Modeling the Construction of Actionable Knowledge within an Effects-Based Targeting Process

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the modeling issues relevant to portraying the construction of actionable knowledge within an effects-based targeting process. At the heart of these issues is the need to consider the various political, military, economic, social, information, and infrastructure dimensions that characterize a future coalition operation against a fourth-generation adversary. This type of warfare reflects a wicked problem space in which a major challenge for any command, control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C2ISR) system will be the proper framing of actions within this multi-dimensional battlespace. Described within the paper are modeling issues addressed in current research by the authors: (1) the abstract decomposition of command intent objectives into key centers of gravity, functional elements that support these centers of gravity, and the battlespace nodes that comprise each functional element; (2) the representation of a data/frame model of sensemaking by means of a Leontief input-output matrix that allows the modeler to approximate each actor's tacit knowledge; (3) the explicit portrayal of collaboration within a C2ISR organization that reflects how the tacit knowledge matrices of different actors can be used in combination; (4) the consideration of a variety of collaboration obstacles that influence the process by which the C2ISR identifies, links, and facilitates specific sets of actors; and (5) the assessment of C2ISR system performance in terms of the degree to which the planned targeting actions achieves overall objectives coupled with the level of unintended negative consequences. Such a modeling strategy allows the modeler to construct a transparent "audit trail" that links national investments in information technology, leadership development, staff training, and personnel management and staffing policies to the quality of the actionable knowledge produced by a C2ISR system.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA472242

Entities

People

  • Dennis K. Leedom
  • Robert G. Eggleston

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Employment
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Joint Military Activities
  • Knowledge Management
  • Military Operations
  • Network Centric Warfare
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Rules Of Engagement
  • Training
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.

Technology Areas

  • Space