Scenarios in Capabilities Planning Process

• Main Authors: Josef Procházka, František Mičánek, Josef Šmondrk, Josef Melichar
• Format: Article
• Language: ces
• Published: Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic 2016-02-01
• Series: Vojenské rozhledy
• Subjects: Operational Environment; Defence Planning Process; Capability Planning; Scenarios; Capability-Based Planning; Ambitions; Tasks; Commitments; Use of Armed Forces and Functional Areas.
• Online Access: http://vojenskerozhledy.cz/kategorie-clanku/vystavba-ozbrojenych-sil/scenare-v-procesu-planovani-schopnosti2

The aim of the article is to bring inspiration and offer needed recommendations for implementing the scenarios in the defence planning process. The article addresses purpose, development and practical application of scenarios in a national defence planning process, utilizing capability based planning (National Capability Based Defence Planning - NCBDP). During the planning scenarios are used for identification and verification of capability requirements. Scenarios depict main features of the environment in which the armed forces will be employed to execute military missions. Scenarios reflect as well operational concepts in a sense of doctrinal use of armed forces. Furthermore, they offer a possibility to identify and quantify required capabilities in a volatile, difficult to predict, complex, permanently and dynamically changing environment, and reduce level of uncertainty and associated risks. In this regard, scenarios are significant analytical and supporting tool of defence planning with high value added. Correct application of scenarios allows defining a set of required capabilities necessary for success in potential future conflicts. Scenarios enable long-term planning of capabilities development and optimisation as a platform for qualified and well informed decisions at the MoD level on the armed forces character, structure and size with regard to the ambitions and international commitments of the country. In the conclusion the article brings recommendations for the defence planning process improvement by exploiting capability based planning and scenarios. Recommendations provided in the article include doctrinal changes, organizational changes within MoD and General staff, recommendations for updating the education plans for military personnel, recommendations for optimization of the defence planning process as well as for necessary changes in the approach of the defence managers and military leaders to the described method.