TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM)

OBJECTIVE: Develop a collaboration technology proof of concept, prototype demonstration and validation testbed for team decision making research tools designed for use in quick response scenarios for special operations teams with a focus on teams dealing with coalition operations and composed of both joint and multicultural team members.

DESCRIPTION: Collaboration tools have proliferated across both commercial and military enterprises with the intuitive assumption that improved visualization and more rapid transfer and larger volumes of data to more participants can only help decision making. Further, many commercial and research collaboration tool prototypes have been employed by operational forces with no hard metrics regarding improved team collaborative proficiency or team performance. A tested is an essential component for validation of claims of improved team performance. Current research has developed a set of cognitive principles that are often ignored or overlooked in the rush to employ new IT technology and agent support without ensuring that the basic knowledge transfer required for actionable decisions has been effected. The proposed testbed would investigate these principles to include: team knowledge building, knowledge interoperability, state of situational awareness and metrics for team consensus development in addition to technical issues such as speed of decision cycle, required bandwidth and data source connectivity.

PHASE I: Develop a preliminary design of a collaboration testbed for empirical evaluation of collaborative problem solving both for strategic and tactical decision-making with a focus on Special Operations Forces (SOF). The testbed should be designed to capture the cognitive processes used during collaborative team problem solving in quick response scenarios such as Non-Combatant Evacuation, Intelligence Analysis and Mission Planning scenarios. A representative scenario description will be made available in the form of a Naval Air (NAVAIR) Collaborative Operational and Research Environment (CORE) architecture.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the collaboration testbed for supporting empirical assessment of collaborative problem solving. Conduct one or more empirical experiments to validate the testbed using representative mission scenario vignettes and quantifiably demonstrate its benefit in improving team collaborative problem solving. Results from the empirical experiments should provide a better understanding of the cognitive processes used by quick response teams during collaborative problem solving. Based on empirical findings, prepare documentation that describes the types of collaboration tools required to support the representative cognitive processes and how these tools should be effectively integrated.

PHASE III: Based on Phase II results, select and integrate the representative collaboration tools into an integrated collaboration tool suite that can be demonstrated to various operational communities (such as SOF Mission Support Center, San Diego). The integrated tool suite shall include a module intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) to permit not only effective integration of existing collaboration tools but enable incorporation of future tools. Field test the integrated tool suite in an operational setting to demonstrate improved collaborative problem solving in quick response teams.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Private-sector applications would include any team collaboration systems engaged in information analysis situations that involve high data volume and quick response requirements. This would include state and local emergency support teams for crisis action planning and humanitarian aid response.

REFERENCES:
1. Jensen, J.A. (2002) Joint Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for Virtual Teams. Assistant Deputy for Crisis Operations, USCINCPAC (J30-OPT), Camp H.M.Smith

2. Naval Special Warfare Web Site, http://www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/

3. Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group XXVI, Cyberspace and Maritime Operations in 2030, January 9, 2007.

KEYWORDS: Collaboration, team decision making, knowledge interoperability, Special Operations Forces

TPOC: Mike Letsky
Phone: (703)696-4251
Fax: (703)696-1212
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Norman Warner
Phone: (301)342-9288
Fax: (301)342-9305
Email: [email protected]
3rd TPOC: Michael Cowen
Phone: (619)553-8004
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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