Strategic Competition and Crisis Wargame: Integrating a Dynamic Reputation Model to Enhance the Strategic Competition and Crisis Wargame for the Center for Army Analysis

Abstract

The Center for Army Analysis (CAA) developed the Strategic Competition and Crisis (SC2) Wargame to address shortcomings in the U.S. Army’s strategic planning during competition and crisis. This capstone enhanced the SC2 Wargame over the course of two years. Last year, the capstone developed a dynamic, perspective-based reputation model designed for integration into SC2. This year, the capstone integrated the model to produce a more efficient, objective-focused wargame that optimizes strategic learning for senior military leaders. Building off the work from the previous year, this capstone combined tools from the Systems Decision Process with the theoretical framework within the Defense and Strategic Studies Department to create and implement an improved product. Analysis of the original framework of the game uncovered three improvement areas that address each component of gameplay: strategy-focused player guidebooks, a realistic negotiations-pairing process, and real-time feedback through a Player Dashboard.