The System Dynamics Approach to Network Centric Warfare and Effects Based Operations - Designing a 'Learning Lab' for Tomorrow's Military Operations

摘要

Command of military operations requires leaders and teams who are able to make decisions and respond in an appropriate, timely manner even in highly uncertain situations. The degree of situational uncertainty has continued to increase as military requirements have evolved in response to changing conditions around the world and advances in information systems that have made more information available. It is in the light of recently developed, but not yet matured, concepts such as Network Centric Warfare (NCW) and Effects Based Operations (EBO), we discuss the radically changed conditions for acting and learning in the military operational environment. We suggest a new approach, linking the principles of best practice EBO modelling and analysis with system dynamic insights, yielding design requirements for a "learning lab" for Network Centric Operations. The purpose of the learning lab would be, through man-machine and inter-team interaction, to improve mental models of commanders and teams, and thus improved outcomes of future operations.