socio-technical systems approach to peace support operations.pdf

7/27/2019 SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH TO PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS.pdf

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SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH

TO PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS

Mapule Modise & Louise Leenen


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CSIR 2007 www.csir.co.zaSlide 2

Aim

This paper calls for the application of STS theory in the design

of a PSO system.

This call is based on evaluation and assessment of

technologies and methodologies currently used in PSO.


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Problem areas

Force

Protection &Safety

DecisionSupport

Monitoring &Surveillance?

SituationalAwareness


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Scope of presentation

PSO environment

Challenges

Current methodologies and limitations

Need for STS

Defining STS theory

STS in PSO

STS thinking in practice

Sense making project


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Peace Operations and Operational tasks

PEACE CONFLICT / WAR POST

CONFL

Preventive Diplomacy

Peace making

Peace keeping

Peace enforcement

Post-conflict peace-building

Preventative deployment

Observation, monitoring and supervision

Enforcement of sanctions

Forced separation of the parties

Setting up and maintaining protected areas

Humanitarian aid Humanitarian aid Humanitarian aid

Interpositioning

Guarantee or denial of freedom of movement

Demobilisation operations

Military aid/support to civil authorities

Non-combatant evacuation operations


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Legalagencies

NGOs &

AidAgencies

Media

Worldopinion

Hostilepopulace

Businessinterests

Neutralpopulace

Inter-nationalagencies

(UN etc.)

Neutralforces

Intelligenceservices

Domesticopinion

Coalitionpartners

Policeforces

Diplomaticagencies

Convent

ionalRegularForces

IrregularAuxiliaries

Special

Forces

Organisedcrime

Insurgents

Terrorists

Militias

HostileIntelligence

Services

Role players


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Challenges

There is a need for military forces to conduct a broaderand more complex spectrum of operations

Changing nature of warfare from symmetric to emergent

asymmetric threats involving cultural factions and

transnational actors.

Military operations increasingly compromised by

conflicting political, diplomatic and legal issues.


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Challenges

Decisions must be made in real time with simultaneous

tactical, operational and strategic implications.

The presence of different role players with different

agendas


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Current approaches and limitations

Techno-centric and analytical approaches that often design

the technical component first and then fit people to it. This

often lead to mediocre performance at high social costs.

The solutions are often plug-ins to maintain the status quowith regard to organisational structures, culture, norms and

communication patterns.


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STS theory

Definit ion of STSSTS is based on the premiss that organisations or a work

unit is a combination of social and technical parts and that it

is open to its environment

At the heart of STS design is the joint optimisation of the

technical and social subsystems which constitute the work

system.


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Components of STS

Social subsystem - aims to design a work structure that is

responsive to the psychological needs of the employees

and is experienced through the organisations culture,

norms, roles and communication patterns

Technical subsystem - comprises the structures, tools and

knowledge necessary to perform the work which transforms

raw materials into products or services


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STS to PSO system design?

All military systems are socio-technical systemsbecause military operations are a human endeavour with

the technical component that is deeply embedded.

Cherns nine principles of STS relevant to PSOenvironment


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ForceProtection &Safety

DecisionSupport

Monitoring &Surveillance

Sensemaking

SituationalAwareness

Sense making Project


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Conceptual framework of sense making

DEEP

UNDERSTANDING

EMOTIONS

PHYSIOLOGY

BELIEFS

PERCEPTIONS

SITUATION

AWARENESS

DECISION SUPPORT

MODELS & TOOLS

SENSEMAKINGCOMMAND

INTENT

Cognitive

Domain

Information

Domain

Physical

Domain

PLANNING

DIRECTIVES

SYNCHRONIZATION

ACTION

PRIOR

KNOWLEDGE

MENTAL

MODELS

INFORMATION

(Data in context)

DATA

(Representation)

OBJECT/EVENTS

JUDGEMENT

Figure 1. Sense making Conceptual Framework

Source: Leedom [7]

{DecisionProcesses


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Conclusion

In this paper we have given a brief overview of Socio-technical

Systems and its relation to Peace Support Operations.

We summarised a research project that identified the mainproblems the SANDF experiences during PSOs and conclude thatthe application of STS principles is the way forward to provideeffective solutions.

We have also given a conceptual framework guiding the proposedsense making project.

Ultimately, we conclude, peacekeeping forces can be equipped

with the most sophisticated technologies, but if there is nocognition of human interaction with technologies and socialinfluences, they are doomed to failure.


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Thank you

socio-technical systems approach to peace support operations.pdf

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