Applying the
Domains of Conflict
to Information Operations
Marc Romanych
JB Management, Incorporated
5500 Cherokee Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22312
703-856-5308
FAX: 703-354-8889
[email protected]
Situation in the Field
Variables
•• Environment
Environment
•• Threat
Threat
•• Capabilities
Capabilities
•• Vulnerabilities
Vulnerabilities
•• Tactics
Tactics
Strategic
COCOM
CFC
-A
CFC-A
MNF
-I
MNF-I
Operational
CJTF
-180
CJTF-180
Tactical
JTF
JTF Haiti
Haiti
Peace
Service
Conflict
War
What is common across the spectrum?
Three Key Definitions
Information Environment (Where)
The aggregate of individuals, organizations, or systems that collect,
process, or disseminate information; also included is the information
itself.
Information Superiority (Why)
Information superiority is the operational advantage derived from the
ability to collect, process, and disseminate an uninterrupted flow of
information while exploiting or denying an adversary’s ability to do the
same.
Information Operations (Who, What, and How)
Actions taken to affect adversary, and influence others’, decision
making processes, information and information systems while
defending one’s own information and information systems.
These definitions are basis for IO; however, definitions
and perspectives abound
The Domains of Conflict
Three domains of conflict:
Cognitive
• Abstract and intangible
• The mind of human beings & collective consciousness
• Where decisions are made
Information
Information
• Abstract, intangible, and no physical presence
• Intersection or overlap of physical & cognitive domains
• Where information is created and exists
Physical
• The physical world - reality
• Land, sea, air, & space
• Where maneuver and combat operations take place
A fourth domain – cultural or social?
The domains are not exclusive to IO
Information Environment Model
Domains of Conflict
Description
Cognitive
Domain
Human Consciousness
• Individual
• Collective
• Perceptions
• Beliefs
• Values
Abstract Space based on
the Two Views of Info:
• Info-as-Message
• Info-as-Medium
• Information Content
• Information Flow
Physical Environments
• Land
• Air
• Sea
• Space
• Information Networks
• Information Systems
(The Human Mind)
Information
Domain
(Intersection of Physical
& Cognitive Domains)
Physical
Domain
(The Real World)
Key Attributes
Domain Relationships
Cognitive
Domain
Situation
Awareness
Decision-making
Disseminate
Information
Domain
Process
Process
Action–Reaction
Cycle
Collect
Physical
Domain
Action
Action
Disseminate
Depiction of the Domains
The three domains are not:
• Two dimensional
• Co-equal geometric shapes
Could be visualized as:
C
II
P
I
P
C
C
I
P
Visualizing the Information Environment
Significant
Characteristics
Domain
Framework
Impact on Military
Operations
Cognitive
Domain
Significant
Significant Characteristic
Characteristic A
A
• Geography
• Populace
Significant
Significant Characteristic
Characteristic B
B
• Communication
Infrastructure
• Media
Information
Domain
• Societal
Organizations
• Third Party
Entities
Physical
Domain
Significant
Significant Characteristic
Characteristic C
C
Significant
Significant Characteristic
Characteristic D
D
Significant
Significant Characteristic
Characteristic E
E
Visualization
What each
significant
characteristic’s
affect is on:
decisionmaking, info
content & flow,
and info
systems &
networks,
Significant
Significant Characteristic
Characteristic FF
Aggregate
Aggregate Description
Description of
of the
the
Information
Information Environment
Environment
Map
Map of
of Geographic
Geographic Area
Area
Where & how
info content &
flow will affect
military
operations
Info Needs, Position, & Situation
Info Quality
Info Needs
Info
Situation
Info Position
Info Reach
Info Interaction
Templating the Threat
Info Quality
P
ro
ce
ss
in
g
Collection
Info
Situation
Info Reach
Dissemination
Info Interaction
Info Needs
Info Position
Information Advantage
Organization A
Organization B
Lesser Disparity
Greater Disparity
Relative
Advantage
Organization A has an info advantage over B
Information Advantage & Superiority
Cognitive
Domain
Information Info
Domain Advantage
Physical
Domain
Cognitive
Domain
Info
Superiority
More timely
and accurate
decisions
Information
Domain
Info
Superiority
Physical
Domain
Execute actions
unchallenged
Future Work
Templating Info Needs:
COG Analysis
Objectives in the Info
Domain
Effects in Physical &
Cognitive Domains
COG
COG
CC
CC
CC CC
CC CC
CR
CR
CR CR
CR CR
CR CR
CR CR
CV
CV CV
CV
CV CV
CV CV
CV CV
CV CV
Cognitive
Domain
Information
Domain
IS
Information
Domain
IA
Physical
Domain
Assessment
Plenty of work remains to be done
Cognitive
Domain
IS
Physical
Domain
Conclusions
• Current definitions for info environment
and IO are deficient
• The practitioner’s view:
• IE: The abstract space in which information
exists and flows
• IO: Synchronized activities that impact the
content, flow, and use of information in a
particular geographic area