Systems Critique of the Military Decision-Making Process at the Operational Level of War

<p>The Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) is the U.S. Army's single analytical process used to assist the commander and staff in developing estimates and plans for military problem solving. A growing body of research and published works within and outside of the Army community are critical of MDMP as an ineffective means of planning and decision-making. Nonetheless joint operational planning doctrine has adopted the principles of MDMP as the basis for operational planning and decision-making. This monograph examines a revisionist account of general systems theory (GST) and proposes it as an alternative construct for future military-decision making at the operational level of war. This research rests upon Shimon Naveh's thesis in his In Pursuit of Military Excellence which asserts that any methodological approach to warfare must be theoretically consistent with the materiel system conditions of warfare. Hence in those campaigns where a systemic approach was applied in both the planning and management of armed forces the nature of warfare was marked by sound operational logic... This monograph seeks to answer the primary research question: Is a general systems theory approach to decision-making suitable for the operational level of war? This question is not only of academic interest but also indicative of calls for institutional change resulting from Army and DoD transformation initiatives. A revisionist form of GST or ‘postmodern-GST' is presented as a framework for military-decision making because of its socio-cultural implications and its value as a potentially progressive and liberating mode of thinking. The influences of other 20th century theories namely structuralism post structuralism and critical theory are relevant because of their undeniable influence on GST and its revival as a postmodern epistemology. These influences must be examined in order to identify the implications that a priori or uncritically accepted warfare theory has on decision</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>