Technological Illusions and the Entropy of American Defense
Abstract
In physics, entropy constitutes a measurement of a system s energy no longer available to perform work. This thesis examines the concept of entropy as applied to the organizational behavior of the Department of Defense (DOD). In 2014, the DOD finds itself challenged to adapt and meet the future demands. Exacerbated by decreasing budgets, DOD s present solutions continue to ignore the very problem creating long-term inefficiency: un-adaptive leadership. Continually trading technology for people since at least 1989, while arguing for increased funding, has created within DOD, an un-adaptive, un-imaginative system that refuses to allow the organizational changes required to meet future mission requirements. At best, increased expenditures will result only in marginal increases in capability given America s high-tech approach to creating military capability. By examining trends since 1989, this thesis demonstrates that absent the threat of catastrophic defeat or an alteration of the desired senior leader traits within the personnel system, entropy increases throughout DOD will result in wasted resources that yield increasingly less military capability. If America wishes to remain a militarily dominant nation after 2025, internal change in the next decade, beginning with the performance of DOD s supervisory system, becomes essential.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 11, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA600194
Entities
People
- Michael J. Simmering
Organizations
- National Defense University