Control Theory Perspective of Effects-Based Thinking and Operations: Modelling 'Operations' as a Feedback Control System.

摘要

This paper explores operations that involve effects-based thinking (EBT) using Control Theory techniques in order to highlight the concept's fundamental characteristics in a simple and straightforward manner. It provides some background to EBT, and presents three formal definitions for effects-based approaches to operations (EBAO). This paper shows that Control Theory is a useful framework for studying effects-based concepts. A specific EBAO concept was modelled using Control Theory techniques. This analysis has exposed key functions for operations and key tenets for effects-based thinking as listed below: Key Functions for Operations from a Control Theory Perspective: Planning, Assessment, Execution, Decision-making, and Analysis. Organization and Technology structures must be designed to support these functions. Key Tenets of Effects-Based Thinking from a Control Theory Perspective: * Effects are higher-level states (or changes in state) of the world. * Effects span the entire range of human endeavours (political, social, etc.). * Desired effects can be decomposed as a means-end hierarchy. * Effects are planned for and assessed explicitly. * Relationships between actions and effects are often complex. * Control Theory provides both proactive and reactive feedback mechanisms that drive current effects towards their desired values. Control Theory was used to model EBT concepts and operations, and provide a theoretical basis so that effective system designs can be developed. It is hoped that this new way of looking at EBT operations will provide a framework for continued discussion and investigation of the ideas through mathematical analysis, constructive simulation, and human-in-the-loop experimentation.