Centralized Control And Decentralized Execution A Catchphrase In Crisis

The Air Force's master tenet of centralized control, decentralized execution is in danger of becoming dogma. Airmen have difficulty communicating the meaning of this phrase in a joint setting. This is partially due to our limited understanding of its history and the imprecise meaning of the words involved. Furthermore, the irregular conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq (and the ongoing service debates in the Pacific) have demonstrated the need for a deeper understanding of this master tenet to advocate effectively for airpower solutions. We must get this right, as it is critical to maximizing airpower's potential. Getting it right, however, requires moving beyond sound bites and bumper stickers.

This book offers an accessible introduction to the U.S. military as an institution and provides insights into the military’s structure and norms. Designed for undergraduate students, the book offers an interdisciplinary overview of America’s armed forces through three critical lenses. First, it introduces the military’s constitutional and historical context. Second, it presents concise factual information chosen for its relevance to the military’s structures, procedures, norms, and varied activities. Finally, it intersperses these facts with debates, theories, and questions to spark student interest, class discussion, and further research. The text is written for the beginner but covers complex topics such as force structure and the defense budget. With contributions informed by both scholarly approaches and long military careers, the book will prepare students for further studies in international relations, civil-military relations, or U.S. foreign policy. It also encourages critical thinking, elucidating an institution that undergraduates and other civilians too often perceive as both baffling and above reproach. This book will be of much interest to students of the U.S. military, civil-military relations, U.S. politics, and public policy.

Using hard power in the context of an expanding set of threats is complex, expensive and risky. European medium powers, especially, must make tough choices on the future capabilities, roles and equipment of their armed forces, as well as their ability to act independently of alliance partners. Decision Points: Rationalising the Armed Forces of European Medium Powers examines these trade-offs and calls for policymakers to approach each key decision on the future of their country’s armed forces with a clearer sense of the consequences for the state’s foreign policy.

Suitable as a reference for industry practitioners and as a textbook for classroom use, Case Studies in System of Systems, Enterprise Systems, and Complex Systems Engineering provides a clear understanding of the principles and practice of system of systems engineering (SoSE), enterprise systems engineering (ESE), and complex systems engineering (CSE). Multiple domain practitioners present and analyze case studies from a range of applications that demonstrate underlying principles and best practices of transdisciplinary systems engineering. A number of the case studies focus on addressing real human needs. Diverse approaches such as use of soft systems skills are illustrated, and other helpful techniques are also provided. The case studies describe, examine, analyze, and assess applications across a range of domains, including: Engineering management and systems engineering education Information technology business transformation and infrastructure engineering Cooperative framework for and cost management in the construction industry Supply chain modeling and decision analysis in distribution centers and logistics International development assistance in a foreign culture of education Value analysis in generating electrical energy through wind power Systemic risk and reliability assessment in banking Assessing emergencies and reducing errors in hospitals and health care systems Information fusion and operational resilience in disaster response systems Strategy and investment for capability developments in defense acquisition Layered, flexible, and decentralized enterprise architectures in military systems Enterprise transformation of the air traffic management and transport network Supplying you with a better understanding of SoSE, ESE, and CSE concepts and principles, the book highlights best practices and lessons learned as benchmarks that are applicable to other cases. If adopted correctly, the approaches outlined can facilitate significant progress in human affairs. The study of complex systems is still in its infancy, and it is likely to evolve for decades to come. While this book does not provide all the answers, it does establish a platform, through which analysis and knowledge application can take place and conclusions can be made in order to educate the next generation of systems engineers.

Analyzes the effectiveness of post-Cold War air wars in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and against terrorist groups.

Black & white print. Principles of Management is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of the introductory course on management. This is a traditional approach to management using the leading, planning, organizing, and controlling approach. Management is a broad business discipline, and the Principles of Management course covers many management areas such as human resource management and strategic management, as well as behavioral areas such as motivation. No one individual can be an expert in all areas of management, so an additional benefit of this text is that specialists in a variety of areas have authored individual chapters.