Synchronization Outbrief Working Group 4

Information Superiority Workshop II:Focus on Metrics

David Anhalt

David Signori

Presented: 29 March 2000

Updated: 12 June 2000

Synchronization Summary Overview

• Definition• Concept Exploration• Blitzkrieg and Synchronization (New Material)• Develop Metrics• Develop Experiment Concept• Future Areas of Investigation

Synchronization

• Synchronization is an output characteristic of a command and control process that arranges and continually adapts the relationships of actions in time and space to achieve the objective

• Fuses the information, cognitive, and physical domains• Involves a dynamic component that orchestrates relationships

among many dimensions:• Time (sequencing)• Space (simultaneity) • Purpose Level (Strategic, Operational, Tactical)• Arenas (Air, Land, Sea, Space, Cyberspace)• Action-Reaction Cycles of Various Entities• Organizational Synchrony

“Purposeful arrangement of things in time and space.”

Organizational Synchrony

• Geo-political/Economic/Military

• Military/Nonmilitary

• Intra-alliance/Intra-coalition

• Inter-service

• Intra-service

• Intelligence - Operations

• Logistics - Operations

Three Synchronization Challenges

1. Organize ways to synchronize actions (means) to optimize effects (ends)

2. Synchronize efforts across many organizational seams to achieve the effect– Strategic (political, economic, military)

– Operational (multiple types of forces, allies, ROEs)

– Tactical (multiple types of units)

3. Adapt effects sought/efforts undertaken as situation unfolds through different phases of combat

Essential Synchronization Concepts• Planned-for synchronization will often not survive operations

– Methods for adaptation must be built into the plan– A priori synchronization for t=0– Mechanisms for adaptive synchronization after t=0

• Combat generation cycles vary– Consider both decision generation and power generation cycles– Synchronization determined by longest physical time constant– Each entity is effected by battle damage

• Aggregation/Disaggregation– Aggregate and disaggregate entities as required– Controls tight and loose coupling– Bring unplanned reserve resources to bear

Ergo: Need Adaptive Synchronization Mechanisms

The “Plan” and Synchronization

Explicit Ops Plan:Synch by Plan Implicit

Intent:Adaptive Self-Synch

Inflexible PlanEgypt 1973

Flexible PlanTrafalgar 1805

Type of Plan

How to Achieve and Maintain Synchronization

• Explicitly (e.g., plans and commands, both written and oral)

• Tacitly or Implicitly (e.g., recognition and adaptation to changes in

objectives, spatial, temporal conditions) • Supported by foundation of doctrine, TTPs, training, understanding

of culture of others

• Aided by shared awareness and collaboration

Plan P(t, ) = P0(t) + f(t, , rules, direction, initiative,

culture, doctrine, training. . . ), for > 0 where, is the time after the plan starts being executed

P0(t) is the pre-execution version of the plan

f (x) includes implicit and explicit variables

Spectrum of Components for Achieving Adaptive Synchronization • Procedural (passive)

– Main Plan with planned contingencies

• Positive (active)– Centralized adaptation

– Hybrid centralized decentralization based on thresholds

– Decentralized adaptation

• Synchronize on Enemy Events – “Reflexive” control

– Apply effects in phase with enemy OODA loop

Colonel John Boyd’s Analysis of Blitzkrieg Synchronization

• Schwerpunkt (focus of main effort) is established before and shifted during combat operations– Links differing rhythms/patterns so that each part or level of the organic whole can operate at its

own natural rhythm

• Nebenpunkte (other related or supporting effort) employed to distract adversary

• Mission Concept (or Sense of Mission) assigns responsibility and shapes commitment at all levels.

How do Blitzers simultaneously sustain rapid pace and abruptly adapt to changing circumstances without losing cohesion or coherency of their overall effort?

Blitz Operating Philosophy

• Each level from simple to complex has its own OODA cycle

• Faster tempo/rhythm at lower levels should work within the slower rhythm but larger patterns at higher levels

How do Blitzers harmonize these differing tempos/rhythms so that they can exploit the faster rhythm/smaller pattern (of lower level units) yet maintain the coherency of the rhythm/pattern for the larger effort?

Keys to Blitzkrieg Synchronization

• Emphasis on Common Outlook and Freedom-of-Action that are exploited by Mission and Schwerpunkt

• Flexible command encourages lower-level combat leaders to exploit opportunities generated by rapid action within a broad loosely woven scheme laid down from central command

• Use ISR and strategem to unmask and shape patterns of adversary strengths, weaknesses, moves, and intentions

• Superior mobile comm to maintain cohesion and enable higher command to allocate reserves and reshape focus of main effort

• Essential and only essential logistics tail to support high speed movement

The Network and John Boyd

• How does the Network augment the notions of synchronization discussed by John Boyd?– Mission (Contract between Superior & Subordinate)– Schwerpunkt (Focus of Main Effort)

• How does the Network give form and expression to ways of harmonizing activities among many superiors and subordinates as a collective group?

The Historical View of Blitzkrieg Network

IS/NCW

Mission Schwerpunkt

Freedom-of-ActionFlexible Command

Assign ResponsibilityShape Commitment

Common OutlookHarmonizing AgentUnifying ConceptLinks Differing Rhythms

Voice Command (Information Advantage)Shared AwarenessCollaborationSynchronization

How does NCW influence the Concept of Mission? How does NCW influence the Concept of Schwerpunkt?

Result: Exploit opportunities generated by rapid action through freedom-of-action, common outlook, and voice command.

Metrics• Flexibility, Agility, Adaptability• Consistency (horizontal and vertical)

– Degree of Shared Understanding/Common Outlook Regarding the Commander’s Intent

• Relationships between dimensionsSynchronization

Objectives Actions Space Time

• Efficiency and Effectiveness

Commander’s Intent

• Identify Critical Paths and sub-critical paths that describe Commander’s Intent

• Learn how to use Info Superiority to adapt the critical paths during execution

• Requires new observables of:– Time and space relationships– Achieved effects– Impacts on enemy intent

Commander’s Intent

Quality of Commanders and their ideas is at the heart of Command and Control

Command concepts are the key Vision of Military Operations within Commanders head that is the

defacto conceptual basis for making decisions

Commanders intent provides important context Basis for delegated decisions Reference for identifying important changes

Conveying Commanders intent in a timely accurate manner is critical Essential communications promulgating command concepts

Characterizing Commanders intent in a manner that facilitates shared understanding across the forces is a challenge

Critical Paths Supporting “Schwerpunkt”

Commander’s Intent (Focus of Main Intent)

Mission 1A Mission 1BMission 2B

Mission 2AMission 2C

Fitness Landscapes

Time

Space

Effect (e.g., Diminished Enemy Combat Power)

DeltaEffect

En = (E1 - E2)p - (E1 - E2)a where, En = position of action

in time and space. (E1 - E2)p = intended relationship of

action 1 and 2 in time and space

(E1 - E2)a = actual relationship of action 1 and 2 in time and

space.

x

t

En

The impact of asynchronization on combat effect:

Effect = f(En )

Experiment Concept

Setup Experiment to Measure Effect of Varying These Items:

• Level of Control– Tight to Loose Coupling (the degree of interdependence between

persons, offices, and actions)

• Complexity: Number of Activities in the Critical Path

• Richness of Initial Plan– Robust to Austere (regarding the number of variables and degree

of interdependencies between planned actions)

• Degree of Shared Awareness

• Other Factors Affecting Lower Level Understanding of Command Concept/Intent (stress, fatigue, ambiguity)

Future Areas of Investigation

• Explore Impediments to Synchronization– What circumstances make synchronization

more difficult?– Can these circumstances be measured?– How can NCW mitigate these impediments?

• Explore the modes of synchronization– How are these modes influenced by NCW

Concept?

John Boyd’s Analysis of Blitzkrieg Synchronization

Adapted from

Colonel John Boyd’s briefing,

“Discourse on Winning and Loosing,”

Colonel John Boyd’s Analysis of Blitzkrieg Synchronization

• Schwerpunkt (focus of main effort) is established before and shifted during combat operations

• Nebenpunkte (other related or supporting effort) employed to distract adversary

How do Blitzers simultaneously sustain rapid pace and abruptly adapt to changing circumstances without losing cohesion or coherency of their overall effort?

Blitz Operating Philosophy

• Each level from simple to complex has its own OODA cycle

• Faster tempo/rhythm at lower levels should work within the slower rhythm but larger patterns at higher levels

How do Blitzers harmonize these differing tempos/rhythms so that they can exploit the faster rhythm/smaller pattern (of lower level units) yet maintain the coherency of the rhythm/pattern for the larger effort?

Overall Mind-Time-Space Scheme

• Mission Concept (or Sense of Mission) assigns responsibility and shapes commitment at all levels

• Schwerpunkt links differing rhythms/patterns so that each part of level of the organic whole can operate at its own natural rhythm

1. What does an overall Mind-Time-Space scheme imply?

2. How do Mission Concept and Schwerpunkt give shape to this overall scheme?

Overall Mind-Time-Space Scheme• Presupposes a “Common Outlook”

– Training intensive; same way of thinking; identical speech; clarity of all tactical conceptions

• Without “Common Outlook” superiors cannot give subordinates freedom-of-action and also maintain coherency of ongoing action

• “Common Outlook” represents a unifying theme

– Encourages subordinate initiative

– Realizes superior intent

How do concepts of Schwerpunkt and Mission give shape to the Mind-Time-Space Scheme?

Mission Concept• Mission is a kind of contract between superior and

subordinate (connects the superior’s what with the subordinate’s how)

• Limitation: Mission defines relationship between superior and subordinate. It does not suggest coordination or harmonization within a collective group of many superiors and many subordinates.

How does Schwerpunkt overcome this limitation?

Schwerpunkt Concept• Acts as center or axis or harmonizing agent to shape

commitment and convey intent• Focuses maneuver and supporting elements to exploit

opportunities and maintain tempo• Harmonizes initiative of many subordinates with superior

intent• Naturally produces an unequal distribution of effort as a

basis to generate superiority in some sectors• Permits true loose coupling of tactical command within

centralized strategic guidance

German Command and Control• Based on Common Outlook and Freedom-of-Action• Emphasized implicit over explicit comm• Secret lied in what is unstated or not communicated

– Exploits lower-level initiative

– Diminishes friction and reduces time

– Gains both quickness and security

General Blumentritt: “The entire operational and tactical leadership method hinged upon . . . rapid, concise assessment of situations, . . . quick decision execution, on the principle: ‘each minute ahead of the enemy is an advantage.’”

Keys to Blitzkrieg Synchronization

• Emphasis on Common Outlook and Freedom-of-Action that are exploited by Mission and Schwerpunkt

• Flexible command encourages lower-level combat leaders to exploit opportunities generated by rapid action within a broad loosely woven scheme laid down from central command

• Use ISR and strategem to unmask and shape patterns of adversary strengths, weaknesses, moves, and intentions

• Superior mobile comm to maintain cohesion and enable higher command to allocate reserves and reshape focus of main effort

• Essential and only essential logistics tail to support high speed movement

The Network and John Boyd

• How does the Network augment the notions of synchronization discussed by John Boyd?– Mission (Contract between Superior & Subordinate)– Schwerpunkt (Focus of Main Effort)

• How does the Network give form and expression to ways of harmonizing activities among many superiors and subordinates as a collective group?

The Network and Blitzkrieg

IS/NCW

Mission SchwerpunktFreedom-of-ActionFlexible Command

Assign ResponsibilityShape Commitment

Common OutlookHarmonizing AgentUnifying ConceptLinks Differing Rhythms

Information AdvantageShared AwarenessCollaborationSynchronization

How does NCW influence the Concept of Mission? How does NCW influence the Concept of Schwerpunkt?

Result: Exploit opportunities generated by rapid action through freedom-of-action, common outlook, and information advantage.