Executive decision making in military decision to make complex military equipment involves a series of check and balances. Decision making may involve the president particularly when the equipment in consideration is highly lethal. The significant steps and their role in enhancing efficiency in military decisions making processes are identified.
Decision making is often delayed due to lack of sufficient time to go through the entire process. Information from operations research has been relied on heavily to reduce the time needed to reach conclusions in the decision-making process . The McNamara revolution of 1960 revolutionized military decision making from a centralized site by the introduction of planning programming and budgeting system. This helped change the process from a cumbersome traditional method to simpler form ( Newell, 2009).
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Proposal for a project
A decision to develop military is first proposed either by the contractors or from the military headquarter development staff. Final decision to proceed and create the weapon will be determined. This decision is reserved for the executive arm and in some special cases may involve the president like the case of production of the atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb which received sanctions from President Roosevelt and Truman respectively ( Dougherty, 2013 ). The Congress can only influence the process through persuasion and limiting of resources through budgets.
Determination of resources
Resources availability is gauged regarding dollars. The military procurement agency develops the budget. The budget is then revised by the service headquarter staff, secretary of defense staff, Bureau of the budget, and then the congress concludes the process of revision ( Dougherty, 2013 ).This process is always long and can be delayed by skeptics and advocates.
Contractors
Contractors have a major contribution to make; in fact, most weapons are suggested by contractors who have a vast amount of data concerning the feasibility of the research ( Dougherty, 2013 ). However, contractors may provide biased information to sell their project. This may escape the knowledge of military decision makers who may lack time and knowledge to review the information provided. Contractors rely on press releases, media advertisement and personal salesmanship to market their recent technological advances to create interest in their technologies. The lobbying is healthy for the state to move fast and adopt a weapon that will ensure state defense.
Scientific Consultants
Scientific consultants are often employed by the government to evaluate information provided by the contractors. They answer technical, scientific questions. They a have great influence in decision-making process like in the case of the submarine ballistic missile launch in Polaris, Nike Zeus anti-missile project among others. The committee considers feasibility, cost and the strategic significance of the proposed weapon. Other determining factors include the influence of operators, objectivity vis-à-vis confidence, priority level and external forces ( Dougherty, 2013 ).
Overall, executive decision making is a complex decision as observed. Such a rigorous process is significant to ensure that the military runs viable programs that will not waste resources and time. The process also guarantees efficiency in the running of military operations.
References
Dougherty, K. (2013). Military decision-making processes: Case studies involving the preparation, commitment, application and withdrawal of force . McFarland
Newell, C. R. (2009). History of operations research in the United States Army, Volume II: 1961–1973. The Journal of Military History , 73 (4), 1384-1385.
