Vanguard Magazine

B Book review 34 DeCeMBer 2016/JANUArY 2017 www.vanguardcanada.com Charlie Foxtrot – Fixing Defence Procurement in Canada Professor Kim Richard Nossal Dundurn, 2016, $19.93 Reviewed by Mark Seely, P.Eng. Mark Seely is president of AOAi (Analysis Of Analysis introspectus Ltd.) – an organization for "advanced analytic learning, centred on the truth." Book review T he subject is a book authored by Professor Kim Richard Nossal, Ph.D., professor in the Depart- ment of Political Studies and the Centre for International and De- fence Policy, Queen's University, published by Kendra Martin of Dundurn Press Ltd. My original inclination was to consider the title a bit presumptuous. Fixing defence pro- curement in Canada has been studied and written about extensively by procurement professionals for as long as there has been defence procurement in Canada. A title that claims to introduce "a fix" to the problem certainly sets a daunting task for its author. For many decades the debates have been largely "inside the box" – addressing the part we see, perhaps the part we care to see, that then forms the basis for an ensuing revamp- ing of bureaucratic structure and process. As the professor suggests, a reset on defence pro- curement appears with each new government – one reengineering after another. Without discounting the many good change initiatives underway to improve de- fence procurement, Professor Nossal elevates the debate, pointing to what he refers to as the "ident" factors of solution determinacy. This book provides a refreshing "outside the box" context, a political science perspec- tive to the procurement problem. It adds ar- guably the most essential considerations to the debate leaving one to ponder the futility in simply limiting transformation to the more isolated bureaucratic fix. Of course, while pointing to the higher powers, the professor also recognizes the challenge in reorienting their natural tendencies toward value-adding procurement solutions. The professor, by identifying the issue enhances the debate, and Professor Nossal provides some recommen- dations in this regard nonetheless. "Charlie Foxtrot – Fixing Defence Procure- ment in Canada" should be a necessary ref- erence for informed debate on defence pro- curement reform. Dundurn Press Ltd. has published Professor Nossal's work as part of its "Point Of View" book series. The intent of the series is to "give readers an engaging perspective, even though a reader may not ultimately reach the same conclusions as the author." Professor Nossal is furthering the debate. Following the good professor's lead, and in keeping with his theme of broadening the perspective – is there an apparatus beyond Canadian politics that need be considered? The forerunner to an institute, AOAi supports integrity in the way we analyze – as individu- als, corporations and societies. it provides the basis for separating fact from fiction in our analyses. AOAi books and materials are available at www.AOAi.ca Mark Seely is a former Senior Director of the Major Project Service Line with PwGSC.

• Cover