WHERE’S THE MATH?™ SEMINAR SERIES
Operations Research Techniques for Information Operations
Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 0800-1700
Military Applications of Social Network Analysis
Wednesday, 23 July 2008, 0800-1700
Army and Navy Club, 17th and Eye Streets, NW Washington DC MAP
Registration fee:
$1000 government employees, $1200 non-government
20% discount on 3 or more
50% discount on 10 or more
Registration is now open. Click here to register, or, download, complete, and fax the registration form [256K PDF].
Download the Military Applications of Social Network Analysis seminar brochure [1MB PDF].
WHERE’S THE MATH?™ SEMINAR SERIES
Operations Research Techniques for Information Operations
One the biggest challenges facing today’s operational commanders is the lack of tools for formally assessing Information Operations. Although there is a substantial capability to analyze more traditional operations such as kinetic combat and logistics, IO analysis remains highly idiosyncratic and imprecise, and Measures of Effectiveness for Information Operations remain elusive. As a result, decision makers cannot plan and execute with the same confidence that the discipline of Operations Research has brought to traditional plans and operations.
Recent research by Alidade Incorporated, however, offers new methods for overcoming this challenge. A full-day seminar, part of Alidade Institute’s “Where’s the Math™” seminar series, will present and discuss fresh approaches for quantitatively assessing the full range of Information Operations.
SEMINAR CONTENT
This seminar will introduce participants to new quantitative techniques for analyzing Information Operations. Topics covered will include:
- Review of the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques
- Introduction to new mathematics that describe the structure, dynamics and evolution of social, cultural, information and influence networks
- Application of the mathematics to IO disciplines such as Computer Network Attack, Computer Network Defense, Influence Operations and Strategic Communications.
- Procedures for developing Information Operations Measures of Effectiveness
- Case studies from recent real world analyses
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Although this seminar is geared to the military professional with a working knowledge of Information Operations and quantitative techniques, there are no special academic prerequisites. Participants will be introduced to a formal approach to analyzing Information Operations from first principles. By the end of the day, participants will:
- Understand new OR methods for Information Age competition
- See how the methods can demystify mechanisms of advantage in Information Operations
- Use the methods to quantify the effectiveness of Information OperationsReview of the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jeff Cares is a top thought-leader in Information Age military innovation and consults at the most senior levels of the international defense industry. He has been the primary author of numerous transformational concepts, including Distributed Networked Operations, Sense and Respond Logistics and the Information Age Combat Model. He lectures internationally and at service colleges on the future of combat.
Harvard Business Review selected his research to the list of "Breakthrough Ideas for 2006" and he has been featured in Wired, Fast Company and Computer Week. He is the author of Distributed Networked Operations: The Fundamentals of Network Centric Warfare and his new book, Operations Research for Networked Military Systems, will be available in late 2008.
Jeff is a combat veteran of the first Gulf War whose military career has included multiple command tours and more than a decade of service on four-star staffs.
Military Applications of Social Network Analysis
The last ten years has seen huge growth in the number and types of networks in which humans interact with other humans and machines. What began as simple internet and e-mail exchanges has evolved into a wide range of human-machine military networks. Traditional defense analysis, however, is a poor tool for assessing the value of these networked systems. As a result, military decision makers cannot plan and execute with the same confidence that the discipline of Operations Research has brought to traditional plans and operations.
Recent research by Alidade Incorporated, however, offers new methods for overcoming this challenge. A full-day seminar, part of Alidade Institute’s “Where’s the Math™” seminar series, will present and discuss fresh approaches – drawn from the field of Social Network Analysis – for quantitatively assessing a wide range of networks containing both human and machines.
SEMINAR CONTENT
This seminar will introduce participants to new quantitative techniques for analyzing human performance within networked systems. Topics covered will include:
- Review of the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques
- Introduction to new mathematics that describe the structure, dynamics and evolution of social, cultural, information and influence networks
- Application of the mathematics to IO disciplines such as Computer Network Attack, Computer Network Defense, Influence Operations and Strategic Communications.
- Procedures for developing Information Operations Measures of Effectiveness
- Case studies from recent real world analyses
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Although this seminar is geared to the military professional with a working knowledge of Information Operations and quantitative techniques, there are no special academic prerequisites. Participants will be introduced to a formal approach to analyzing Information Operations from first principles. By the end of the day, participants will:
- Understand new OR methods for Information Age competition
- See how the methods can demystify mechanisms of advantage in networked systems
- Use the methods to quantify the effectiveness of networked military systems
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jeff Cares is a top thought-leader in Information Age military innovation and consults at the most senior levels of the international defense industry. He has been the primary author of numerous transformational concepts, including Distributed Networked Operations, Sense and Respond Logistics and the Information Age Combat Model. He lectures internationally and at service colleges on the future of combat.
Harvard Business Review selected his research to the list of "Breakthrough Ideas for 2006" and he has been featured in Wired, Fast Company and Computer Week. He is the author of Distributed Networked Operations: The Fundamentals of Network Centric Warfare and his new book, Operations Research for Networked Military Systems, will be available in late 2008.
Jeff is a combat veteran of the first Gulf War whose military career has included multiple command tours and more than a decade of service on four-star staffs.
Click here for seminar dates and registration information.