Command Decision: Ethical Leadership in the Information Environment

Authors

Keir Giles Mr.

Files

Description

This monograph considers how a classical challenge that commanders face in war—namely, making critical decisions on the basis of limited and often unreliable information—has been exacerbated in the era of big data. Data overload complicates the intelligence community’s efforts to identify and exclude disinformation, misinformation, and deception, and thus hampers its ability to deliver reliable intelligence to inform decision-makers in a timely manner. The military commander remains responsible for making a final decision, yet the great wealth of data now available through the intelligence cycle amplifies the risk of decision paralysis. With this in mind, technological solutions tend to be considered the most appropriate response for managing data overload and disinformation. While these remain relevant, they alone may be insufficient to equip the military commander with the necessary insight to guide decisions through the uncertainty of the big data environment. Rather, the military commander must cultivate a range of new behaviors in order to avoid decision paralysis and fulfill the distinct leadership roles a commander must play at the various stages of the intelligence process

Publication Date

4-2019

Publisher

USAWC Press

Keywords

Command, Ethical Leadership, Information Environment

Disciplines

American Politics | Defense and Security Studies | International Relations | Leadership Studies | Military and Veterans Studies | Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Peace and Conflict Studies | Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation

Recommended Citation

Keir Giles Mr., Command Decision: Ethical Leadership in the Information Environment ( US Army War College Press, 2019),
https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/939