Battle Command Knowledge System (BCKS) Information Briefing

2. Battle Command Knowledge System (BCKS) Information Briefing “…we must bring future force capabilities into the current force as they become available while continuing to modernize …” Chief of Staff, Army

3. Current Situation – The Problems 1 2 3 Finding the right information isn’t easy ... The gap between what we can learn and the amount of information available is only getting bigger ... The burden is on the soldier to know where to go for what information or knowledge … Which is complicated by the fact that each source … Information Retention Gap Maximum Retention We don’t learn as an organization … … Every time we execute a new mission, the new guy relearns the same thing all over … has a different structure … presents information and knowledge differently … may not be complete … has its own level of detail … has a unique security requirement

4. Current Situation – The Problems 4 5 Proliferation of Web Sites ... Quality of Information • The ease of publishing to the web has led to a number of private and commercial sites that are focused on and discuss Army business. • Many are run by current or former service members who have access to official content sites. • Security of these sites is based on the approach taken by the “owner”. Often the individual or service provider does not have the expertise to provide n adequate level of security. • Sites are not linked and therefore do not view potential security or OPSEC problems in terms of multiple site harvesting. • The normal production cycle for doctrine and training materials is too slow to incorporate information from contemporary operating environments. • Standard doctrine and training production utilizes subject matter experts at the schoolhouse. However the experts are often the soldiers in the field. • Standard production of materials allows the same information to exist in different versions in different publications. (lack of synchronization). • Different sites result in different generations of information – often information isn’t validated. 6 • Soldiers who lack sufficient information and knowledge: • Fail in their mission, • Get injured, • Make mistakes that somebody else must fix

5. What BCKS Doesn’t Do … BCKS does not … But, it does … Generate Knowledge Institute processes, procedures and social networks to enable Warriors and Leaders to generate knowledge. The Warrior, not the institution becomes the prime source of new knowledge. Build applications and tools that are already being developed • Builds an environment that meets the DOD Net-Centric goal of separating data from applications • Focuses on building a central information store that tools can draw information from to accomplish their specific function • Focuses on working with tool developers to migrate to a common, neutral information format that can be used in multiple tools Replace any existing program or duplicate existing programs BCKS overlays processes and procedures to transform leader development, battle command, doctrine development, and training and education without directly impacting existing programs

6. Utilize a range of commercial and government-owned hardware platforms (to include tactical systems) to create a comprehensive knowledge management environment. A Hardware Platform Utilize various commercial software packages to create the social and collaborative environments that generate and use knowledge. It uses an approach that separates applications from information to avoid the trap of being locked into specific applications. A Software Suite Utilize existing networks to distribute and collect its information. Communications Pipes BCKS is a physical and procedural “layer” that can be placed over existing knowledge initiatives. It harvests the knowledge from these initiatives, facilitates their successful generation of knowledge, manages the harvested knowledge and makes it available to all participants in the BCKS and to the Army’s investment in domain applications. A “Solution in a Box” What BCKS isn’t ….. What BCKS Isn’t … BCKS is not … But, it does …

7. What BCKS Does Provide … • New Business Rules - BCKS represents a reversal of many of the processes and business rules that the Army has used for the past 30 years – it is in direct support of Army Transformation. • New Approaches. BCKS focuses on the information environment and the flow of information through the Army. It operates external to stovepipes, but leverages their efficiency in generating and using knowledge. • New Focus. BCKS is focused solely on Warriors, Leaders and Units – essentially teams of professionals • Reversal of Business Logic. BCKS is centered on: • High Performing Warriors, Leaders, Units, and teams of professionals. “Delta” performance applied to all • Application neutral information and knowledge products • Socio-technical networks to connect professionals to the collective knowledge of the Army. • Net Centric Strategy.

8. BCKS Special Concerns System Platforms Community Platform (Tomoye Simplify 4.01) Team Services Center (Information Dissemination Management – Tactical) Team Services Edge (Groove)

9. BCKS ComponentsProfessional Forums Professional Practice Informal Interactions Peer Groups Architecture Elements Productive Inquiry / Conversations Sponsorship Community Conventions Knowledge Creation Knowledge Generation Knowledge Exchange Knowledge Access Support Individual Capabilities Unit Capabilities Tools Organizational Capabilities Team Capabilities SPFs Defined … Groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis • Technological Platform • Facilitates rich conversation • Encourages participation • Supports knowledge access • Provides flexibility of structure

10. Agent-Based Discovery General Data Searches Search By Association Taxonomy Searches Pattern/Even Searches Rule-Based Orchestration Automated Inferences Taxonomy/Classification Searches Data Searches Search by Association Rule-Based Orchestration Pattern-Based Searches: On-Demand Mining Automated inferences Manual Discovery BCKS ComponentsWarrior Knowledge Base Army Level execution of the DoD Net-Centric strategy of posting information to shared spaces and supporting discovery through robust metadata markup

11. How to Learn Online How to Teach Online Warrior Teaching Cycle Engages Teacher in Mutual Learning Learner Teacher Knowledge Creation Sets the Stage for Mutual Learning • Committed to developing own Teachable Point of View • Self-confidence to learn and teach • Has teachable point of view • Reduces hierarchy • Commitment to learn • Creates interactive process Content / Web Services (Institution & Reach) Resource Center / Knowledge Base / Learning Management System BCKS Mission AreaEnabling Training & Education Embedded Training … Implements Army as Teaching Organizations - Everybody teaches … everybody learns - Practices, processes, structures, all promote teaching Refocus on teaching cycles - The teaching is not one-way ... it is interactive - Interaction generates knowledge, makes everyone smarter Creates KSAs to met the contemporary operational environment - Maximum use of everyone’s skills and talent - All-level alignment needed for smart, speedy action Distributed Training … Operational SPFs Peers (Students SPF) Support courses Student Courses compiled to support immediate needs - Source material from anywhere on system - Source materials relevant to user Suitable to support institutional of operational training requirements - Separation of data from application allows different tools to present the same data - BCKS Knowledge Objects interoperable with SCORM tools. BCKS Platforms allow delivery over any pipe or device Instructor Tech Platform Advanced Distributed Learning Web Instructors SPFs / Operational SPFs Unit-Based KnowledgeCenter

12. XML Ontology and Automated Reasoning XML Taxonomies and Documents with Mixed Vocabularies XML Documents Using Single Vocabularies Text Documents and Database Records BCKS Special ConcernsApplication Independent Data BCKS is committed to building a data infrastructure that is committed to xml data structures, supporting a robust metadata scheme, catalogued against concept based taxonomies. This will set the stage for the Army to migrate easily into a semantic web environment. We’re here … The Evolution of Data Structures Age of Semantic Models (OWL) Age of Open Metadata (XML) Age of Proprietary Data (Office) Age of Open Data (HTML) Age of Programs We’re here … “Data is less Important than code” “Data is as Important as code” “Data is more Important than code” 1945 -1970 1970 - 1994 1994 - 2000 2000 - 2003 2003 - The Data Evolution Timeline

13. AKO AKO-S AKO Infrastructure BCKS Virtual Data Store BCKS Virtual Data Store Missions Doctrine War Plan Logistic Training Scenarios Plans Logistic Knowledge Objects Doctrine AAR Reports Knowledge Objects Knowledge Objects Plans HR Missions BCKS System Architecture

14. Functionality • SPFs – • Contribute to discussions by posting comments, posting documents or websites. • Begin new SPF to find solution to problem or share ideas with peers • Search existing SPFs for solutions or ideas to solve a problem. • Professional education – learn about latest TTPs, thoughts, and ideas about your specific profession in the Army • Subscribe to SPF to obtain emails about changes • Tools / Documents – post documents or tools useful to the specific SPF. • Dog Tag • Request for Information Tool • Locate Experts

15. LOGNet Medical Professional Forum

16. BCKS MAJ Rich Kreuscher Army G4, DALO-SMI Pentagon Rm: 1D373-053 703-614-4038 Mr. Rich Roa The Triple-I Corporation BCKS Facilitator HQDA G-4 (DALO-SMI) Pentagon, Rm 1D343-88 (703) 614-8906 DSN: 224-8906 Cell: (913) 709-0998 richard.roa@hqda.army.mil

17. BACKUPS

18. BCKS ComponentsUnit Based Knowledge Centers Unit Mission Formal Interactions Unit Members Architecture Elements Operational Requirements/ Unit Mission Sponsorship Unit SOPs and operational procedures Knowledge Generation Knowledge Management Knowledge Application Knowledge Center Support Knowledge Sharing Reachback Tools Knowledge Discovery Document Collaboration Unit Knowledge Center defined… Self contained, limited scope knowledge system that supports mission-focused knowledge generation, management and application. These systems typically include a collaborative environment to support document preparation and vertical flow of information, a small repository for unit and mission related materials and specialized tools, usually to support CoP and situational awareness • Technological Platform • Enables rapid knowledge transfer • Enables document collaboration • Provides relevant repository with robust discovery • Enables reachback to sustaining base

19. BCKS ComponentsTask Based Knowledge Networks Sponsorship Joint and Service Policies and Procedures Joint Tactical Construct Interested Parties Knowledge Generation Informal & Formal Interactions Knowledge Management Knowledge Application Knowledge Center Knowledge Sharing Reachback Tools Knowledge Management & Discovery Document & Social Collaboration Architecture Elements Joint Constructs Support Joint Construct Knowledge Center defined… Self contained, limited scope knowledge system that supports task-focused knowledge generation, management and application. These systems typically include a robust collaborative environment to support document preparation and formal/informal flow of information, a small repository for task related materials and specialized tools. • Technological Platform • Enables rapid knowledge transfer • Enables document and social collaboration • Provides relevant repository with robust discovery • Enables reachback to sustaining base • Provides flexability in structure

20. “Dual Membership” Company Commanders Platoon Leaders Platoon Sergeants Squad Leaders Unit Knowledge Network Professional Forums “Peer Assist” Corp Staff • Social networking can support knowledge flows among functional groups, such as intelligence, through staff levels. • Networking can be used to assist a group or team in preparing for a mission by linking them with a group that has experience in that mission area Corp Staff Division Staff Division Staff Brigade Staff Brigade Staff Battalion Staff Battalion Staff “1” “2” “3” “4” “5” “6” “1” “2” “3” “4” “5” “6” BCKS Mission AreaEnabling Battle Command “Double Knit” • Professional Forums support horizontal flow of knowledge among peer groups • Unit Networks support the vertical flow of information within units • The intersections, or dual memberships (“Double Knit”) bring the strengths of both capabilities to the battlefield.

21. BCKS Mission AreaEnabling Leader Development Leader Development System Senior Officer Senior NCO Senior Warrant Officer Senior Civilian Task Focused 360° Assessment Other Assessment Tools Mentoring Environment Facilitation Online (CAL) Mentoring Network Center for Army Leadership Action Plan Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in SPFs Junior Officer Junior NCO Junior Warrant Officer Junior Civilian Visible Support by Commanders … Mentorship as Crucible