Anastas Kevin P. Information overload: tactical information processing in divisions and corps

Army Command And General Staff Coll, Fort Leavenworth, KS, School Of Advanced Military Studies, 1991. — 65 p.This paper seeks to determine if the U.S. Army tactical information processing system is suitable for current AirLand Battle doctrine and future AirLand Operations. The pace of warfare has increased dramatically in the twentieth century, especially since World War Two. In order to keep up with this increase in tempo, command and control (C2) systems are forced work through decision cycles faster and faster. This monograph examines the factors that determine how fast modern staffs can complete the observe-orient decide-and act loop (OODA Loop). If the commander and staff acquire and process information too slowly, then combat units will not be able to maximize their combat power. The criteria used to evaluate command and control systems is specified in Field Manual 100-5: 'The ultimate measure of command and control effectiveness is whether the force functions more effectively and more quickly than the enemy.' With this as an indicator of success or failure, this monograph looks at several theoretically 'ideal' systems, some relevant historical examples, and our current capabilities.