Islamic State Global Terror Threat Countermeasures

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Table of Contents

Collection Assessment Paper
Measures of Performance for the Scenario
Measures of Effectiveness for the Scenario
Properties to Be Used For the Development of the MOEs and MOPs
The Overall Methodology When Conducting the Assessment
Works Cited

Collection Assessment Paper

The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is a terror group whose power has been increasing over the recent past due to its unique ability to take advantage of social media to sell its propaganda and use emerging technologies to organize and execute attacks. The recent terror events in France, the United States, and Egypt show that this group is posing a serious threat not only to the people of the Middle East but also to the entire global population. Various literal and non-literal collection papers have been submitted outlining how the United States can deal with this problem. In this paper, the focus will be to assess these collection papers with the view of determining the measure of performance and effectiveness of the scenario they present on how to deal with this global terror threat.

Measures of Performance for the Scenario

The threat that ISIL poses to the international community is real and should be dealt with in the best way possible, and various scholars and experts have submitted various proposals on how this problem can be addressed. It is important to note that the proposed strategies must be effective in addressing the specific problems in the best way possible. It is, therefore, necessary to come up with effective measures of performance that can be applied when implementing the strategies.

Spitzer defines the measure of performance as “a process that involves studying processes and strategies within organizations to see whether the output is in line with what was intended or should have been achieved” (37). Based on this definition, the measure of the performance for the scenario will be how well the United States government has dealt with the threat that ISIS poses to the citizens of American and the global society.

The United States aims to incapacitate this terror group by not only denying it the resources it needs for its operations but also destroying its centers for training and places that they use as their strongholds to organize their activities. The government of the United States has lately been targeting the top leadership of this group with aerial attacks as a way of incapacitating the group. In measuring the performance, of concern will be to determine if these strategies have yielded the much-needed result of destroying or at least incapacitating this terror group so that it may not pose any significant threat to the Americans and the international community. The model shown in the figure below may help in measuring the performance in the fight against this group.

Figure 1: Performance Measurement.

As shown in the above figure, at the top there are key performance indicators clearly stated that helps in understanding what should be achieved in this fight. Then there is the outcome-based program measurement that looks at what is achieved after a given period such as after one month. At the bottom of the pyramid is the difficult task of measuring and managing the daily activities of the team members involved to ensure that they do what is expected within the set deadline.

Data-gathering techniques to be used for the MOPs

To come up with an effective measure of performance for the scenario presented, data will be needed from reliable sources. As mentioned above, the assessment is based on the submitted literal and non-literal papers. According to Barr and Wishnew, secondary sources of data are often very informative in defining what has already been established (27). It offers an insight into what is being inquired and provides some form of path that can be followed by the researcher to achieve the expected outcome.

That is why secondary sources of data will be instrumental at this stage. The researcher will largely rely on the documents that have been published and those that have not been published but are readily available and talks about this scenario. For instance, publications by the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Defense Department will be particularly instrumental in this process (Joby 113). Indeed, most of the publications from these security agencies available for the public are declassified hence do not reveal much about some of the finer details that are desired in this study. However, their publications may help in painting a clear picture of the realities in the fight against ISIL and how successful the fight has been so far.

Measures of Effectiveness for the Scenario

It is also important to measure the effectiveness of the systems and structures proposed or those that are in use if the fight against ISIL. Sekulow defines the measure of effectiveness as “measure designed to correspond to the accomplishment of mission objectives and achievement of desired results” (43). It is not enough to complete the task as per the defined schedule. Also important is how the task has been completed based on the set goals and mission.

The mission should be accomplished as per the defined parameters. In dealing with the ISIL, it is not enough to paralyze its operations or kill its top leaders and ground soldiers. The government must also be in a position to change the narrative that it has used to attract a huge following not only in the Middle East but also in other parts of the world. Effectiveness in this war can only be accomplished if this outfit is eliminated without any possibility of it arising again in the future. The model below may help in the assessment of effectiveness in dealing with the scenario.

Figure 2: Measure of Effectiveness.

At the top, the effectiveness is defined in the context of ambidexterity, which means the ability of the team involved to use all its resources and capabilities effectively in the fight against ISIL. In the second level, there will be a measure of performance and adaptability. This will be analyzed further to the level of costs and time. The cost must be as minimal as possible and the project must be completed as per the schedule.

Data-gathering techniques to be used for the MOEs

In developing the measure of effectiveness, data will need to be generated. At this stage, data will primarily be obtained from the literature available from various sources. These literatures will help in defining what was expected, what was achieved, and how it was achieved. Analysis of what was achieved and how it was achieved based on what was expected will help in determining the effectiveness of the entire process.

Properties to Be Used For the Development of the MOEs and MOPs

When developing a measure of performance and measure of effectiveness for the scenario provided, it will be necessary to define the properties used. In developing a measure of performance, the focus will be on the output. The analysis will be looking at what has been finally produced to determine if it is in line with what was expected. This may be in terms of the number of ISIL properties destroyed, the number of ISIL soldiers and leaders killed in the raids, and plans by these terror groups thwarted before they could cause mayhem in the society.

The measure can be quantitative. On the other hand, the measure of effectiveness will focus more on the path taken to achieve the outcomes. Issues such as the ability of the group to rise again and the ability of the American forces or government to change the narrative of the ISIL will be properties that will be looked at critically.

The Overall Methodology When Conducting the Assessment

The assessment will be very important in defining whether the current strategies or those that have been proposed in the literal and non-literal collection papers can deal with the current problem of ISIL. According to Terrel, ISIL has remained very dynamic in its quest to expand its territories (26). The strategies that are used in fighting must also be dynamic to ensure that the changing faces of this terror group can be dealt with effectively. The methodology will involve reviewing the current or proposed systems, and determining whether it is in line with the realities on the ground. The set targets and objectives must be based on factual and current data. It is only by doing this that true success can be achieved in the fight against this group.

Works Cited

Barr, Stacey, and Nan Wishnew. Practical Performance Measurement: Using the Pump Blueprint for Fast, Easy and Engaging Performance Measures. London: McMillan, 2014. Print.

Joby, Jay. The Rise of Isis: The Coming Massacre. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons, 2014. Print.

Sekulow, Shaw. Performance Measures of Operational Effectiveness for Highway Segments and Systems. Washington: Transportation Research Board, 2003. Print.

Spitzer, Dean. Transforming Performance Measurement: Rethinking the Way We Measure and Drive Organizational Success. New York: AMACOM, 2007. Print.

Stern, Jessica, and James Berger. Isis: The State of Terror. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2016. Print.

Terrel, Warrick. Black Flags: The Rise of Isis. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons Publishers, 2015. Print.

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