Focus and Convergence through a Comprehensive Approach: But which Among the Many?

Abstract

Many contemporary military operations are launched in conflict environments which necessitate the application of instruments additional to the military to establish peace and security. So-called "multifunctional" or "multidimensional" operations require new approaches to Command and Control (C2). C2 of all the participants in such operations by one organisation is not possible. Rather, focus and convergence will need to arise from a mere willingness to collaborate, based on a perception of mutual benefit and interdependencies. This understanding has led to the idea of the Comprehensive Approach (CA). This paper maps and explores various definitions of CA and ideas of how it could and should be implemented. In particular, this paper outlines the contrast between interpreting CA as a mindset or as a structure or process. This paper also describes the differences in approaches seeking out "comprehensiveness" at a national, inter-agency or intra-agency level. How CA is interpreted has an effect on how tools to perform and measure it can be developed, as well as for how educating and training on the approach should be conducted. As CA is regarded as an essential tool for achieving collective focus and convergence in modern, multifunctional operations, exploring these differences is necessary.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA546998

Entities

People

  • Cecilia Hull

Organizations

  • Swedish Defence Research Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Case Studies
  • Command And Control
  • Convergence
  • Crisis Management
  • Environment
  • European Union
  • Information Exchange
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Nato
  • Security
  • Teamwork
  • United Nations

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control