The Operations Intent and Effects Model: A Command and Control Methodology for Increased Automation

Command and Control (C2) is viewed as an increasingly important part of future military technologies. While recent C2 theory has focused on desirable features of complex organizations such as agility, and emerging work is looking at social media approaches, the key issues for many militaries are how to integrate and benefit from increased automation. Rapid advances in robotic and simulation technologies challenge the current C2 methodologies that rely on intensive human intervention and monitoring. Future C2 will need to accommodate mixed forces of humans and robots. The uncertainty inherent in an actual mission, and the variety of potential organizations that support the mission after it is underway, make Command Intent (CI) a critical concept for automated C2 systems. Both humans and decision support services (including simulations) within a C2 system need to have the ability to communicate and interpret a shared CI. The Operations Intent and Effects Model (OIEM) identifies the relationships among Intent, Actions, and Effects in a C2 framework. We describe this model and show how it can represent and support operations as well as enable the design of more effective C2 systems in the future. Presented at the 18th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (ICCRTS) C2 in Underdeveloped, Degraded and Denied Operational Environments held in Alexandria, VA, on 19-21 June 2013. U.S. Government or Federal Rights License.