Joint Vision 2010: Telling Time or Building a Watch
Abstract
Joint Vision 2010 (JV 2010) focuses on deterring conflict and defeating fielded forces. This focus limits the development of innovative ways of using military forces to achieve political objectives. Joint Vision 2010 limits the Services' ability to become visionary organizations in which adaptation and innovation flourish. A singular, Joint vision does this in two ways. First, JV 2010 creates an environment of "strategic monism" in which a single strategic concept or approach is used to solve military problems. Second, the JV 2010 is based on Cold War thinking and assumptions. The post-Cold War world is full of new military missions that are ignored by the JV 2010 focus on deterring and winning wars. JV 2010's key characteristic of Full Spectrum Dominance seems predicated on Cold War funding levels that are implausible in today's fiscally constrained environment. In the seminal book on visionary companies, "Built to Last," James Collins and Jerry Porras identified the underlying characteristics and dynamics common in highly visionary companies and translated their findings into a useful conceptual framework. During their 6-year study, they identified 12 "realities" that shattered long-held myths about truly great businesses. Attachment 1 lists the characteristic realities uncovered by their study. This list of key characteristics describes the attributes Joint Vision 2010 should promote. For instance, JV 2010 should use Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) to promote Service experimentation. Operations at the lower end of the force spectrum and information operations are just a few of the many emerging means that are overlooked by the current joint vision. To be a more useful document, JV 2010 should be rewritten so that it promotes innovation and creativity, rather than conformity to a single template. By doing this, the U.S. military would be well on the way to becoming an innovative force, ready to tackle and solve the problems of a post-Cold War world.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 23, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA444258
Entities
People
- Jay G. Santee
Organizations
- National War College