Effects-Based Operations at the Operational Level of War: Exploring the Living System Alternative
Abstract
The concept of Effects-Based Operations (Effects-Based Approach to Operations) proves effective in a well-defined tactical environment, but less capable in the dynamic open environment at the operational level of war. Exploring the well-established relationship between control systems and EBO reveals fundamental problems with this concept in the areas of situation assessment, feedback, and prediction. The living system model provides an alternate construct for the environment found at the operational level of war. This model better represents the complex, open system found and is better able to overcome the disturbances that occur in open systems With robustly designed systems and sub-systems, the ability to synchronize C2 at the organism and sub-system levels, and the acceptance of limitations in areas such as situation assessment and feedback, the living system model provides a better construct for defeating adversaries of all abilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 24, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA484328
Entities
People
- David S. Dees
Organizations
- Naval War College