A new methodology for the identification of operational stress points and assessment of technology solutions

Military operations place demands on command support systems and communications infrastructure that vary according to the phase of the operation. We present here a new methodology for the analysis of operational architecture products that enables the ready identification of stress points in the command, control and communications (C3) systems supporting operations. We then combine this with a comprehensive technology assessment framework, where we seek to match specific technologies against the specific Information Exchange Requirements (IER) at the identified C3 stress points. In addition to specific information and communications requirements, the assessment framework also considers a range of factors critical to the successful uptake of new technologies into existing contexts. These factors include technology type, scope of applicability, technology maturity, operational impact and architectural and organisational match.