A Network-Centred Optimization Technique for Operative Target Selection
A network-based method to identify the most influential nodes by combining network centrality and optimization is proposed, demonstrating that various network properties, such as between and degree centralities, influence the priorities of nodes as targets, and that using an optimization model yields better priorities with decreasing marginal properties.
Abstract
The process of accomplishing strategic objectives by concentrating on effects as opposed to attrition-based destruction is known as effects-based operations, or EBO. Finding important nodes in an adversary network is a critical step in the EBO process for a successful implementation. In this paper, propose a network-based method to identify the most influential nodes by combining network centrality and optimization. To determine the node influence, the adversary's network structure is analyzed using degree and between centralities. Given the dynamic nature of the adversary network struct[1]ure and the centrality results, an optimization model that takes resource constraints into account chooses the key nodes. Our findings demonstrate that various network properties, such as between and degree centralities, influence the priorities of nodes as targets, and that using an optimization model yields better priorities with decreasing marginal properties. There is a discussion of the implications for theory and sensible decision-making.