There is ample historical precedence for the coevolution of organization, doctrine, and technology in the warfighting ecosystem. For example, performance advantages at the platform level have often led to the emergence of new doctrine, tactics, techniques, or procedures. During World War II, Army Air Corps commanders increased the survivability and lethality of daylight bombing operations by coevolving tactics to exploit the improved range and endurance capabilities of the P-51 and the improved capabilities of the Norden Bombsight to conduct daylight precision bombing with fighter protection for the otherwise more vulnerable bombers. In this decisive air campaign, the introduction of radar coupled with the change it enabled in the command and control structure and system provided Allies with a critical competitive advantage. Consequently, as we continue to apply emerging information technologies, we should not be surprised by the need to explore new warfighting concepts that employ new organizations or new processes.
Different organizations have different time constraints with respect to change.
Within the private sector there are many organizations in the vanguard of a shift to network-centric operations. These organizations provide us with a look into a possible future. We need to closely examine the experiences of these organizations and if they are applicable, apply the lessons learned. The concept of NCW is then introduced and reviewed in detail. Given the profound implications for how the military organizes, equips, trains, and fights, we then address the process by which technology is introduced into organizations.