Collaboration between the Canadian Forces and the Public in Operations

Abstract

In current operations, the Canadian Forces (CF) are expected to work more closely than in the past with a number of diverse civilian organizations, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), International Organizations (IOs), Other Governmental Departments (OGDs), local populations, and the media. However, the CF's history of working with NGOs, for example, has been limited and may pose challenges to collaboration. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to further understand the core issues that help or hinder civil-military collaboration involving the CF, NGOs, IOs, Afghan nationals, and the media; and (2) to elicit from subject matter experts (SMEs) recommendations for potential training and education that may assist in making collaboration in theatre more effective for the diverse, multiple parties involved. SMEs representing diverse organizations and entities, both military (CF) and civilian (NGOs, IOs, Afghan nationals, the media), were consulted to elicit first-hand accounts of collaboration efforts in the Afghanistan theatre of operations. Data were collected from Sep 27, 2010 to Jan 7, 2011 using a semi-structured protocol that guided discussions on five core themes: negotiation, power, identity, stereotypes/prejudice, and trust. Results indicate that the CF did not effectively acknowledge their counterparts' expertise and experience, and that they should refrain from "taking charge" and telling others how to do their jobs. Civilian participants said that the CF engaged in open dialogue, and that CF leaders were good at engaging, but that they could engage more with civilians and civil organizations given the challenges faced by civilians in navigating the military system. Military and civilian participants said that one strategy to facilitate collaboration was to build positive relationships. Civilian SMEs thought that the military sometimes overstepped its jurisdiction and that roles and responsibilities needed to be clearly established.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA568445

Entities

People

  • Andrea L. Brown
  • Barbara D. Adams
  • Courtney D. Hall
  • Craig Flear
  • Michael H. Thomson

Organizations

  • HumanSystems Incorporated

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Families (Human)
  • Geography
  • Health Services
  • International Organizations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Nato
  • Nongovernmental Organizations
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Teamwork
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).