Alternatives to Center of Gravity Analysis

Abstract

Clausewitz tells us that war is like business and the duel between two rivals is for supremacy. Understanding that war and business are non-linear systems or complex problems, simple solutions are not the answer. Businesses, both local and multi-national, utilize strategic management tools (SMTs) to identify their rival's strengths and weaknesses, their industry's potential growth, and the market s ability to accept another product or produce acceptable returns on investment. Businesses face similar uncertainty in their analysis of the markets they participate, their battlefield. Utilizing business strategic management tools will provide better clarity in understanding our rivals in the current operating environment versus solely using Center of Gravity (COG) analysis. The shared context between war and business will provide a new perspective in how the military identifies problems and root causes. It may also allow the military to identify potentially undesirable second and third order effects. The utilization of SMTs are not to replace COG analysis, but assist in helping define the problems and help develop CCs, CRs and CVs both friendly and enemy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 04, 2013
Accession Number
ADA603813

Entities

People

  • Henry H. Kayser

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Commerce
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Gravity
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Linear Systems
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Organizational Structure
  • Students
  • Supply Chain Management
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Economics
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies