<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The purpose of this study is to introduce the Strategic Assessment Model (STRATAM), a model designed to assist in the prevention of strategic failure. STRATAM aids firstly in the assessment of a strategy, as well as its crafting and evolution; secondly, it aims to enable and possibly streamline civil-military strategic debates on military operations. It is argued that strategic blunders in many cases result from latent organizational failures on one’s own side. Therefore, STRATAM combines Clausewitz’ theory of war and strategy with organizational failure theory. To demonstrate the use of this model, this paper uses Operation Cast Lead (or the Gaza War) of 2008-2009 as a case study. The paper’s findings include that the ultimate reasons for strategic failure were on one hand Clausewitzian; on the other hand, the Israeli Defense Force’s failure in organizational learning from a previous war two years earlier. The timely, strategic assessment and an effective civil-military debate about the effects of ongoing military operations might have prevented this failure. STRATAM would have provided the necessary language, structure, and relevance to identify actual and potential strategic failures with the goal to evolve the strategy.</abstract>

The Strategic Assessment Model (Stratam) Studying and Preventing Strategic Failure

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Military staff performance may be inferior due to several reasons. The purpose of the present survey was to study the impact of stress reactions, personality factors, situation awareness, and maladaptive group dynamics on the quality of the decision-making in Swedish high-level military staffs. Participants were mainly captains and majors, but also lieutenant colonels and colonels took part (n = 256, 61 % response rate). A mainly self-made questionnaire was administered in two staff exercises. Maladaptive group dynamics, stress exposure, lack of situation awareness, and negative stress reactions were the strongest predictors of poor staff performance, while personality had less impact. </abstract>

Swedish National Defence College, Dept. of Security, Strategy and Leadership,

Karlstad University, Department of Social and Psychological Studies,

Examining The Impact of Personality and Situational Factors on Decision Making Among Military Staffs

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Today several nations utilise risk based approaches in military planning. However, the discussion on limitations with the approaches in regard to aspects such as uncertainties, the nature of the threat and risk to civilians is limited.The aim of this work is to identify important challenges when applying risk based approaches to military activity. This article discusses risk based approaches in general and their military applications. Five generic quality requirements on risk analysis are presented from research in risk philosophy. Two military application areas for risk analysis: military intelligence, and risk management in legal assessments are analysed in relation to the presented quality requirements on risk analysis.From the analysis it is clear that risk analysis is an integral part of the decision-making analysis and cannot be separated in time, space or organisationally from the decision-making process in general. Defining the scenario to analyse, including the time span, is a central task in risk analysis and will affect every aspect of the risk estimation. Therefore, the principles for scenario definition must be communicated and continuously updated throughout the organisation. Handling the uncertainties throughout the process is also important, especially if the aim is a resilient military system.</abstract>

M.Sc. and Licentiate in Shipping and Marine Technology, in Ph.D program, Swedish National Defence College and Chalmers University of Technology,

LL.M. in Law, in Ph.D program, Swedish National Defence College and Uppsala University,

M.Sc. in Pol. Sci., in Ph.D program, Swedish National Defence College and Finnish National Defence University,

An Examination of the Implementation of Risk Based Approaches in Military Operations

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Decision making process is a process which includes decision makers, actors, environmental factors, objectives, strategies and criteria. In competitive environments, effectiveness of decision process depends on determining all environmental factors and evaluating them according to objectives. Decision makers aim to find optimal strategies for conflicting objectives. Game theory is an approach based on mathematics in which strategies of players are evaluated reciprocally by considering environmental effects.In this study, a two-person zero-sum game approach is presented for choosing optimal strategies of actors in competitive environment by balancing objectives reciprocally. This approach refers to evaluation of each objective, creation of decision payoff matrixes by using fuzzy logic mathematical applications and their transformation to final decision payoff matrix subsequently. Finally, optimal strategies and their probabilities are found. A military case study is presented for illustrating the application of proposed approach.</abstract>

Turkish Military Academy, Industrial and System Eng. Dept.,

Turkish Military Academy, Defense Sciences Institute,

A Two Person Zero Sum Game Oriented to Integration of Objectives

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The study assessed whether the six special operations principles (simplicity, security, repetition, speed, purpose, and surprise) proposed by Admiral William McRaven could predict the degree of success among Finnish long range patrols during WWII. Eighty-four missions that included deliberate contact with the enemy were considered. Bootstrapped estimates were obtained from a LISREL path model. The result offers partial support for McRaven’s model. Significant direct and indirect effects of security, purpose and surprise were demonstrated. Limitations imposed by available data, as well as the circumstance that other principles were rarely violated, may explain the absence of further significant effects. It is furthermore suggested that the principles can be divided into “decisive” (security, purpose, and surprise) where negligence has immediate detrimental consequences, and “contextual” (simplicity, repetition, and in part, speed) that are largely case-specific and may need further precision to be analytically viable. The cause for the absence of significant effects would according to this interpretation be that the principles, as they are generally defined, fail to identify contextual circumstances that are crucial for success.</abstract>

Special Operations Principles and Finnish Long Range Patrols during WWII

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 12 (2023): Issue 1 (December 2023)

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Journal of Military Studies

 The Journal of Military Studies (JMS) is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal publishing original research articles in selected areas of military studies. Distinguishing from most other peer-reviewed journals, JMS’s approach is more military oriented focusing on technology management and exploitation, technological choices and requirements, tactical considerations etc. giving support to Battle Field Analysts as well as Academic Officer Education.  The journal publishes articles from the following areas of military studies:   operational art and tactics,  military technology and operational analysis,  weaponization of new technologies,  robotics, hypersonics, cyber, artificial intelligence and quantum,  capabilities e.g. defence inventory and acquisition,  military strategy and international politics,  military pedagogy,  military social sciences, like human factors,  military leadership and organisation,  military history,  arctic warfare,  any other area of warfare if well justified.   The journal publishes peer-reviewed academic-level articles, which are first published electronic form, and are printed in a series of volumes according to separate schedule. In addition extended versions of conference papers may be considered for publication. The journal does not publish surveys, tutorials or other articles without new scientific contribution.  The articles are subjected to a double-blind review and any suggestions or criticism is strictly constructive so as to benefit the author and assist them in improving their work.  The journal does not have article processing charges (APCs) nor article submission charges.  Rejection Rate:   50%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 