Developing Adaptive Leaders, A Cultural Imperative

Abstract

The Army initiated transformation as a response to the demands and requirements of the 21st Century operational environment. One of the key factors of this new operational environment is the nature of our adversaries often described as asymmetric. Asymmetric adversaries pose unique challenges to the Army and exhibit the ability to very rapidly make changes and adapt to our operations. Because of this the ability of Army leaders to be adaptive and to build adaptive units is more important than ever. This paper explores the concept of adaptive performance by examining how current Army doctrine addresses this concept. The paper then analyzes current research into the nature of adaptive performance and how to develop it in others. It concludes by examining organizational and cultural factors that affect adaptive performance. Throughout recommendations are offered for how the Army should alter its leader development program to better prepare adaptive leaders.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 17, 2007
Accession Number
ADA478244

Entities

People

  • Douglas S. Mulbury

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Best Practices
  • Climate Change
  • Cognition
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Iraqi-War
  • Judgment
  • Knowledge Management
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Thinking
  • Training
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies