SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH TO PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS

Mapule Modise & Louise Leenen

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.

Slide 2

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Problem areas
Force Protection & Safety

Decision Support

Monitoring & Surveillance

Situational Awareness

Slide 3

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

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

Slide 4

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Peace Operations and Operational tasks

PEACE
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
Slide 5 CSIR 2007 www.csir.co.za

CONFLICT / WAR

POST CONFL

Role players
Media Intelligence services Business interests Special Forces

World opinion

Terrorists Hostile Intelligence Services

Domestic opinion

Diplomatic agencies Organised crime Police forces Coalition partners Neutral forces Militias

Neutral populace

International Convent agencies (UN etc.) ional Regular Forces Legal agencies

Insurgents Irregular Auxiliaries

NGOs & Aid Agencies

Hostile populace

Slide 6

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Challenges
There is a need for military forces to conduct a broader and 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 conflicting political, diplomatic and legal issues. by

Slide 7

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Challenges
Decisions must be made in real time with simultaneous tactical, operational and strategic implications. The presence of different role players with different agendas

Slide 8

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

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 quo with regard to organisational structures, culture, norms and communication patterns.

Slide 9

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

STS theory
Definition of STS STS 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.

Slide 10

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

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

Slide 11

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

STS to PSO system design?

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

the technical component that is deeply embedded.

Cherns nine environment principles of STS relevant to PSO

Slide 12

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Sense making Project

Force Protection & Safety

Decision Support

Sense making

Monitoring & Surveillance

Situational Awareness

Slide 13

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Conceptual framework of sense making

Decision Processes

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE MENTAL MODELS

DEEP UNDERSTANDING

SENSEMAKING

JUDGEMENT

COMMAND INTENT Cognitive Domain

SITUATION AWARENESS

EMOTIONS PHYSIOLOGY BELIEFS PERCEPTIONS

PLANNING

INFORMATION (Data in context) DECISION SUPPORT MODELS & TOOLS DATA (Representation)

DIRECTIVES

Information Domain

SYNCHRONIZATION

OBJECT/EVENTS

ACTION

Physical Domain

Figure 1. Sense making Conceptual Framework Source: Leedom [7]

Slide 14

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

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 main problems the SANDF experiences during PSOs and conclude that the application of STS principles is the way forward to provide effective solutions. We have also given a conceptual framework guiding the proposed sense making project. Ultimately, we conclude, peacekeeping forces can be equipped with the most sophisticated technologies, but if there is no cognition of human interaction with technologies and social influences, they are doomed to failure.

Slide 15

CSIR 2007

www.csir.co.za

Thank you