Personnel Stabilization and Cohesion: A Summary of Key Literature Findings

Abstract

Reviewed U.S. military-related research to (a) determine the effects of personnel stabilization on unit cohesion, and (b) identify conditions/factors found to either mitigate these effects or benefit from them. Consistent support was found for the sequential linkage of Personnel Stability - Bonding - Cohesion - Desirable Outcomes. Personnel stability promotes bonding processes that set the stage for the development of horizontal (Soldier to Soldier), vertical (Soldier to leader and vice versa), and organizational (Soldier/leader to the Army) cohesion. Cohesive units, in turn, consistently demonstrate enhanced performance across a broad array of outcome measures. Questions remain, however, concerning conditions/factors that promote, or inhibit, the development of unit cohesion and what the pattern of cohesion development looks like over time. Lessons learned from this review will be used to guide a long-term impact assessment of enhanced personnel stabilization resulting from implementation of the Army's newly developed Unit-Focused Stabilization Manning System within the U.S. Army, Alaska's (USARAK's) 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA421092

Entities

People

  • Joseph D. Hagman
  • Monte D. Smith

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Army Personnel
  • Artillery
  • Bonding
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Families (Human)
  • Lessons Learned
  • Life Cycles
  • Literature
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Police
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.