KITAE II: Knowledge Development in Battlespace Helmand

Abstract

This paper is the second in the Kitae series and focuses specifically on the sense-making challenges that derive from a complex battlespace for knowledge development. The theoretical approach includes constructivist and material/efficiency approaches to understanding the challenges of the complex battlespace to military intelligence. These challenges to the traditional intelligence cycle are placed within a comparative framework of traditional time & space (TTS) approaches vs. a social network approaches (SNA) based on a "system of systems" understanding. A case study consists of participant observation data from a 6 month period in Upper Gereshk Valley (UGV), Helmand, Afghanistan. The objective was to identify the approaches that work best in a complex battlespace, where there are a plethora of actors and interests. The results clearly indicate that SNA is not only essential to understanding the counter insurgency (COIN) environment for effective warfighting, but just as important to understanding our own MI organization.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA546970

Entities

People

  • William G Mitchell

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Force Protection
  • Governments
  • Improvised Explosive Devices
  • Information Operations
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Intelligence Cycle
  • Materials
  • Military Intelligence
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Mobile Phones
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Observation
  • Social Networks
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space