Past Revolutions, Future Transformations: What Can the History of Military Revolutions in Military Affairs Tell Us About Transforming the U.S. Military?

by Richard O. Hundley

Overview

This report examines the hisotry of RMA's, to see what can be learned from them regarding the challenge confronting the DoD today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780833027092
Publisher:	RAND Corporation
Publication date:	05/11/1999
Pages:	124
Product dimensions:	6.34(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.29(d)
Lexile:	1550L (what's this?)

About the Author

Richard O. Hundley (Ph.D., Physics, California Institute of Technology) is a Senior Physical Scientist, Technology and Applied Sciences Group, and Senior Research Leader, NSRD Acquisition and Technology Policy Center, at RAND, Santa Monica, California.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction Part 1. Lessons from Past RMAs Chapter 2. The Characteristics of Revolutions in Military Affairs What is an RMA? Other Notable Characteristics of RMAs Lessons from the Business World Regarding Paradigm Shifts The Relationship between Breakthrough Technologies and RMAs Is the Current Military-Technical Revolution a True RMA? Chapter 3. The Breakthough Process Leading to RMAs RMAs Result from Serendipitous Conceptual Breakthroughs RMAs Are the Result of Multiple Innovations Much of the RMA Process Can Be Observed and Anticipated Much Can Be Learned from Failed or Incomplete RMAs Part 2. Being Prepared for Future RMAs (Carried Out by Others) Chapter 4. Being Aware of the Next RMA: The Observables of the Emergence of New RMAs The RMA Process Produces Observables in a Number of Venues Open and Closed Venues Require Different Collection Approaches Collection is Not Enough; Assessment is Also Required In Assessing Potential Breakthroughs, Do Not Depend on Experts Alone The Essential Elements of a Worldwide RMA Chapter 5. Being Responsive to the Next RMA: The Characteristics of a Future-Oriented Military Organization Overcoming the Obstacles to Responsiveness The Characteristics of a Future-Oriented Military Organization Part 3. Bringing About Future RMAs (Of Your Own) Chapter 6. What Does It Take to Bring About a Successful RMA? You Must Have a Fertile Set of Enabling Technologies You Must Have Unmet Military Challenges You Must Focus on a Definite Thing or a Short List of Things You Must Ultimately Challenge Someone's Core Competency You Must Have a Receptive Organizational Climate You Must Have Support from the Top You Must Have Mechanisms for Experimentation You Must Have Some Way of Responding Positively to the Results of Successful Experiments Chapter 7. DOD's Current Force Transformation Activities: Does Anything Appear to Be Missing? What Can Be Done to Fill in the Missing Elements? Today's Force Transformation/RMA Activities Does Anything Appear to Be Missing? The RMA: Where We Seem to Be Today Some Key Questions for the DoD What Can Be Done to Fill in the Missing Elements? In Summary Bibliography ———————————————————————————————————————- - Copyright (c) 1999 RAND All rights reserved. Permission is given to duplicate this on-line document for personal