1. The Adaptive use of Networks to Generate an Adaptive Task Force
ICCRTS Paper 021
Dr. Anne-Marie Grisogono, DSTO, Australia Mink Spaans, TNO, The Netherlands
Mink Spaans

2. The Challenge: Increased Complexity
Things are getting harder for defense – Increased
Diversity of defense roles & security challenges  more to deal with
Uncertainty and pace of change  less time to adapt
Number of inter-related actors and effects  less predictable
Number of constraints and public scrutiny  less options
Therefore defense can’t be sure, in advance, of:
What it will have to do, and with who so can’t optimize
When it will have to do it so can’t prepare
How to ensure success and avoid failure so can’t control
Title: The Australian approach to agile Command and Control
Abstract: DSTO is well know for their research on Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) and the application of the insights from this field in the Command and Control arena. Although CAS started as a long term research activity, the insights led to immediate recommendations and products like Adaptive Campaigning that are applied in today’s missions of the Australian Armed Forces. TNO recognizes the importance of the research on CAS and works in close co-operation with DSTO on the issues that C2 faces in the complex environment of current and future missions. The visit of Dr. Grisogono as part of this co-operation, gives an opportunity to hear directly from dr. Grisogono about the results of her CAS research and the implementation of these results. As such this mini-symposium will give an unique view on the Australian approach of Command and Control.
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

3. How to deal with this Complexity?
The premium will be more on the ability to…
rapidly decide, as situations develop, what is to be done, how, who with, & how to measure success and failure
rapidly assemble tailored diverse (incl. non-defense elements) teams and get them operational and effective,
maintain effectiveness under unpredictable and rapidly evolving conditions, retaining ability to mount additional operations as needed
dynamic properties of the force that ‘emerge’ as a result of many decisions about structure, process, doctrine, personnel, equipment, training, ....
Requires Adaptivity
…rather than on the ability to do particular kinds of operations very well – which is the ‘usual’ kind of mission effectiveness
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

4. The Implications of adaptivity
Defense needs to understand
How to get better at being adaptive
What the limits are of traditional approaches
How to deal with Complexity and Adaptation at many levels
How to develop adaptive complex systems (rather than engineer complicated ones)
Consequences for all the DOTMLPF factors and for networking
How to Select, train and educate people to be adaptive
Implications for C2, ISR, NCW, EBO, national security, complex operations …
(and manage) the many System-of-System tradeoffs
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

5. Our focus Previous (and ongoing) Work Impact on Current Work
Adaptive Campaigning
Adaptation framework
Maturity
Levels
SAS-065
4 classes
5 levels
Several Scales
Previous (and ongoing) Work
CCRP
literature
Adaptive Networking
ICT network
Information network
Social
Force
Generation
Development
Current Work
Impact on
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

6. Force Generation
the process of selecting force elements from the parent force(s) and the structuring, integration and training of them up to the required level for Force Employment.
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

7. Various stages of developing, maintaining and employing a Force
Force-level
SoS Models
Experimentation Support Systems
Modeling and simulation & Trials
Various models of
operational contexts
System
Models
Feedback
Supports
Learning
Operational
Context
Force-level
SoS
Task-organized
systems
Force
Employment
Force
Development
Context
Capability
of Networked SoS
of component
systems
Rapid tech
insertion
Unit-level
Force RT&S
Context
Force level
Raise train & sustain
Force Raise Train & Sustain
New
capability
Force Generation
context
Spectrum of Component
capabilities
Organisationally Based
Force-level SoSs
Force
Generation
Customised
Deployable
force
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

8. The Questions
What are the desired adaptivity properties of the Force Generation process, that will result in the intended output (an effective deployable force with the desired adaptivity properties)
What are the desired outcomes of Force Generation
What are the key processes that influence these outcomes
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

9. A few observations
Capabilities of the parent force contribute to and constrain what an actual deployed force can do.
The Force Generation process is the bridge between the parent force and the employed forces
Networks play an important role in Force Generation
Facilitate the selection of the right elements
Facilitate feedback mechanisms
Experimentation is crucial
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

10. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

11. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
Effective  Enable and foster future effectiveness
Define Measures of Success and Failure well enough
Difficult: Multiple scales, dimensions, perspectives
Need to evolve during the operation
Feedback from Force Employment to Force Generation
Balance Long term and short term success
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

12. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
Integrated  Integrate disparate force elements
Build trust
Build sense of collective identify
Create willingness to cooperate
Make best use of various elements  sum greater than its parts
Ability to plan and act in a coherent way
Coherence within and one and across several rotations
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

13. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
Adaptive  Recognize need for change and
make effective changes in a timely way
Ability to maintain effective context-appropriate behavior
Requires many adaptive processes to function
Requires rich information sources to feed these processes
Requires ability to analyze complex dynamics
Requires Learning and Learning to Learn mechanisms
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

14. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
Deployable  Meets Operational levels of Capability
Structures and processes in place
Effective Hand Over / Take Over
All systems in place
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

15. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
Sustainable  Rate of consumptions consistent with
capacity to support force
Ability to identify changes and adapt rate
of replenishment as needed
In general: rates of utilization are not static
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

16. Intended output of the Force Generation Process
An Effective, Integrated, Adaptive, Deployable, Sustainable task force, able to support organizational learning
Organizational Learning  What works and what doesn’t
Robustness of systems and processes
What can be improved
Results from earlier attempts
Requires feedback into the appropriate learning processes
Many ways to record lessons learned
How well is the system able to use them
Biggest pitfall is widely dispersion of sub processes
 basis level 2 processes must be ensured.
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

17. Learning links between various stages
Force Employment
Deployed operations
Force Raise, Train and
Sustain
Force Generation
Organizational
Learning
eg processes to stimulate ad hoc reporting of observations, lessons etc
Extract & generalize.
What are the applicable lessons? What are domains of applicability? Caveats?
Observations, Lessons Learned, Anecdotes
Conjectures about what the lesson is
Identify
form and ……
appropriate dissemination
Recommended Implementation
measures
Further Exploration, Testing and Assessment
Refined lessons
with higher
confidence
Units
Level 1 Adaptive Action
individuals
Level 2 Learning
Organization
Level 2
Level 3
Learning-
to-Learn
Recommended Implementation measures
Observe,review each step in organizational learning, introduce changes to them, assess impact on learning effectiveness, select and implement
Put in place monitoring processes
to evaluate utility of
lessons
drawn
changes in effectiveness
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

18. Detailed requirement for Force Generation
A number of nested simultaneous adaptive processes
Learn about the history and dynamics of the C&IN of the situation
Co-evolve the intervention Stratagem to influence the situation with the force mix
Build the Force to be Employed
Assemble the force elements
Decide on and implement command and team structures
Integrate and train
Develop understanding of the situation
Evolve operational concepts
Undertake mission rehearsals
Develop the networks and relationships
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

19. A typical timeline for successive rotations
Pre - deployment
Operation
Post -
deployment
Concentration of force
Capability cross
briefs
Training
EX and AAR
Mission Rehearsal Exs
Insertion
Extraction
Planning Conferences
Discussions
Higher command Backbriefs
Coalition Command Post eXercises
Reconnaissance missions In
theatre Training
Reconnaissance
missions
Force
Generation
Rotation 1
Force Generation
Rotation 2
Rotation 3
Hand Over –
Take Over
Rotation
Always several rotations to deal with simultaneously
Therefore: Force Generation systems are well placed to facilitate Learning and adaptation between them
Coherence is a major challenge in three dimensions: Horizontally, Vertically and Temporally. Coherence needs continous monitoring
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008

20. Conclusions
We have identified the adaptive properties needed to support organizational learning and the force employment
Discussed a methodological approach to shape and assess Force Generation grounded in adaptivity
Addressed the challenges to create appropriate forces for complex endeavors
Noted the vital importance of social, information and ICT networks of the parent force to facilitate selection of force elements, provide feedback and grow networks of the deployable forces
Pointed out many ways in which networks can support and extend the capabilities of the force being generated
Still many open questions  further research necessary
The adaptive use of networks to generate adaptive forces
Bellevue, WA, June 2008