Field Tryout of the Army Officer Career Information and Planning System

Abstract

Reaearch Problem Reviews are special reporta to military management. They are uaually prepared to meet requests for research results bearing on specific management problems. A limited distribution la madeprimarily to tha operating aganclaa directly Involved. FOREWORD Research done in the Career Development and Soldier Productivity Technical Area of the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) aupports the Army'a manpower development in both officer and enlisted forces. In 1971 the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (DCSPCR) requested support from ARI to deal with issues in implementing the newly organized Officer Personnel Management System (OPMS). One facet of this request dealt with developing an acceptable and useful career information syatem to meet the expressed needs of the officers and career «anagers. The present Research Problem Review gives the results of preliminary development in terms of a field tryout of the first units of ARI's resulting computer-aide«) Officer Career Information and Planning System (OCIPS). N. t UHLANER, Technical Oirsctor FIELD TRYOUT OF THE ARMY OFPICER CAREER INFORMATION & PLANNING SYSTEM BRIFF Requirement: "-V ^.^ Z^-(4, *> ' To asaeas operating dlffIcultlas, In a realistic setting, of the first three nodules developed for the computer-aided Aray Officer Career Information & Planning System (OCIPS); and to obtain initial reactions on the system's acceptability and usefulness. Procedure; The participating 52 lieutenants and captains first filled out an anonymouu pretest questionnaire which requested Information about their career goals, alternate specialty preferences, and sources of career information. Then they each used three OCIPS modules at a computer terminal: FORESIGHT, teaching principles of career planning; OVIKV1KW, presenting general Information on the Army officer career structure; and ALTERNATE, utilising a data bank of Information on preferences, education, and other characteristics of officers In various primary and alternate specialties. Finally, the participants Indicated their reactions on posttest questionnaires. Findings: In general, officers responded very favorably to the OCIPS, Indicated they felt a need for career planning Information, and felt the computer was useful In delivering this Information. No major operating problems were encountered. f Utilization of findings: Favorable results In thc> preliminary tryout encouraged the continuing research on additional aspects of the system.