Give Design a Chance: A Case for a Human Centered Approach to Operational Art
Abstract
How does the US Army negotiate the challenge of arranging tactical actions in complex environments against hybrid threats to achieve strategic objectives? To address this question and confront assumptions and current methods of thinking, there is a need for a holistic and human centered approach in strategy development and operational art. This demands fuller integration of the Army Design Methodology (ADM) and the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). This monograph proposes a way of thinking and planning that goes beyond current Army doctrinal methodologies to address the changing character of warfare. A review of human centered design provides a theoretical foundation for this cognitive method followed by an examination of the relationship between strategy, tactics, and operational art. A discussion of uncertainty and complexity theory supports the argument for greater inclusion of conceptual planning and a human centered approach. A review of the ADM identifies areas within conceptual planning that are useful in the MDMP, which indicates conceptual and detailed planning is complementary and overlapping. Recommendations emerge for full integration of the ADM and the MDMP to avoid marginalization of conceptual planning and the inclusion of a self framing step to the ADM. This acknowledges the synergistic relationship between conceptual and detailed planning.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1038860
Entities
People
- Tyler K. Andersen
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies