Separate Sides of the Same Coin: Organization Design and (Good) Design of a Decision Support Tool

Abstract

A decision support tool has been designed to allow operations planners to incorporate organizational and cultural factors into the building of effective multinational mission forces. Development of this tool was guided by principles from Human Factors and the Congruence Model of organizations. A user-centered design process was employed. The work process of the target user was analyzed and formed the basis for the steps in the tool's work process. The tool contains several databases that allow a user to build alternate task-staffing configurations associated with a mission plan. The tool simulates the projected performance of these configurations, based on characteristics of tasks, assigned units, and command arrangements. Planners are provided with a macro-level perspective of the mission structure as the operation is staffed; the tool enables them to construct the “best fit” from the operational requirements and the tasking resources at their disposal.