Net-Centric Conversations: The Unit of Work for Network Centric Warfare and Network Centric Operations

Network-centric warfare and, increasingly, joint operations, demand vastly increased interdependencies and relationships among net-centric participants to produce net-centric capabilities and increase mission effectiveness. A net-centric conversation (NCC) captures a set of organizing principles that encompass a formal description and management of net-centric relationships among participants, such as people, machines, weapons, and sensors, that produce such a net-centric capability. The term "conversation" is used deliberately to capture both the essence of an NCC\´s ability to change and as the interactions among the participants. Each NCC is version controlled, ensuring that participants know of relevant changes in other participants, which in turn creates a basis of trust. Each NCC has agility metrics to quantify the shortest amount of time needed to change any participant, which enables value-driven portfolio management of NCCs. The Global Combat Support System-Air Force is already beginning to support NCCs