Commanders Dashboard: overview of tactical changes to improve situated decision making in the field

Abstract

Motivation -- To support group commanders of small tactical units in information exchange and decision making while in the field, a mobile system called Commanders Dashboard is developed. Research approach -- Based on a situated Cognitive Engineering (sCE) methodology, user requirements and claims for this decision support system are specified. A prototype system is designed that presents a geographical overview, (changes in) the assignment and decision support. A first assessment of these claims is done by having four end-users interact with the prototype on a mission through a virtual environment. A qualitative analysis with questionnaires and a debriefing discussion gives insight into the ease and accuracy of decision making and user experience of the prototype. Findings -- The sCE methodology helped to establish a first---theoretical and empirical founded---decision support prototype to be iteratively improved. Users were very positive about ease of use and decision support from the system. However, auditory feedback, the amount of information presented and user trust should be improved. Research limitations/Implications -- The generalizability of the evaluation outcomes is limited because of a small number of qualitative measures and end-users. Originality/Value -- This research emphasizes that incorporating operational demands and human factors knowledge helps to improve and refine the knowledge base for the design of mobile decision support. Take away message -- Future decision support should show how tactical changes affect the Commanders options.