Challenges in Assessing Progress in Multifunctional Operations: Experiences from a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan
Abstract
In multinational civil-military operations, where different actors work in the same area to achieve their particular goals, it is not always easy to determine causal relationships, e.g. what impact different actions have on the overall development in the country. Albeit difficult, it is vital to understand these relationships and continuously assess mission progress and feed this information into the C2 process. In an attempt to get a better comprehension of how practitioners understand and apply assessment, 15 interviews were conducted with personnel from Regional Command North (RC North) and the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Mazar-e-Sharif. The results show that the PRT had difficulties in measuring the effects of ongoing operations and determining whether the mission was on track. The methodology for assessment of progress was underdeveloped, and the participants had different appreciations of wherein the main challenges lay. The study concludes that a developed ability for the PRT to measure progress includes: a well managed relationship with relevant actors, an agreement between these actors on the operational objectives, a systematic and structured approach to the assessment of all lines of operations, a more coordinated approach from the RC North towards the PRT, a reinforced link between planning and assessment, and adapted staff skills.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA547273
Entities
People
- David Harriman
- Helene Lackenbauer
- Jenny Lindoff
- Joakim Marklund
- Sara Bandstein
Organizations
- Swedish Armed Forces