Information Sharing Among Military Headquarters The Effects on Decisionmaking

by Perry, Walter L.

• ISBN13: 9780833036681
• ISBN10: 0833036688
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-06-21
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Proposes theoretical method to assess the effects of information gathering and collaboration across an information network on military decisions taken by a group of local decisionmakers.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Tables	xi
Summary	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxxi
Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms	xxxiii
CHAPTER ONE Introduction	1	(6)
Objective	1	(1)
The Information Superiority Reference Model	2	(2)
Research Approach	4	(2)
Organisation of This Report	6	(1)
CHAPTER TWO Decisions in a Network	7	(12)
The Decision Model	8	(2)
Estimators	10	(1)
A Networked Decision Model	10	(6)
Clusters	12	(1)
Partitioning	13	(1)
Requirements for a Model of the Process	14	(1)
Framing	15	(1)
Shared Awareness and Clustering	15	(1)
A Simple Logistics Example	16	(3)
CHAPTER THREE
Representing Uncertainty	19	(1)
Decisions	19	(1)
A Multivariate Normal Model	20	(1)
Knowledge from Entropy	21	(3)
Knowledge	22	(1)
The Effects of Knowledge	23	(1)
More General Models	24	(2)
Multi-Attribute Assessment	26	(5)
Simple Additive Weights Method	27	(1)
Weighted Product Method	28	(1)
Precedence Weighting	29	(2)
Mutual Information	31	(6)
Relative Entropy	32	(1)
Mutual Information	33	(1)
Cruise Missile Type and Speed	33	(2)
Entropy and Mutual Information	35	(2)
Summing Up	37	(2)
CHAPTER FOUR The Effects of Collaboration	39	(22)
Knowledge	39	(6)
Bias	40	(1)
Precision	40	(1)
Precision and Entropy	41	(1)
Estimating Local Knowledge	42	(1)
Precision and Knowledge in the Logistics Example	42	(3)
Accuracy	45	(5)
Accuracy in the Logistics Example	48	(2)
The Effects of Bias, Precision, and Accuracy on Knowledge	50	(1)
Completeness	51	(2)
Information 'Ageing'	53	(3)
Time Lapse	53	(1)
Updating	54	(2)
Measuring the Overall Effect of Cluster Collaboration	56	(5)
CHAPTER FIVE The Effects of Complexity	61	(26)
Complex Networks	61	(3)
What Is Complexity?	62	(2)
Plecticity	64	(1)
Accessing Information	64	(7)
Distance and Connectivity	66	(5)
Network Redundancy	71	(6)
Unneeded Information	73	(1)
The Combined Effects	73	(1)
The Benefits of Redundancy	74	(3)
Combining the Benefits	77	(2)
The Costs of Information Within a Cluster	79	(5)
Costs of Unneeded Information	80	(1)
Costs of Redundant but Needed Information	80	(3)
Combining the Costs of Information for a Cluster	83	(1)
Combining Costs and Benefits	84	(1)
Overall Network Performance	85	(1)
Summing Up	86	(1)
CHAPTER SIX
Conclusion	87	(4)
APPENDIX
A. The Rapid Planning Process	91	(14)
B. Information Entropy	105	(6)
C. Application to a Logistics Network	111	(8)
Bibliography	119