Accession Number:

ADA289230

Title:

The Dynamic Synchronization Matrix: An Automated Decision Support Tool for the Campaign Planning Staff

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MIL ITARY STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Donohue, Kevin S.

Report Date:

1994-05-17

Pagination or Media Count:

77.0

Abstract:

Synchronization is the ability to focus resources and activities in time and space to produce maximum relative combat power at the decisive point. This is a tenet of US Army doctrine. This monograph reviews the concept of synchronization at the operational level, and provides campaign staffs with a decision support tool in order to improve operational level planning and execution for the employment of joint US military forces. Operational synchronization is more complex than simply massing operational level combat power at the operationally decisive point. Commanders and their staffs must be capable of conceptualizing, or visualizing across multiple forces and functions, and both their actions and effects through space over extended periods of time. This paper proposes an automated technique labeled the Dynamic Synchronization Matrix for synchronizing forces at the operational level. The Dynamic Synchronization Matrix is a simple adaptation of a commercial project management program, run on a personal computer, which improves upon existing capabilities because it combines the two distinct major improvements of PERT methodology and automation. This decision support tool improves upon the two dimensional synchronization matrices that enable modern tactical planning, command and control by making connections between time, space, forces, functions, actions, and effects which the average human would have difficulty making and storing. The net gains in employing the DSM include more disciplined planning, greater flexibility in subsequent planning and execution, multiple display options, greater speed, agility, and accuracy, enhanced situational awareness and information management, insights into ones own plans, and enemy strengths and vulnerabilities, and linkage and applicability to subordinate echelons and other levels of war.

Descriptors:

• *AUTOMATION
• *ARMY PLANNING
• *DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS
• TIME INTERVALS
• METHODOLOGY
• WARFARE
• COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS
• MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• DECISION MAKING
• DATA MANAGEMENT
• MILITARY DOCTRINE
• DISPLAY SYSTEMS
• COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• JOINT MILITARY ACTIVITIES
• STRENGTH(GENERAL)
• ENEMY
• MICROCOMPUTERS
• ARMY
• ARMY OPERATIONS
• MILITARY COMMANDERS
• COMBAT FORCES
• PERT
• AIR LAND BATTLES

Subject Categories:

• Operations Research
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
• Administration and Management
• Military Forces and Organizations
• Command, Control and Communications Systems
• Human Factors Engineering and Man Machine Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE