Research Paper Title

Interoperatbility: Merging the Organisational Cultures of Special Forces and the Infantry.

Abstract

Combining two separate military units with different organisational cultures to operate as one is difficult and complex.

However, Henry Mintzberg’s classic organisational design principles aid in anticipating friction points and identifying the governing dynamics of this action.

As the researchers planned and observed 3rd BCT, 1st ID conduct Pre Mission Training (PMT) with 1st and 7th Special Forces Groups (SFG) in preparation for Village Stability Operations they noticed that interoperability, the aim of this training, is a function of leadership, hardship, and time.

Using Mintzberg’s framework with these three variables reveals the best practice to quickly and thoroughly achieve interoperability when combining units is to focus on individual personalities, understand that everyone has value, and to soundly exercise mission command.

Source: Myer, M. & Eliassen, M. (2013) Interoperatbility: Merging the Organisational Cultures of Special Forces and the Infantry. Small Wars Journal. 9(4), Article 04/23.