Does Network Centric Warfare Equal Micromanagerial Warfare? Minimizing Micromanagement at the Operational Level of War

Abstract

Recent advances in communications, sensors, and computers have brought the U.S. military into a new age of technical transformation. This transformation has resulted in a new approach to the conduct of warfare, often referred to as network centric warfare (NCW). NCW possesses incredible potential for the lethal and efficient conduct of future wars, but it also enables a less than desirable aspect of armed conflict--leadership by micromanagement. This is a result of the capabilities inherent in NCW that cause senior leaders, unable to resist the urge to control tactical operations, to directly influence the achievement of strategic objectives. The intent of this paper is to examine micromanagement at the operational level of war, more specifically, from the national-strategic (civilian leaders) and theater-strategic/theater-operational (COCOM) level to the tactical level. Analysis from recent military operations will be conducted to develop short term and long term approaches that will minimize the effects of this ineffective leadership style.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 03, 2003
Accession Number
ADA415392

Entities

People

  • John J. Cummings

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Air Force
  • Command And Control
  • Communication Channels
  • Electronic Mail
  • Information Systems
  • Military Operations
  • Network Centric Warfare
  • New York
  • Task Forces
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Central Command
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Uss Theodore Roosevelt
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.