Human Factors Implications and Issues in Network Enabled Operations
Abstract
Network Enabled Operations (NEOps) seems poised to become the driving concept behind CF transformation for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Canada's tendency to follow the American lead in new concepts related to war and other operations. This paper concludes that Canada and the CF should be cautious about using NCW as the foundation for NEOps, because the context and needs that are the basis for NCW may not be congruent with Canadian requirements. The paper noted that NCW is not really a theory of war, as its proponents claim, but a series of largely untested hypotheses or assumptions that require validation before they should be accepted as a basis for transformation. Recent Canadian Forces (CF) operations have shown that a "one size fits all" approach to command and control, as proposed by many NCW advocates, may not be the best approach for networked operations, even in an increasingly integrated joint and combined operating environment. Perhaps most importantly, from a Canadian point of view, using NEOps in the Joint, Interagency, Multinational, and Public (JIMP) or integrated context will require network architects not only to consider the use of information technology as an enabler, but also for them to address the much more complex issue of the creation of effective social networks. In summary, NEOps as a concept has a promising future if it is predicated on Canadian needs and culture. However, there is significant risk in placing too much reliance on concepts like NCW which put the technology before the human requirements. Therefore, future development of the NEOps concept should be firmly rooted in the Canadian context and based on Canadian experience. NEOps concept development should be complemented by the relevant experience of others, but it should avoid slavishly copying other frameworks as DND has sometimes done in the past.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 28, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA477187
Entities
People
- Allan English
- Howard Coombs
- Richard Gimblett