Information Design for Synchronization and Co-ordination of Modern, Complex, Multi-National Operations
Abstract
Information is generally understood as 'data plus context'. Alternative explanations for 'context' include meaning (via language), conditions and attributes (meta-data), cognitive states, and representations of situation and purpose. Organizations conducting modern, complex, multi-national operations, with both military and non-military involvement, need to manage contexts in ways which are efficient, supportive of federation, and agile. This paper builds on earlier ideas, notably those of Fitchett, McConnell and Sowray (at 11th ICCRTS) who emphasise that information needs to be designed, not merely found or catalogued, to achieve synchronizations and coordinations in support of network-enabled behaviours. The aim is safe use, a prescription for "right information, right people, right time" which guards against both misinterpretation (failures in context management) and mis-recognition (not appreciating, or not disseminating, pertinent information). This paper explores ways in which Fitchett et al's information schemata can be implemented and supported through non-Equipment Lines of Development, and in particular the world of organization and work. It considers how Design-time, Assemble-time and Run-Time (DART) contributions impact differentially on efficiency and agility. It shows how extant principles of military organization can be interpreted as a highly-adapted contribution to information management and exploitation (IM/IX), and hence should not be subverted by approaches which threaten 'death by meta-data'.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA546941
Entities
People
- Geoff Markham