Development of agreeable models for army intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of concept development

Abstract

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) is an integral function of the Australian Army, providing information and intelligence to decision makers at all levels. Army's ISR system comprises the equipment, personnel, processes and organisation that conduct collection activities. However, it has been noted that there is a lack of a guiding concept for future development, resulting in unease in acquisition, a lack of integration, and questions over whether the ISR system is being employed as effectively as possible. Accordingly, Army Headquarters (AHQ) has identified a need for a future Land ISR concept, to be supported by analysis from DST Group. This paper focuses on the problem structuring component of that support. This problem structuring for Army ISR concept development covered the scope, the actors, the current situation, key themes and what the concept is intended to achieve. To this effectively, it is important to be able to understand, explore and improve the system, and modelling is an important means to represent the system in a way that stakeholders and analysts can agree with, and understand. Given the nature of the problem, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was identified as the most appropriate technique due to its focus on finding out about the problematic situation, which will support development of a range of models. The researchers worked with Army stakeholders to develop a SSM rich picture of the ISR system, an analysis of stakeholder roles, and a set of root definitions that could be developed into activity models. This SSM investigation was supplemented by development of an ISR functional model. The majority of the data collected came from a series of three facilitated workshops with AHQ subject matter experts (SME), where the analyst could ask relevant questions of SME to learn about the situation, and present and refine models. Discussion in these workshops covered the role, scope, actors, key themes and functionality of the Army ISR system. The ISR system rich picture was added to and refined at each workshop to describe the ISR system from capability to effects. Models were used to represent and easily modify what relationship each actor had to the ISR concept, and what they wanted from the concept. A model of ISR functionality was also produced as a framework for analysis of concept options. Root definitions, or PQR statements, of the form do P, by Q, in order to achieve R, were developed based on the discussion to capture key points for the concept to address. These statements can also be used as measures of effectiveness for the concept. To be effective the concept must address the PQR statements produced, so that it guides capability decisions, considers future systems, describes how capability provides effects, aligns terminology and addresses key themes. This report demonstrates the application of SSM as a basis for problem structuring complex military systems, in order to support development of a range of models that can provide guidance to a military concept writing process.