Improving Naval Special Warfare Innovation: Lessons from the Space Ecosystem
Abstract
What factors influence technology adoption in the U.S. Space Force, NASA, and commercial space industry, and can these insights benefit technology innovation in Naval Special Warfare (NSW)? The growing space industry is rich with innovation lessons and offers insights to inform military modernization efforts with an emphasis on identifying their innovation philosophy and the challenges in realizing it. Military leaders face similar innovation obstacles to external, non-military organizations and can draw lessons from such organizations to improve their process for technology adoption. Based on current innovation frameworks, the research identified three factors influencing technology adoption: COMFORT, STAFF and SYSTEMS, and END-USER. Deploying these factors of influence, an analysis of several technology adoption cases reveals how each factor affects adoption outcomes. Key findings emphasize the importance of effective communication, understanding user needs, and organizational adaptability in technology adoption. The research suggests that managing risk perception, incentivizing innovation, engaging users, and equipping decision-makers with actionable information can enhance military innovation. This analysis provides insights for NSW and other military units to optimize technology adoption processes. Policy recommendations include increasing the shared understanding of technologies while overcoming organizational resistance to maintain a competitive edge in future conflicts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1224881
Entities
People
- Charles S Bibbs
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School