47 - Military Innovation and Creativity with GEN Kenney and the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Oct 24, 2019
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Explore the innovative tactics, mechanics, and organization of the 5th Air Force led by GEN Kenney in preparation for the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Learn about the achievements and contributions of military officers, the role of inter-service rivalry and organizational culture in fostering innovation, the challenges of military innovation, and the concepts of empowerment, mission command, and problem framing in winning battles.
General Kenny's unique approach to allocating resources and encouraging innovation led to the success of the Fifth Air Force in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
Properly framing the problem and empowering subordinates are crucial for fostering a culture of successful military innovation.
Deep dives
General Kenny's approach to creativity and innovation
General George Kenny, the commander of the Fifth Air Force, demonstrated a unique approach to creativity and innovation during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Being a general, he had the power to allocate scarce resources to innovative projects. His technical expertise as a pilot and engineer also contributed to his ability to drive a spirit of entrepreneurship throughout the Air Force. He actively sought out and encouraged innovators, rewarding their contributions. Kenny's definition of fighting the war the way you can, not the way you want, set a foundation for innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the battlefield.
The challenges of military innovation
Military innovation faces several challenges, whether in contact or out of contact. In contact scenarios, rapid technological change and the difficulty of learning lessons from the battlefield create obstacles. Observers of problems often face limited time and resources to innovate, and innovation tends to be top-down, with power concentrated at higher levels of the organization. In both situations, risk tolerances, the definition of the problem, and the need for proper framing and measures of success can impede innovation.
The importance of problem framing and questions for reflection
Properly framing the problem is crucial for effective military innovation. Incorrect problem framing can lead to misapplication of resources and ineffective strategies. Asking the right questions and defining problems accurately are essential steps. Reflecting on the level of empowerment for innovation in one's role, the linkage between mission command and innovation, and ways to empower subordinates to be more creative and innovative are critical considerations in fostering a culture of successful military innovation.
Why was the 5th Air Force different in the way that it innovated tactically, mechanically and organisationally?
We look at how GEN Kenney lead the 5th Air Force and prepared it for the Battle of the Bismarck sea. What was it that marked it out as one of the most innovative Air Forces in the Second World War?
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.