Ergonomic challenges for digitisation: learning from the analogue mission planning process

This article aims to consider the conventional, analog, mission planning process with the objective of identifying the decision making constraints and challenges for digitization. Prototypes of digital mission planning systems are beginning to be devised and demonstrated, but there has been concern expressed over the design of such systems which fail to understand and incorporate the human aspects of socio-technical systems design. Previous research has identified many of the potential pitfalls of failing to take Human Factors considerations into account as well as the multiplicity of constraints acting on the planners and planning process. An analysis of mission planning in a Battle Group is presented, based on an observational study by the authors. This study illustrates the efficiency of an analog process which has evolved over many generations to form the Combat Estimate, a process that is mirrored by forces throughout the world. The challenges for digitization include ensuring that the mission planning process remains easy and involving, preserving the public nature of the products, encouraging the collaboration and cooperation of the planners, and maintaining the flexibility, adaptability and speed of theanalog planning process. It is argued that digitization should not becomean additional constraint on mission planning