Challenges Facing Army Leaders in Balancing Mission and People
Exploring the difficulties encountered by army leaders in balancing their warfighting mission and organizational responsibilities, which often leads to overwhelming workloads and impacts on readiness. Previous studies highlight the struggle to prioritize between tasks, training, and administrative duties, affecting overall effectiveness and potentially contributing to burnout among leaders.
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Presentation Transcript
WHAT PREVENTS ARMY LEADERS FROM FOCUSING ON THEIR WARFIGHTING MISSION AND THEIR PEOPLE? Trying to fit two years' worth of work into one year.
Overview / Background Overview / Background Existing Studies Existing Studies Research Method Research Method Why It Matters Why It Matters Findings Findings Recommendations Recommendations Agenda
Initial Research topic Initial Research topic Adopted the question the Army Chief of Staff Adopted the question the Army Chief of Staff asked in October 2023 asked in October 2023 What prevents leaders from focusing on their What prevents leaders from focusing on their warfighting mission and their people? warfighting mission and their people? Previous studies only tangentially touched this Previous studies only tangentially touched this question question Background Research Gap existed based on novelty of the Research Gap existed based on novelty of the question question Previous studies also focused on lower levels Previous studies also focused on lower levels of command of command
2002 War College study: 2002 War College study: There are more There are more requirements than can requirements than can be accomplished in a be accomplished in a year year 297 days worth of 297 days worth of tasks vs. 256 training tasks vs. 256 training days available days available Existing Studies 2015 Strategic Studies Institute study: 2015 Strategic Studies Institute study: Lying to Ourselves Lying to Ourselves 2019 RAND study: 2019 RAND study: Junior leaders Junior leaders overwhelmed with overwhelmed with number of requirements number of requirements Only spend 13% of Only spend 13% of time on warfighting time on warfighting mission mission 28% of time spend 28% of time spend on administrative on administrative items items
Research Approach Previous Literature Previous Literature Peer-Reviewed Studies News Articles Commentary Surveys Surveys 89 Army Leaders 19 Questions Interviews Interviews 22 Leaders
Why It Matters Readiness Readiness = = How We Spend our How We Spend our Time Time Integrity: Integrity: Survey data shows Survey data shows that we are still lying that we are still lying to ourselves to ourselves Burn Out: Burn Out: Increase in suicides Increase in suicides across the Army across the Army since 2004 since 2004 Potential to Slow Potential to Slow Down Army s Future Down Army s Future Modernization Modernization Efforts Efforts
RESULTS RESULTS
RESULTS RESULTS
RESULTS RESULTS
RESULTS RESULTS
RESULTS RESULTS
RESULTS RESULTS
Findings Defunct Information Defunct Information Technology Technology infrastructure infrastructure Too Much Equipment Too Much Equipment Information age Information age created a culture of created a culture of last last- -minute tasks and minute tasks and changes to schedules changes to schedules Too Many Too Many Too Much Information Too Much Information Requirements (97% Requirements (97% respondents) respondents) Ties Army leaders to their Ties Army leaders to their computers computers Technology was supposed Technology was supposed to make the work easier; it to make the work easier; it has made the work more has made the work more difficult and time difficult and time- - consuming consuming Excess and outdated Excess and outdated equipment accumulated equipment accumulated during the Global War on during the Global War on Terror Terror There are more There are more requirements and fewer requirements and fewer training days than in 2002 training days than in 2002 Too Many Meetings Too Many Meetings Too Much Email Too Much Email
Requirements scattered across Requirements scattered across Currently 496 Army Regulations Currently 496 Army Regulations published, each with multiple published, each with multiple requirements requirements Consolidate Requirements Consolidate Requirements into one location into one location Prioritize Requirements starting Prioritize Requirements starting with most important (Warfighting with most important (Warfighting Mission, Building Cohesive Mission, Building Cohesive Teams, etc.) Teams, etc.) Provide target percentages for Provide target percentages for mission and people vs. mission and people vs. administrative administrative Create a Task Budget to Create a Task Budget to capture how much can capture how much can realistically be done in a realistically be done in a year. year. Recommendations Reduce requirements (eliminate, reduce the Reduce requirements (eliminate, reduce the frequency, or continue). frequency, or continue). Exercise discipline in training schedules Exercise discipline in training schedules
Conclusion The environment of excess contributes to confusion and organizational misalignment in the Army Effective action is needed now for long- term change Topics For Further Study: Determine the Totality of Current Army Requirements Determine Concrete Metrics for Building Cohesive Teams
