Operations Research at the Swiss Military Academy: Supporting Military Decisions in the 21~(st) Century

摘要

At the beginning of the 21~(st) century, there is a general consensus that most military operations have experienced a fundamental shift towards supporting the efforts of civil authorities. Consequently, research and curricula of institutions devoted to the training of military personnel must reflect these changes. This research illustrates the respective implications for the case of the Swiss Military Academy. In particular, it highlights the joint effort of two chairs (Economics of Defence/Strategic Studies) in the field of Operations Research/Military Decision Theory. · Mauro MANTOVAN1 develops a model comprising the preconditions necessary for the reemergence of a state-to-state conflict with military means within Europe, which, in principle, allows for early-warning against upcoming inter-state military conflicts in general. · Peter T. BALMS and Beat SUTER investigate if the Real Option Approach developed in Investment and Finance can provide an answer on when to rely on a surge as well as how to design it.