts obsolesence and Congressionally mandated funding
profiles/milestones.
Drives a contractor into a risk averse position and long development
cycle.

I have a theory that the westernised industrial culture went to crap the
moment they started teaching Project Management at university, adding
countless levels of bean-counting and overhead to engineering projects.

Si