The defence sector in the free world is currently talking a lot about dual-use technology. In this context, dual-use refers to civil products that can also be put to effective use in military settings. Especially when cost, ease of use, time to availability and volumes are considered. A typical example is the use of consumer drones.
Reading about Ukraine’s successful use of its system “DOT-Chain Defence”, a digital platform that allows military units to order defence products directly from manufacturers, made me realise that dual-use also works on a conceptual level, and not just for hardware.
You can read more about it in the article "How DOT-Chain Defence is changing rules of game for Ukraine’s drone industry".
The article covers many things, but my main takeaway from it is four concepts that I think about, and work with, all the time in the civilian world:
1.
Moving from “economies of cost” to “economies of speed”. Just-in-time deliveries (pull rather than push) increase adaptability. (Ironically it also reduces the risk of large stocks becoming worthless.)
2.
Using “platform as a business strategy”. It creates “network effects”, but also help distil quality and surface the most effective solutions for different situations.
3.
Balancing centralisation and decentralisation, to reach effect.
4.
The system’s success is achieved even before adding self-service for custom configuration. I assume that addition will unlock a greater level of effect.
Maybe it’s a stretch to call it “dual-use” when applied to concepts. Concepts are generic by their very nature. That said, I found it interesting to see how well those concepts work in a defence context. In the civilian world, we’re usually applying them “only” to create value for businesses. According to the article, the same concepts can also be helpful when lives, freedom and democracy are at stake.
At the same time, I know that I’ve learned a great deal about architecture and organisation by reading about military philosophy. It goes both ways. (More about that in another post.)
Where else do you see concepts moving between civilian and defence contexts, in either direction?
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