Metaphor in the analysis and evaluation of a complexsecurity environment

Abstract

The paper presents research on the possibilities resulting from the use of metaphor in the process of identifying, analyzing and assessing selected categories of the complex security environment and determining the directions of development of the problem situation. The results of the research were obtained using a questionnaire in the frame of the experiment. Participants were students of War Studies University who underwent a process of education in the field of alternative methods of analyzing and assessing the environment and designing activities with the use of the armed forces. The research process included an experiment in which the results of the work of teams conducting environmental assessments were compared. The scope of the metaphor’s application was presented among the many tools of project teams’ work. The results of the research suggest that building a metaphor in the process of analyzing and assessing the security environment facilitates the determination of directions for the development of a problem situation. This effect is achieved by identifying objectives and end states of the actors in a given problem situation. The results of the research can be applied in those areas of practical activity that relate to the design of assumptions for the operation of specific forces and means. The adopted process of environmental analysis and assessment is aimed at obtaining a holistic picture of reality. This is a response to the need for a general understanding of the problem situation, identification of objectives of the entities to this situation and the specificity of the entities involved in a given problem situation.