Exploring the importance of information superiority to the decision maker
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Authors
Jackson, John B.
Subjects
Advisors
Sanchez, Susan M.
Date of Issue
2008-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The importance of information superiority has been emphasized as a critical capability that future joint forces must be able to achieve. No longer simply a future concept, it is being officially defined and incorporated in doctrinal publications like Joint Publication 3-13, "Information Operations." Unfortunately, our ability to effectively measure its contribution relative to other battlefield systems remains limited. This research focuses on exploring the limits of the contributions that information superiority can make, examining the sensitivity of information superiority to varying information quality, and comparing those contributions with other contributing factors to battlefield results. Furthermore, an effort is made to identify some of the risks associated with using information superiority as a force multiplier. A simple decision model was developed, based on the concepts of a two-person zero sum game, to explore these questions. In the model, one side is provided varying degrees of an information advantage, while also varying degrees of information quality to the information advantage. Additionally, a variety of scenarios were considered involving varied levels of opposing side force levels. Experimental design techniques were employed to efficiently explore the model output space, while allowing for sufficient replications of the model at each design point, in order to provide a sufficient data set for analysis.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xviii, 63 p. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined
in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the
public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States
Code, Section 105, is not copyrighted in the U.S.