The Role of Operations Research and Analysis in Concept-led Long-Range Planning

Abstract

Head Policy, Guidance and Analysis (HPGA) seeks to develop a strategic planning framework to better support Defence decisionmaking. This paper was written in response to HPGA's request for advice on the potential role of Operations Research (OR) and analysis in such a framework. A broad interpretation of OR is proposed that includes qualitative analysis of problems that are not amenable to the quantitative methods with which OR is more traditionally associated. Cultural and ownership issues that must be addressed if OR is to be successfully incorporated into Defence's decisionmaking processes are discussed. It is argued that OR and analysis should be conducted with a decision perspective, and that analysis should be embedded in all aspects of a strategic planning framework. Working definitions of terms and concepts are presented to provide a common lexicon for those involved in the development of long-range planning. (2 figures, 17 refs.)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA415677

Entities

People

  • Tony Brown
  • Tony Hibberd

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Australia
  • Delphi Method
  • Executives
  • Experimental Design
  • Game Theory
  • Guidance
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Science
  • Judgment
  • Mathematics
  • Military Operations
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • Operations Research
  • Organizational Structure
  • Systems Science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).