Human Research and Engineering Directorate Research Areas

Developing Adaptable People, Organizations, and Technology

Advisor:  LG Pierce

Key words: adaptability, information technology, information systems

Battle command of military operations requires leaders and teams who are able to make decisions and respond in an appropriate, timely manner even in highly uncertain situations. The degree of situational uncertainty has continued to increase as military requirements have evolved in response to changing conditions around the world and advances in information technology. The superior warfighting capabilities of the U.S. military forces have encouraged our adversaries to adapt their tactics, to operate as terrorists undermining the safety and security of the people in the United States and the world.

To respond to the terrorist threat, military forces must anticipate the unexpected and be prepared for the unimaginable. The people and organizations of the military must be adaptable and technology must enable their adaptability. Adaptability is both a proactive and reactive process, and can be seen in what military forces do and how they operate.

Information systems are a critical component of adaptable performance—especially of distributed, decentralized, yet highly interdependent military forces required to deftly transition from peacekeeping to warfighting to peacekeeping in collaboration with joint, interagency, and multinational forces. Countering worldwide terrorism, keeping the peace, and responding to humanitarian crises are operations for coalitions.

Research will be conducted to define the training requirements, organizational design, and information system requirements for adaptable performance of military coalitions.

Reference
Beck HP, Dzindolet MT, Pierce LG: Applying a decision-making model to understand misuse, disuse and appropriate automation use, in Advances in Human Factors and Cognitive Engineering: Automation. Edited by Salas E. Amsterdam: JAI, 2002: 37.