Automation of Strategic Planning Frameworks: Decision Support System for Stabilization, Reconstruction, and Conflict Transformation (START)

Pacific Science & Engineering Group (PSE) and the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) propose the Decision Support System for STAbilization, Reconstruction, and Conflict Transformation (START). This tool will facilitate the Draft Planning Framework for Reconstruction, Stabilization, and Conflict Transformation, a complex planning process involving collaborative users. START's graphical user interface will present a work flow diagram to guide users through different levels of planning. The Essential Task Matrix will be integrated into the planning process through functional or temporal task libraries. The ability to identity and allocate resources and to define level appropriate metrics will also be included. A tiered information architecture will allow for easy navigation through the stages of the plan: tier one will monitor the status of the overall plan objectives; tier two will enumerate the steps for each objective; and tier three will provide user workspaces. A key aspect of START will be the help component - schema theory will be used to define the cognitive needs of various users at different levels of expertise. START will function as a surrogate expert planner, providing guidance and collaborative workspaces to a diverse set of users, while maintaining information consistency between concurrent levels of planning.