Command and Control: The Sociotechnical Perspective

Command and Control: The Sociotechnical Perspective
Title Command and Control: The Sociotechnical Perspective PDF eBook
Author Guy H Walker
Publisher CRC Press
Pages 216
Release 2017-09-18
Genre Technology & Engineering
ISBN 1317164059

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Military command and control is not merely evolving, it is co-evolving. Technology is creating new opportunities for different types of command and control, and new types of command and control are creating new aspirations for technology. The question is how to manage this process, how to achieve a jointly optimised blend of socio and technical and create the kind of agility and self-synchronisation that modern forms of command and control promise. The answer put forward in this book is to re-visit sociotechnical systems theory. In doing so, the problems of 21st century command and control can be approached from an alternative, multi-disciplinary and above all human-centred perspective. Human factors (HF) is also co-evolving. The traditional conception of the field is to serve as a conduit for knowledge between engineering and psychology yet 21st century command and control presents an altogether different challenge. Viewing military command and control through the lens of sociotechnical theory forces us to confront difficult questions about the non-linear nature of people and technology: technology is changing, from platform centric to network centric; the interaction with that technology is changing, from prescribed to exploratory; and complexity is increasing, from behaviour that is linear to that which is emergent. The various chapters look at this transition and draw out ways in which sociotechnical systems theory can help to understand it. The sociotechnical perspective reveals itself as part of a conceptual toolkit through which military command and control can be transitioned, from notions of bureaucratic, hierarchical ways of operating to the devolved, agile, self-synchronising behaviour promised by modern forms of command and control like Network Enabled Capability (NEC). Sociotechnical system theory brings with it a sixty year legacy of practical application and this real-world grounding in business process re-engineering underlies the entire book. An attempt has been made to bring a set of sometimes abstract (but no less useful) principles down to the level of easy examples, design principles, evaluation criteria and actionable models. All of these are based on an extensive review of the current state of the art, new sociotechnical/NEC studies conducted by the authors, and insights derived from field studies of real-life command and control. Time and again, what emerges is a realisation that the most agile, self-synchronising component of all in command and control settings is the human.

Command and Control

Command and Control
Title Command and Control PDF eBook
Author Guy Walker
Publisher Ashgate Publishing Company
Pages 198
Release 2009
Genre Computers
ISBN 9780754672654

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Military command and control is not merely evolving, it is co-evolving. Technology is creating new opportunities for different types of command and control, and new types of command and control are creating new aspirations for technology. The question is how to manage this process, how to achieve a jointly optimised blend of the social and the technical and create the kind of agility and self-synchronisation that modern forms of command and control promise. The answer put forward in this book is to re-visit the classical sociotechnical systems theory. Human Factors (HF) is also co-evolving. The traditional conception of the field is to serve as a conduit for knowledge between engineering and psychology, yet 21st century command and control presents an altogether different challenge. Viewing military command and control through the lens of sociotechnical theory forces us to confront difficult questions about the non-linear nature of people and technology. The sociotechnical perspective reveals itself as part of a conceptual toolkit through which military command and control can be transitioned, from notions of bureaucratic, hierarchical ways of operating to the devolved, agile, self-synchronising behaviour promised by modern forms of command and control like Network Enabled Capability (NEC). Sociotechnical system theory brings with it a sixty year legacy of practical application and this real-world grounding in business process re-engineering underlies the entire book. This book transforms a set of abstract principles down to the level of easy examples, design principles, evaluation criteria and actionable models. All of these are based on an extensive review of the current state of the art, new sociotechnical-NEC studies conducted by the authors, and insights derived from field studies of real-life command and control. Time and again, what emerges is a realisation that the most agile and self-synchronising component of all in command and control settings are the people.

The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Law of Armed Conflict

The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Law of Armed Conflict
Title The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Law of Armed Conflict PDF eBook
Author MAJ Ronald T.P. Alcala
Publisher Oxford University Press
Pages 409
Release 2019-08-30
Genre Law
ISBN 019091534X

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Emerging technologies have always played an important role in armed conflict. From the crossbow to cyber capabilities, technology that could be weaponized to create an advantage over an adversary has inevitably found its way into military arsenals for use in armed conflict. The weaponization of emerging technologies, however, raises challenging legal issues with respect to the law of armed conflict. As States continue to develop and exploit new technologies, how will the law of armed conflict address the use of these technologies on the battlefield? Is existing law sufficient to regulate new technologies, such as cyber capabilities, autonomous weapons systems, and artificial intelligence? Have emerging technologies fundamentally altered the way we should understand concepts such as law-of-war precautions and the principle of distinction? How can we ensure compliance and accountability in light of technological advancement? This volume of the Lieber Studies explores these critical questions while highlighting the legal challenges--and opportunities--presented by the use of emerging technologies on the battlefield.

Human Factors and Ergonomics in Sport

Human Factors and Ergonomics in Sport
Title Human Factors and Ergonomics in Sport PDF eBook
Author Paul M. Salmon
Publisher CRC Press
Pages 270
Release 2020-09-03
Genre Technology & Engineering
ISBN 1351060058

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Sport is an integral part of society, playing a key role in human health and well-being, and cultural, political and economic development. As sport is becoming more complex, competitive, diverse, and increasingly reliant on technology, HFE theories, methods, and principles are progressively being applied to help understand and optimize sports systems. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Sport: Applications and Future Directions showcases the latest in sports HFE research and practice. Including contributions from both HFE and sports science researchers, it provides a collection of state-of-the-art studies, reviews and commentaries covering a diverse set of sports and sporting issues. "This book is an excellent resource for all academics and students in general. It provides updated theoretical foundations and applications that conceive a world where everything is connected and embedded in technology that allows us to capture, process and visualise actions and interactions, also at transdisciplinary levels." Professor Jaime Sampaio, Head of the Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal "With the changing nature of work comes an ever-greater focus on leisure. Sport is a major dimension of this crucial form of human activity. Now comes Salmon and his colleagues who have assembled a panoply of world leaders who each provide their own individual perspectives on this intriguing world. Their emphasis on the human factors and ergonomics of these activities brings us new and exciting insights. A great read for the specialist and generalist alike." Professor Peter Hancock, Pegasus Professor, Provost Distinguished Research Professor and Trustee Chair, University of Central Florida, USA. "Finally, the complexity of sports and health is being considered in full. This book challenges contemporary thinking toward the prevention of injuries in sports, and provides tangible solutions to help our field into a new decade." Professor Evert Verhagen, Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports & Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center

C2 Re-envisioned

C2 Re-envisioned
Title C2 Re-envisioned PDF eBook
Author Marius S. Vassiliou
Publisher CRC Press
Pages 302
Release 2014-12-08
Genre Computers
ISBN 1466595817

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Command and Control (C2) is the set of organizational and technical attributes and processes by which an enterprise marshals and employs human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions.C2 Re-envisioned: The Future of the Enterprise identifies four interrelated megatrends that are individually and collectively sh

Systems Thinking in Practice

Systems Thinking in Practice
Title Systems Thinking in Practice PDF eBook
Author Neville A. Dr. Stanton
Publisher CRC Press
Pages 255
Release 2018-09-03
Genre Technology & Engineering
ISBN 135159883X

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This book presents the latest developments of Systems Thinking in Practice to the analysis and design of complex sociotechnical systems. The Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) method is applied to micro, meso and macro systems. Written by experts in the field, this text covers a diverse range of domains, including: automation, aviation, energy grid distribution, military command and control, road and rail transportation, sports, and urban planning. Extensions to the EAST method are presented along with future directions for the approach. Illustrates a contemporary review of the status of Distributed Cognition (DCOG) Presents examples of the application of Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) method Presents examples of the application of Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) method Discusses the metrics for the examination of social, task, and information networks Provides comparison of alternative networks with implications for design of DCOG in systems

New Paradigms in Ergonomics

New Paradigms in Ergonomics
Title New Paradigms in Ergonomics PDF eBook
Author Neville A. Stanton
Publisher Routledge
Pages 162
Release 2020-04-28
Genre Technology & Engineering
ISBN 1351208942

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The systems in which we work continue to evolve, creating emergent problems and often strengthening intractable issues. In order to remain relevant and impactful, the discipline of ergonomics needs its paradigms to evolve too. The aim of this book is to provide researchers and practitioners with new paradigms in the form of ideas, concepts, theories, methods, practices and values. The chapters take the reader on a journey through underlying theories, new ways to apply those theories and emerging domains in which ergonomics is expected to play a greater role. Readers of this book will be inspired by these new paradigms in ergonomics and seek to push the boundaries even further. The lifeblood of the science depends on continual evolvement and developments to take on the challenges we face in complex sociotechnical systems design and evaluation. Perhaps the most significant take-home message from this book is the demonstration of how theory maps onto practice. As such, the only remaining paradigm shift is for these ideas, concepts, methods and practices to be taken up more widely and the discipline advanced, until the next paradigm shift occurs. The chapters were originally published as a special issue in the journal Ergonomics.