Experimentation Management Knowledge System: Information Systems Integration for DoD Network-Centric Operations

A current major focus in the DoD involves the integration of information across the different military branches for operations. Network-centric information methods will enable efficiencies through the integration of best-of-breed software and hardware from each branch of the military, together with the latest advances from government laboratories and the private sector. Information merging will promote synergy and expand effective use of the enterprise infrastructure to realize improved operational and organizational processes. Research to date has focused on core network and infrastructure capabilities but has not fully addressed strategic organizational objectives in the context of systems integration. A model is advanced that establishes variables for enterprise analysis to assess strategic technical objectives enabled or hindered through new network-cen-tric capabilities. Examples are derived from operational experimentation in network-centric warfare but presented generically to apply to any organization seeking to assess the effectiveness of organizational strategy as enabled or hindered through network-based communications and enterprise-level systems integration.