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SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH
TO PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS
Mapule Modise & Louise Leenen
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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.
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Problem areas
Force
Protection &Safety
DecisionSupport
Monitoring &Surveillance?
SituationalAwareness
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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
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Peace Operations and Operational tasks
PEACE CONFLICT / WAR POST
CONFL
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
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Legalagencies
NGOs &
AidAgencies
Media
Worldopinion
Hostilepopulace
Businessinterests
Neutralpopulace
Inter-nationalagencies
(UN etc.)
Neutralforces
Intelligenceservices
Domesticopinion
Coalitionpartners
Policeforces
Diplomaticagencies
Convent
ionalRegularForces
IrregularAuxiliaries
Special
Forces
Organisedcrime
Insurgents
Terrorists
Militias
HostileIntelligence
Services
Role players
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Challenges
There is a need for military forces to conduct a broaderand 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 by
conflicting political, diplomatic and legal issues.
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Challenges
Decisions must be made in real time with simultaneous
tactical, operational and strategic implications.
The presence of different role players with different
agendas
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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 quowith regard to organisational structures, culture, norms and
communication patterns.
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STS theory
Definit ion of STSSTS 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.
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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
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STS to PSO system design?
All military systems are socio-technical systemsbecause military operations are a human endeavour with
the technical component that is deeply embedded.
Cherns nine principles of STS relevant to PSOenvironment
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ForceProtection &Safety
DecisionSupport
Monitoring &Surveillance
Sensemaking
SituationalAwareness
Sense making Project
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Conceptual framework of sense making
DEEP
UNDERSTANDING
EMOTIONS
PHYSIOLOGY
BELIEFS
PERCEPTIONS
SITUATION
AWARENESS
DECISION SUPPORT
MODELS & TOOLS
SENSEMAKINGCOMMAND
INTENT
Cognitive
Domain
Information
Domain
Physical
Domain
PLANNING
DIRECTIVES
SYNCHRONIZATION
ACTION
PRIOR
KNOWLEDGE
MENTAL
MODELS
INFORMATION
(Data in context)
DATA
(Representation)
OBJECT/EVENTS
JUDGEMENT
Figure 1. Sense making Conceptual Framework
Source: Leedom [7]
{DecisionProcesses
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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 mainproblems the SANDF experiences during PSOs and conclude thatthe application of STS principles is the way forward to provideeffective solutions.
We have also given a conceptual framework guiding the proposedsense making project.
Ultimately, we conclude, peacekeeping forces can be equipped
with the most sophisticated technologies, but if there is nocognition of human interaction with technologies and socialinfluences, they are doomed to failure.
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Thank you