Assessing global change impacts on defence using a System-of-Systems perspective

Identifying global change impacts on Defence will assist future preparedness, minimize unanticipated demand and reduce unfunded cost pressures. The physical world is observably changing, arguably at an increasing rate and perhaps irreversibly. This is provoking socio-economic, technological and geographical change - known as Global Change. These changes will affect Defence, directly and indirectly, in the medium to long term. Taking a System-of-Systems view yields unique insights into global change impacts on Defence. Systemic Action Enquiry has been effectively applied to provide a robust framework for examining relationships and patterns of change, and facilitate identification of intervention points for System-of-Systems adaptation. Application of such a perspective in Defence has enabled the development of an effective, widely supported, organizational-level Defence Energy Integration Framework. The Framework will now be used as a template for addressing other operational issues of strategic importance, such as critical infrastructure sustainment and base resilience.