Framing the force protection problem an application of knowledge management

Abstract

Using knowledge management and knowledge flow theories, personnel involved in force protection can better construct a trustworthy threat assessment of a port region. By ensuring that intelligence agents, regional experts, and force protection officers are linked in a knowledge flow system, our fleet's decision makers will be equipped with the proper tools to better prepare for port visits. A new organization, the Multi-Threat Alert Center, will be a vital organization that is charged with doing most of the knowledge construction in this system. Therefore its construction and implementation into the AT/FP organization is paramount to maintaining a successful system. Its ultimate knowledge product will be used by commands conducting port visits as the main assessment of the current threat conditions. A key component to ensuring that due diligence is maintained while using pre-fixed force protection plans is to ensure that knowledge is treated as a dynamic system instead of a static object. By analyzing the MTAC knowledge flow systems with current theories, the planners and organizers of force protection can ensure that a functioning and efficient system is in place.