ISSUE 176 : Jul/Aug - 2008 - Australian Defence Force Journal

cannot verify the identity of their communication partners. Furthermore, if ICTs are to help
C2 better translate information into actionable knowledge, devolution of authority must
occur. The interview data have demonstrated, however, that some commanders simply are not
inclined to devolve authority. The data have also demonstrated that even when commanders
do devolve authority, it is not sufficient for the effective application of the principles of power
to the edge. For instance, those to whom authority is devolved do not always have the skills
and experience to optimise it. At other times, devolved authority is not optimised because it
is not accompanied by clear intent.
Speed and flexibility of response require that the human clearly sees and understands his or
her current circumstances. This can only be achieved with accurate perceptions; and this, in
turn, with the acceptance that because of the differing perceptions that individuals hold of
the same situation, multiple realities exist. Only with this recognition comes the opportunity
to reconsider our own perceptions and their accuracy, and to reconsider how we can best
convey information to maximise the accurate interpretation of our communication.
This article is based on a paper that received the Gary Wheatley Award for Best Paper at the
11th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (ICCRTS),
26–28 September 2006 Cambridge, UK.
Celina Pascoe is a consulting Senior Research Scientist for DSTO, and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer
in Communication for Management at the University of Canberra. Her research work primarily
focuses on organisation studies, particularly in the areas of leader-member and member-member
communication; knowledge sharing; communication climate; and the human dimensions of
future warfi ghting.
Irena Ali has been a Defence Scientist within the Defence Systems Analysis Division of DSTO
in Australia since 1999. Irena’s educational background spans fi elds of biomedical science
and Information Studies. Currently she is enrolled in a PhD program at Monash University
researching the signifi cance and impact of informal networks in emergency situations. She has
published and presented both nationally and internationally in the fi eld of organisational and
social learning, human dimension of NCW and future warfare (over 50 publications).
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