Military Command & Control Metaphor - Innovative?
Last week in research question # 1 we asked if the hierarchy’s value had expired. Suggesting that elimination of the hierarchy would require an alternative governance framework to replace the tried and true hierarchy. Recall that the alternative framework we developed in the Draft Specification is what we call the Military Command & Control Metaphor (MCCM). It might seem a contradiction to suggest that the military chain of command enables innovation at the producer level. The military is known for its strict adherence to command and control, how is this going to assist the innovative producer? And isn’t the use of the MCCM going to cause the Joint Operating Committee to be less responsive as a result?
First is the fact that the strict level of adherence is a reflection of the command and control that is implemented. We are attempting to impose an organizational structure on to the various members of the producer firms that have been seconded to the specific Joint Operating Committee. These resources are being sourced from a multitude of organizations, they also continue to have responsibilities to the individual producer that they represent. Therefore imposing this structure allows them to interact, respecting the equivalent military chain of command used, in a manner that is expected of them in both the JOC and at the producer firm that employs them.
Second is the innovative footing that we are striving to provide to both the producer and the JOC. This innovative footing seems counter to the military command and control expectations. Victor Davis Hanson is a well known military historian. In this video at around the 33:00 minute mark, he makes the interesting comment noted just below the video.
I still can’t believe as a military historian that we came up with the idea that a flying fortress was going to go over daylight at about 200 miles an hour and supposedly at 30,000 feet knock out the strategic capability of Germany. And depend on a few 50 calibre machine guns to save this lumbering plane that had as few as nine crew members and they were going to be fighting against the finest fighter pilots in the world in ME-109’s and they think they can pull it off when the British had tried it and had already assumed that it was impossible. And we did that of course and we lost 25,000 Americans, six times more then in the Iraq war, on that flawed concept. But that's the nature of war, live and learn. And out of that we learned what. You could stack formations to increase fire power. You could create drop tanks and have Thunderbolts and Mustangs escort them. You could use radio signals, you could use chafe. And by that trial and error counter response, response, counter response by 1945 the B-17’s were taking a lethal toll on German society and industry. And that is what usually happens in war.And at 1:01 minutes, based on his experiences Professor Hanson states;
There is more free speech in the military then there is in a university campus.In this example I see two characteristics at play. The first is the ability of the higher command to maintain the focus on a difficult and costly job for the long term. Secondly, the ability to innovate in the use of the resources to achieve the long term goal, success in its mission. Compare this, or any other military operation, against the capabilities of the hierarchy and I think we can see the use of the Military Command & Control Metaphor will enhance the JOC’s and producers that use, prospectively, People, Ideas & Objects software applications.
For the industry to successfully provide for the consumers energy demands, it’s necessary to build the systems that identify and support the Joint Operating Committee. Building the Preliminary Specification is the focus of People, Ideas & Objects. Producers are encouraged to contact me in order to support our Revenue Model and begin their participation in these communities. Those individuals that are interested in joining People, Ideas & Objects can join me here and begin building the software necessary for the successful and innovative oil and gas industry.
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