Quantifying human terrain

Download
Author
Neboshynsky, Andrew J.
Date
2007-09Advisor
Johnson, Thomas H.
Second Reader
Elliott, Ray
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Operational commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have identified a socio-cultural capabilities gap. Historically, when faced with a non-Western adversary, knowledge of the adversary's asymmetric socio-cultural values has been a key component in achieving conflict resolution. As such, a number of organizations within the U.S. government and civilian sector have undertaken initiatives to quantify what has been termed human terrain. Multiple theories, concepts, and models reside within the confines of social sciences that describe human activities, interactions, and behavior. One organization in particular has developed methods to quantify human terrain. The organization has been able to responsively fuse a wide array of different sciences, technology, and information systems to provide cohesive products to operational commanders. Utilizing a systems approach, the organization was examined to identify methods and techniques that describe and enumerate geo-spatial, socio-cultural relationships and interactions. The identification of unique system variables is the key element in replicating the organization's capabilities. By reproducing these critical variables other U.S. Government and non-government organizations can leverage the examined organization's methodology and produce similar results for analyzing and quantifying complex, humancentric problems regardless of the actual geographical location of interest. This thesis includes classified appendices which complement Chapters III, IV, and V.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
The need for intelligence reform in Thailand's counterinsurgency
Ampunan, Tibordee (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2007-12);In Thailand, post January 2004, the Islamic insurgency in the south has surged constantly. During this time, the insurgency has not refrained from attacking and intimidating innocent people; government officials are also ... -
Organizational strategic planning and execution: should governmental organizations rely on strategic planning for the success of the organization
Young, Lester; Harris, Thomas Lee, II; Reynolds, Thomas E. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2007-06);Strategic planning in both Government and private organizations is a standard practice for improving the organization's overall performance. However, there are several studies that indicate the effectiveness of the strategic ... -
Diagnosing performance management and performance budgeting systems: A case study of the U.S. Navy
Webb, Natalie J.; Candreva, Philip J. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School., 2009);We present here a case study of an organization within the U.S. Navy that created a new organizational construct and performance management system. We explore the issues faced by naval leaders as they attempt to use ...