Note. A note on Faustus's final speech

Network Enabled Capability: A Theory Desperately in Need of Doctrine

“…78 If all levels have the same situational awareness, then the advantage of a flattened structure is that it allows faster response times because there are fewer command and control layers. 79 The commercial sector has already been flattening its command hierarchies in response to NEC-style shared situational awareness with huge benefit. 80 Cebrowski cites commercial examples where the most effective employment of commercial NEC has occurred when organisations developed new, flatter structures at the same time.…”

“…83 He makes this statement because the advantages of NEC do not centre on the communication that NEC provides, but rather, the increase of military effectiveness and efficiency that it will enable. 84 Specifically, NEC should allow a commander to tailor combat forces specifically to a task required in the campaign rather then sending in an entire unit to complete just one job as the current command structure requires. This efficient use of forces should release extra combat forces to be combined to accomplish more tasks.…”

“…It requires actions to be tightly coordinated to put the right effects against the right vulnerabilities at the right times. 103 Self-synchronisation allows units to best respond to unfolding events, but they must fully understand the commander's intent, and their part in it, if they are to correctly modify their actions to produce the desired effect. 104 Further, the subunit commanders will need to understand the entire operational plan and the role of other units, so that they can react, not only to the changing environment and enemy, but also in concert with the actions of other friendly units.…”