A Value-based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-making

A Value-based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-making PDF Author: Lowell A. Nelson (1LT, USAF.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Decision making
Languages : en
Pages : 89

Get Book Here

Book Description

A Value-based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-making

A Value-based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-making PDF Author: Lowell A. Nelson (1LT, USAF.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Decision making
Languages : en
Pages : 89

Get Book Here

Book Description


A Value-Based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-Making

A Value-Based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-Making PDF Author: Lowell A. Nelson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Decision making
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
This study develops a rational model for the incorporation of ethical values into military decision-making. The values considered include obedience to superiors, professional competence, and elements of just war theory such as proportionality and discrimination. A review of the relevant literature on just war theory and professional military ethics points to the science of multiattribute utility analysis as a means of representing the complex value tradeoffs essential to military decisions. The values and tradeoffs identified are interpreted in a hierarchy of objectives model which is used to evaluate value preferences between decision alternatives. With the hierarchy constructed, tradeoffs between values such as preservation of life and preservation of just social order are explained graphically in terms of indifference curves and utility functions. The effect of organizational roles on the evaluation of tradeoffs is also explored in the context of the model. The relevance of the hierarchy is examined by applying it to a historical decision concerning the strategic bombing of Schweinfurt in World War II. This model is useful as an aid to the understanding of ethical dilemmas, and with little further development could be integrated into a decision support system to aid in ethical decision- making.

A Value-Based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-Making

A Value-Based Hierarchy of Objectives for Military Decision-Making PDF Author: Lowell A. Nelson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Decision making
Languages : en
Pages : 89

Get Book Here

Book Description
This study develops a rational model for the incorporation of ethical values into military decision-making. The values considered include obedience to superiors, professional competence, and elements of just war theory such as proportionality and discrimination. A review of the relevant literature on just war theory and professional military ethics points to the science of multiattribute utility analysis as a means of representing the complex value tradeoffs essential to military decisions. The values and tradeoffs identified are interpreted in a hierarchy of objectives model which is used to evaluate value preferences between decision alternatives. With the hierarchy constructed, tradeoffs between values such as preservation of life and preservation of just social order are explained graphically in terms of indifference curves and utility functions. The effect of organizational roles on the evaluation of tradeoffs is also explored in the context of the model. The relevance of the hierarchy is examined by applying it to a historical decision concerning the strategic bombing of Schweinfurt in World War II. This model is useful as an aid to the understanding of ethical dilemmas, and with little further development could be integrated into a decision support system to aid in ethical decision- making.

Military Cost-Benefit Analysis

Military Cost-Benefit Analysis PDF Author: Francois Melese
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 131753171X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 325

Get Book Here

Book Description
This is the first comprehensive book on Military Cost-Benefit Analysis and provides novel approaches to structuring cost-benefit and affordability analysis amidst an uncertain defense environment and cloudy fiscal prospects. Lifting the veil on military Cost-Benefit Analysis, this volume offers several new practical tools designed to guide defense investments (and divestments), combined with a selection of real-world applications. The widespread employment of Cost-Benefit Analysis offers a unique opportunity to transform legacy defense forces into efficient, effective, and accountable 21st century organizations. A synthesis of economics, statistics and decision theory, CBA is currently used in a wide range of defense applications in countries around the world: i) to shape national security strategy, ii) to set acquisition policy, and iii) to inform critical investments in people, equipment, infrastructure, services and supplies. As sovereign debt challenges squeeze national budgets, and emerging threats disrupt traditional notions of security, this volume offers valuable tools to navigate the political landscape, meet calls for fiscal accountability, and boost the effectiveness of defense investments to help guarantee future peace and stability. A valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, novices and experts, this book offers a comprehensive overview of Military Cost-Benefit Analysis and will appeal to anyone interested or involved in improving national security, and will also be of general interest to those responsible for major government programs, projects or policies.

Applications of Operations Research and Management Science for Military Decision Making

Applications of Operations Research and Management Science for Military Decision Making PDF Author: William P. Fox
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 303020569X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 498

Get Book Here

Book Description
Based on many years of applied research, modeling and educating future decision makers, the authors have selected the critical set of mathematical modeling skills for decision analysis to include in this book. The book focuses on the model formulation and modeling building skills, as well as the technology to support decision analysis. The authors cover many of the main techniques that have been incorporated into their three-course sequence in mathematical modeling for decision making in the Department of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. The primary objective of this book is illustrative in nature. It begins with an introduction to mathematical modeling and a process for formally thinking about difficult problems, illustrating many scenarios and illustrative examples. The book incorporates the necessary mathematical foundations for solving these problems with military applications and related military processes to reinforce the applied nature of the mathematical modeling process.

Handbook of Decision Analysis

Handbook of Decision Analysis PDF Author: Gregory S. Parnell
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118515846
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 441

Get Book Here

Book Description
A ONE-OF-A-KIND GUIDE TO THE BEST PRACTICES IN DECISION ANALYSIS Decision analysis provides powerful tools for addressing complex decisions that involve uncertainty and multiple objectives, yet most training materials on the subject overlook the soft skills that are essential for success in the field. This unique resource fills this gap in the decision analysis literature and features both soft personal/interpersonal skills and the hard technical skills involving mathematics and modeling. Readers will learn how to identify and overcome the numerous challenges of decision making, choose the appropriate decision process, lead and manage teams, and create value for their organization. Performing modeling analysis, assessing risk, and implementing decisions are also addressed throughout. Additional features include: Key insights gleaned from decision analysis applications and behavioral decision analysis research Integrated coverage of the techniques of single- and multiple-objective decision analysis Multiple qualitative and quantitative techniques presented for each key decision analysis task Three substantive real-world case studies illustrating diverse strategies for dealing with the challenges of decision making Extensive references for mathematical proofs and advanced topics The Handbook of Decision Analysis is an essential reference for academics and practitioners in various fields including business, operations research, engineering, and science. The book also serves as a supplement for courses at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels.

Government Reports Announcements & Index

Government Reports Announcements & Index PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1768

Get Book Here

Book Description


Theory and Methods for Supporting High Level Military Decisionmaking

Theory and Methods for Supporting High Level Military Decisionmaking PDF Author: Paul K. Davis
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN: 0833040391
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 106

Get Book Here

Book Description
This report describes an approach to high-level decision support for a Joint Forces Air Component Commander in combat operations or a Chief of Staff in defense planning. Its central theme is the fundamental importance of dealing effectively with uncertainty, whether in effects-based operations, building the Air Force's Commander's Predictive Environment, or planning future forces with the methods of capabilities-based planning. Because many features of the future cannot be predicted with reasonable confidence, it is better to proceed with the expectation of surprise developments and to have skill in recognizing adaptations and making them than it is to treat uncertainty merely as an annoyance. This report sketches the framework of a high-level decision-support environment that is top-down, expresses concepts in simple and intuitive language, deals explicitly with risk and uncertainty, and provides the capability for decisionmakers to readily discover and question the bases for key assumptions and assessments. It can accommodate both "rational-analytic" and "naturalistic" decisionmakers, allowing them to produce strategies that are flexible, adaptive, and robust (FAR). Two explicit methods and their related tools are described. The first involves portfolio-style thinking and analysis, a good mechanism for balancing risks and other considerations in choosing a course of action. The second is a novel modification of foresight exercises that addresses the need to include humans effectively in dealing with uncertainty. A more extensive discussion of available methods and enabling technologies is also presented, along with some recommendations about investment priorities.

Government reports annual index

Government reports annual index PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 1114

Get Book Here

Book Description


Decision Making in Systems Engineering and Management

Decision Making in Systems Engineering and Management PDF Author: Patrick J. Driscoll
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119901421
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 580

Get Book Here

Book Description
DECISION MAKING IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT A thoroughly updated overview of systems engineering management and decision making In the newly revised third edition of Decision Making in Systems Engineering and Management, the authors deliver a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the systems decision process, systems thinking, and qualitative and quantitative multi-criteria value modeling directly supporting decision making throughout the system lifecycle. This book offers readers major new updates that cover recently developed system modeling and analysis techniques and quantitative and qualitative approaches in the field, including effective techniques for addressing uncertainty. In addition to Excel, six new open-source software applications have been added to illustrate key topics, including SIPmath Modeler Tools, Cambridge Advanced Modeller, SystemiTool2.0, and Gephi 0.9.2. The authors have reshaped the book’s organization and presentation to better support educators engaged in remote learning. New appendices have been added to present extensions for a new realization analysis technique and getting started steps for each of the major software applications. Updated illustrative examples support modern system decision making skills and highlight applications in hardware, organizations, policy, logistic supply chains, and architecture. Readers will also find: Thorough introductions to working with systems, the systems engineering perspective, and systems thinking In-depth presentations of applied systems thinking, including holism, element dependencies, expansive and contractive thinking, and concepts of structure, classification, and boundaries Comprehensive explorations of system representations leading to analysis In-depth discussions of supporting system decisions, including the system decision process (SDP), tradespace methods, multi-criteria value modeling, working with stakeholders, and the system environment Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students studying systems engineering and systems engineering management, Decision Making in Systems Engineering and Management will also earn a place in the libraries of practicing system engineers and researchers with an interest in the topic.