Capability Investigation Methodology

Polaris has developed a rapidly applicable capability investigation technique which compares the effectiveness, risk and costs associated with different approaches to delivering military capability across an entire campaign.

Costing capability provides a framework (derived from Defence Strategic Guidance (DSG)) which can be used to structure military judgement and OA results at campaign level.

The technique allows the high level analysis of different force groupings, equipment, and operating procedures in the delivery of the desired effect. It provides traceable evidence based upon a consistent data model that can be embedded into a repeatable management process. This has enabled it to be used to support EP07 and the 2007 Capability Audit.

The technique is based around a generic framework of military operations, traceable to the Defence Capability Framework (DCF), ECC Taxonomy, and JETL/METLs. This framework is characterised by a network of tasks linked by dependencies, which interact to demonstrate how a campaign is fought.

The framework can be used to rapidly generate campaign-specific mapping of tasks and dependencies, by applying a context, Order of Battle (ORBAT) and timescale, such as a range of scenario constraints and threats. The resulting map shows the complete picture of how capability is used operationally, how the individual capabilities depend on each other and the various paths that deliver an effect.

The campaign descriptions can then be used to answer specific questions:

• A Capability investment question - Should I invest in heavy or medium lift strategic mobility capability.
• A Force Grouping question - Which military platform, Ship, Aircraft or Submarine, should I use to deliver a Deep Attack capability.
• A programme cancellation question - What is the impact to capability if I cancel the procurement of a military platform.

The campaign descriptions can make use of structured military judgement and/or the outputs from more quantitative or detailed OA models to enable trade-offs between effectiveness, cost and risk. This in turn can trigger more detailed OA to explore specific performance issues and quantify the impact to campaign success.