Optimal Manning Analysis Tool for Grouped Forces

The future Navy's tactical command and control organization and processes will evolve with the Network Centric Warfare concepts. In order to assess the effectiveness of new grouped force organizational structures, we propose to develop a new tool based onthe solid principles of modeling and simulation. The proposed tool will be used to generate preliminary quantitative performance predictions for the expected effects of grouped force mission, task, and capability requirements on manpower requirements andcost. The tool will consist of four software modules:1. A data collection/translation tool will assist users in importing data from other sources and collecting new crew and task data2. A functional description tool will assist users in performing and documenting a function and task analysis.3. The simulation development tool will let users build simulation models of combat and non-combat missions.4. The data analysis tool will have three pieces: - A report generator presents reports and graphs of simulation results. - A task allocator uses clustering techniques to suggest task allocation alternatives to mitigate excessive workload/manhours and risk. - A life cycle cost estimator provides insights to the potential affordability of a system design. The proposed software tool will advance the state of the art in manning evaluation technology. The grouped forces analysis tool described in this proposal is based on a time-proven technique of system analysis (i.e., task network modeling), and alsoprovides a previously unavailable and highly innovative data collection and translation capability. These analytical techniques can be applied to any group of systems and humans that are undergoing an organizational reengineering process.