System-Level Experimentation: Executive Summary and Annotated Brief
Abstract
Sixty-one years ago General Arnold, as the Chief of the Army Air Forces, recognized the importance of understanding technology and tactics required to dominate in future environments. In today's parlance, General Arnold was talking about maintaining the Air Force's combat edge through innovation (e.g., pursuing revolutionary, game-changing systems). In the commercial world, innovation is a means to stay competitive; in the military world it is a means for achieving and maintaining dominance. This is a Quick Look report on System-Level Experimentation (SLE). Quick Look studies are conducted by a smaller study team in a shorter period of time than a full Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) study. This study is about provoking disruptive innovations through system-level experimentation. There are five key points in this study. 1. SLE is an approach to unfettered exploration of alternative system concepts focused in future environments to aid in earlier discovery of game changing ways to fly and fight. 2. Our adversaries innovate while we merely react - a more proactive approach would support system-level discovery experiments focused on disruptive ideas, thus increasing the likelihood of finding game-changing ways to fly and fight BEFORE the fight, forcing our adversaries to react to our innovations. 3. At one time the USAF aggressively searched for game changers; arguably it has not done so for many years. 4. The USAF is not alone. Innovation is also an important national issue for U.S. industry. There has been impressive progress in the last year, and there are lessons learned the USAF can apply now. 5. Ad hoc groups (e.g., innovation task forces ) drawn from Air Force organizations can be formed to do SLEs and would need to be supported by a small group of facilitators. These "innovation task forces" need to be resourced, protected, and visibly important to the Chief of Staff.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463950
Entities
People
- Scott Fouse
- Stephen E. Cross