Modelling Enabling Capabilities
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Modelling Enabling Capabilities IM Mitchell' andJ Medhurst2 'Def'ncc Science and Technology Laboratory, United Kingdom aiid 2Larrainzar Consulting Solutions Limited, Salisbury, United Kingdom
Referms to UK Ministry f Defence acquisition organisations demand greater coherence and coverage in
Some equipments are seen to be battle-winners, such as tanks or artillery systems. Improvements
Operational Research (OR) based assessments of
in their performance lead directly to visible
core capabilities that enable other capabilities to function, which we have termed enabling capabilities, have proven especia/15 dvj]icult to assess. This article describes a structure of metrics, with quantitative assessments at the higher- level derived from individual lower-level assessments according to an explicit systems-level olganising model. It suggests an effective methodology for assessing one of these enabling capabilities, the ]\'ítclear Biological and Chemical (NBC)
changes in operational outcomes. In contrast to these directly efThctive capabilities, enabling capabilities become apparent primarily when they fail. They arc necessary rather than
equipment capability.
sufficient conditions for success. In consequence,
their assessment is a challenge, yet it is also essential to inform the design of balanced forces that seek best value from the investments made in the technologies of the day Systems thinking
defence.
has proved valuable in the development of a means to assess these enabling capabilities. It
Keywords:
may also have broader application.
Defence, Equipment, Government, Military, Performance Measurement, Practice of OR, Soft OR, Soft systems modelling. System Dynamics, Systems
Structure This article outlines the organisational context of
the problem of analysing enabling equipment
Correspondence:
capabilities, reviewing a set of definitions for OA metrics. It then considers systems and their
IM Mitchell, Room 337 Northumberland House, Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BI [email protected]
components and describes an approach to the problem of assessing enabling capabilities as components based on changes to higher-level
J Mcdhurst, Larrainzar Consulting Solutions Ltd, I The Maples, Devizcs Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7LL, john1arrainzar.co.uk
system outputs.
Context
Introduction
The end of the Cold War shifted the emphasis in
Military operational Research (OR), otherwise
acquisition towards the generation of robust
known as Operational Analysis (OA), has
military capability to deal with a broad range of
applications across defence. One substantial OA effort within the Applied Research Programme supports decision makers in their choices over the acquisition of equipment capability. This article focuses on this area of OA.
contingencies, many arising suddenly, rather than on, as previously during the Cold War, optimisation of forces and their equipments for one well understood scenario.
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