Contextual Framework for Command and Control Decision Making

This Phase I SBIR research proposal outlines a flexible and responsive context knowledge management framework that provides an innovative approach to developing a dynamic battlefield visualization management tool for military commanders. A unique feature of this design is the explicit representation of two interconnected forms of contextual knowledgestructural/functional context and narrative contextthat enable the dynamic construction of meaning and relevance. The proposed framework responds to the requisite variety of contextual knowledge demanded by wicked operational environments that are characterized by (1) multiple cause-effect dimensions (e.g., political, military, economic, social, information, and infrastructure), (2) alternative interpretations and stakeholder interests, (3) emergent problem factors, and (4) an emphasis on problem framing rather than problem solving. The proposed context knowledge framework acknowledges the socially constructed nature of meaning and understanding in the real world by integrating a combination of concept mapping, qualitative and quantitative modeling, and wiki knowledge base management methods into an analytically rigorous framework that can be integrated with an existing military command and control systems. This resulting methodology will facilitate the rapid construction, collaborative reconciliation, and dynamic maintenance of situation understanding and operational campaign design across a military command and control organization.