Modelling a Network of Decision Makers
Abstract
New information technologies introduced into military operations provide the impetus to explore alternative operating procedures and command structures. New concepts such as network-centric operations and distributed, decentralized command and control, have been suggested as technologically enabled replacements for platform centric operations and centralized command and control. As attractive as these innovations may seem, it is important that responsible military planners test these concepts before their adoption. To do this it is necessary to build models and simulations and to conduct experiments and exercises. The authors assess the flow of information within three alternative Command and Control (C2) structures using a series of quantitative measures of performance of command and control effectiveness. In terms of the categorization developed by Alberts, these metrics bridge between the information domain and the cognitive domain. The quantitative assessment of information flows within alternative C2 structures is part of a larger programme of work considering the structure of future headquarters for UK armed forces. Outputs are being compared with high level combat models outputs in order to assess the quantitative linkage between our measures of C2 effectiveness and metrics of benefit at the campaign level, measures of force effectiveness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA466065
Entities
People
- Chris Pernin
- Jim Moffat
- Tim Gardener
Organizations
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory