A Theoretical Model to Attack the Enemy's Decision-Making Process

Abstract

An operational commander can attack enemy vulnerabilities because of human susceptibilities to biases and limitations when making decisions. This paper proposes a theoretical model to cognitively attack the enemy commander. The model is based on Information Warfare and Command and Control Warfare, as well as psychological human information processing concepts. The Observation-Orientation-Decision-Action loop, a known military decision cycle, is discussed and contrasted with a human information processing model. These concepts are then related to the planning steps of the Commander's Estimate of the Situation. Human decision-making heuristics are recommended to specifically target the enemy's Observation and Orientation stages of the decision cycle. Consequently, affecting the enemy's operational planning of mission analysis and courses of action. The model's objective is to alter enemy knowledge and beliefs, thus affecting situational awareness and mental-model development, which in turn will produce decisions less favorable for the enemy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 08, 2000
Accession Number
ADA378602

Entities

People

  • Randall W. Gibb

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Command And Control
  • Doctrine
  • Information Processing
  • Information Warfare
  • Military Operations
  • Navy
  • Psychological Operations
  • Psychology
  • Resource Management
  • Security
  • Situational Awareness
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control