Formalizing Operations Intent and Effects for Network-Centric Applications

A network-centric approach enables systems to be interconnected in a dynamic and flexible architecture to support multi-lateral, civilian and military missions. Constantly changing environments require commanders to plan for more flexible missions that allow organizations from various nations and agencies to join or separate from the teams performing the missions, depending on the situation. The uncertainty inherent in an actual mission, and the variety of potential organizations that support the mission after it is underway, makes command intent (CI) a critical concept for the mission team. Both humans and computerized decision support services need to have the ability to communicate and interpret a shared CI. This paper presents the operations intent and effects model (OIEM) - a model that relates CI to effects, and supports both traditional military planning and effects based operation. In the provided example the suggested command and control language is used to express operations intent and effects.