Call us now:
Rack AA – Foundational Skills
Aisle A — Professional Development
Library: Main Page — Professional Development (A) — Defense Enterprise (E) — Force Structure (F) — Modernization (M) — Personnel (P) — Readiness (R) — Special Enterprises (S) — Resource Management (X) — References (Z)
Professional Development (A): Foundational Skills (AA) — Decision Support (AD) — Executive Leadership (AL) — Management Science (AM) — Organizational Design (AO) — Public Administration (AP) — Statistics & Data Literacy (AS)
Disclaimer: The inclusion of resources here is for informational, historical, and research purposes only and is provided as a service for US Army War College faculty, students, and graduates to support their educational and professional requirements. These may include outdated or superseded materials. The inclusion of these materials does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
The foundational skills rack provides resources for the development of key skills needed for defense management. These skills are necessary for one’s capacity to apply the knowledge presented in the other topics in this aisle. This rack will eventually contain skill development tools and activities appropriate for all leaders. This rack is currently only a stub. Please add. Below are the available resources:
This shelf is presently an unsorted repository of materials used or recommended for skill and competency development among defense managers. Please contribute!
Faculty Publications:
- None.
Laws, Policies, Memos, and Regulations (sorted by regulation number):
- None.
Strategies and Reports:
- None.
Commentaries and Topics (inclusion does not represent endorsement):
- Strategic Thinking:
- Waters, Douglas E., “Understanding Strategic Thinking and Developing Strategic Thinkers,” Joint Force Quarterly 63 (4th Quarter 2011): 113-119, https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/jfq/jfq-63/jfq-63_113-119_Waters.pdf
- Critical Thinking:
- Gerras, Stephen J. “Thinking Critically about Critical Thinking: A Fundamental Guide for Strategic Leaders,” in Planner’s Handbook for Operations Design, Version 1.0 (Suffolk, VA: Joint Staff, J-7, 2011), C-1 – C-27. Note: C-1 is page 137 in the PDF.
- Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) Understanding:
- Green, Keith L. Complex Adaptive Systems in Military Analysis (Alexandria, VA: Institute for Defense Analyses, 2011), https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1123890.pdf
- Scenario-Based Forecasting:
- Ablett, Johnathan and Andrew Erdmann, “Strategy, Scenarios, and the Global Shift in Defense Power,” McKinsey & Company, April 1, 2013, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/strategy-scenarios-and-the-global-shift-in-defense-power
- Ogilvy, Jay and Peter Schwartz, Plotting Your Scenarios (Emeryville, CA: Global Business Network, 1998), http://adaptknowledge.com/wp-content/uploads/rapidintake/PI_CL/media/gbn_Plotting_Scenarios.pdf
- Roxburgh, Charles. “The Use and Abuse of Scenarios,” McKinsey & Company, November 1, 2009, https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-use-and-abuse-of-scenarios
- Systems Thinking:
- Brown, Zachary T. “A Crude Look at the Whole: A Simple Guide to Complexity for National Security Professionals,” The Strategy Bridge, January 29, 2019, https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2019/1/29/a-crude-look-at-the-whole-a-simple-guide-to-complexity-for-national-security-professionals
- Rittel, Horst W. J. and Melvin M. Webber. “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning,” Policy Sciences 4, No. 2 (June 1973): 155-169, https://www.sympoetic.net/Managing_Complexity/complexity_files/1973%20Rittel%20and%20Webber%20Wicked%20Problems.pdf
Title image credit: Ken Gilliam via U.S. Army War College WAR ROOM, public domain.
Professional Development (A): Foundational Skills (AA) — Decision Support (AD) — Executive Leadership (AL) — Management Science (AM) — Organizational Design (AO) — Public Administration (AP) — Statistics & Data Literacy (AS)
Library: Main Page — Professional Development (A) — Defense Enterprise (E) — Force Structure (F) — Modernization (M) — Personnel (P) — Readiness (R) — Special Enterprises (S) — Resource Management (X) — References (Z)