Abstract
Theory on the use of information technology in military operations assumes that bringing together units in an information network helps units to work together. Decentralized command systems such as mission command have been proposed for these networks, so that units can adapt to changes in their turbulent working environments. Others have proposed centralized command systems that permit higher organizational levels to closely direct military operations. This article uses Perrow’s (1984, 1999) Normal Accidents Theory to propose that increasing interdependencies between units in information networks places incompatible demands on the design of networked military operations. It is concluded that networked military operations require decentralized command approaches, but only under the condition that interdependencies between modules of networked units are weak rather than tight. This precondition is essential for retaining control over networked military operations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 445-466 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Journal of Strategic Studies |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Jun 2015 |
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Keywords
- Military Innovation
- Military Transformation
- Mission Command (Auftragstaktik)
- Network-Centric Warfare
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Mission command in the information age : a normal accidents perspective on networked military operations. / van Bezooijen, B.J.A.; Kramer, E.H.
In: Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 38, No. 4, 07.06.2015, p. 445-466.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mission command in the information age
T2 - a normal accidents perspective on networked military operations
AU - van Bezooijen, B.J.A.
AU - Kramer, E.H.
PY - 2015/6/7
Y1 - 2015/6/7
N2 - Theory on the use of information technology in military operations assumes that bringing together units in an information network helps units to work together. Decentralized command systems such as mission command have been proposed for these networks, so that units can adapt to changes in their turbulent working environments. Others have proposed centralized command systems that permit higher organizational levels to closely direct military operations. This article uses Perrow’s (1984, 1999) Normal Accidents Theory to propose that increasing interdependencies between units in information networks places incompatible demands on the design of networked military operations. It is concluded that networked military operations require decentralized command approaches, but only under the condition that interdependencies between modules of networked units are weak rather than tight. This precondition is essential for retaining control over networked military operations.
AB - Theory on the use of information technology in military operations assumes that bringing together units in an information network helps units to work together. Decentralized command systems such as mission command have been proposed for these networks, so that units can adapt to changes in their turbulent working environments. Others have proposed centralized command systems that permit higher organizational levels to closely direct military operations. This article uses Perrow’s (1984, 1999) Normal Accidents Theory to propose that increasing interdependencies between units in information networks places incompatible demands on the design of networked military operations. It is concluded that networked military operations require decentralized command approaches, but only under the condition that interdependencies between modules of networked units are weak rather than tight. This precondition is essential for retaining control over networked military operations.
KW - Military Innovation
KW - Military Transformation
KW - Mission Command (Auftragstaktik)
KW - Network-Centric Warfare
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929607429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01402390.2013.844127
DO - 10.1080/01402390.2013.844127
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84929607429
VL - 38
SP - 445
EP - 466
JO - Journal of Strategic Studies
JF - Journal of Strategic Studies
SN - 0140-2390
IS - 4
ER -