Lessons ManagementTracking Lessons From Observation to Dissemination at HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC)

Background

In September 2017, Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) identified a lack of depth in their current lessons data and a requirement to exploit the historic data they possessed in order to better prepare the Headquarters for Corps level operations. In addition, the Headquarters was not confident that they were able to exploit their lessons data, or provide a basis to learn, in the tight timescale of their readiness cycle. Accordingly an agile, easily accessible tool to support the existing processes, was required.

Having used Exonaut® to capture observations during the ARRC’s biennial ARRCADE FUSION Exercises since 2013, 4C Strategies were able to provide them with a Concept Capability Demonstrator (CCD) of an Exonaut Lessons Management Solution to support the allocation and tracking of actions in response to lessons arising from observations made during the exercise. Whilst Exonaut is used by armed forces, emergency services and civilian organisations around the world to enhance their Readiness with a variety of software solutions, this request from the ARRC was the first time that Exonaut would be used to track the progress of lessons through all phases of the process; from initial observations being made and Lessons Identified (LI), through to the final dissemination of Lessons Learnt (LL).

Exonaut Lessons Management Solution

Exonaut has been accredited by the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) at NATO UNLASS and SECRET. For the purpose of the CCD, 4C Strategies worked closely with the ARRC to deliver the Lessons Solution on a standalone network that could be utilised within both the NATO SECRET and MISSION SECRET areas.

2 – L E S S O N S M A N A N G E M E N T

Fig 1 – Proposed Lesson Form

3 – L E S S O N S M A N A G E M E N T

Throughout Ex ARRCADE FUSION 17, the Exonaut Lessons Solution server received near-real time imports of observations (proposed lessons) from the Observer Mentor (OM) teams situated in 4 locations across 2 countries, enabled by 4C Strategies’ Mobile Observer Application on data tablets and desktop devices. These observations were immediately reviewed by the ARRC’s Lessons Cell (only 3 strong in a Corps Headquarters of 650 people), who re-designated the status of the lessons (from proposed lessons to accepted lessons), before assigning tasks to individuals and branches to action as part of their routine Lessons process. To give greater depth to the CCD, observations from the previous preparatory exercise, Ex ARRCADE CHARGER 17, were bulk imported into Exonaut alongside the observations from Ex ARRCADE FUSION 17, giving the ARRC Lessons Cell a quantity of real data with which to test and evaluate the Lessons Solution.

It was at this stage that Exonaut’s power to visualise, analyse and exploit data came into its own; giving the ARRC a visual summary of lesson progress, the ability to conduct advanced data filtering to identify themes across functional areas, and a way to easily disseminate Lessons to NATO’s Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) and other NATO HQs.

Fig 2 – Lessons Summary

Outcome

Following a very positive trial, HQ ARRC and 4C Strategies are now working closely to refine the Lessons Solution and to install Exonaut onto the ARRC NATO SECRET network, making it a core tool in the day-to-day lessons management as the ARRC develops its capability as a fully deployable Corps Headquarters. Whilst being bespoke to the ARRC, the finished product will be entrenched in the NATO Lessons process, making it readily accessible, scalable and shareable for other Nations.

4 – L E S S O N S M A N A G E M E N T

ARRC User Feedback

“This was a huge step ahead in allowing us to make evidence based decisions. In time, it could allow us to create the bank of data that will guide resource allocation and define readiness.” Major Phil Taneborne, HQ ARRC G7 – Exercise ARRCADE FUSION 17 OPR

“The Exonaut Lessons Management tool is better than anything we have by some way.”Lieutenant Colonel Zil Gaubys, HQ ARRC DACOS LL

Advantages of Using the Exonaut Lessons Management Solution

• Increased efficiencies in time and manpower – the Head of the Lessons Cell at HQ ARRC assessed that Exonaut had enabled them to be 30% more efficient as well as surpassing user quality expectations.

• Standardised Proposed Lessons Forms, enabling all data to be quickly and intuitively compared and analysed.

• Scalable as required, allowing vast amounts of data to eventually be available for NATO, National and Mission Exploitation.

• Effortless tracking of lessons from observation to dissemination using data visualisation and notification rules.

• Powerful analysis and exploitation views to enable evidence based presentations and briefings to the Chain of Command.

• A data ready application that can have data retro-entered, enabling a hugely powerful bank of knowledge to be created, analysed and exploited.

• A single dashboard displaying progress, ownership and the linkage of related lessons.

Fig 3 – Lessons Overview Dashboard