ASCI 530, Assignment 9.4, Case Analysis Effectiveness

George Santayana (2005, Vol. 1, Chap. 12, para. 19) stated “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”.  This lesson is easily applied to the case analysis tool.  Many of the physical science and engineering disciplines are applied in unmanned aerial systems (UAS).  Science and engineering both make extensive use of experimentation and case studies.  The aviation field, in general, also employs case studies on a frequent basis.  One example is the use of National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) accident reports.

The case analysis tool is extremely valuable to the decision making process.  Historical cases provide examples with which to extrapolate future outcomes.  One example is Napoleon Bonaparte’s 1812 invasion of Russia.  Although the campaign appeared to be an assuring string of successes, the ultimate outcome was a crushing blow that contributed significantly to Napoleon’s fall from power.  129 years later, Adolf Hitler ordered the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.  Although warfare techniques and technology had made significant advances in the intervening years, many of the same factors that contributed to Napoleon’s defeat would also plague Hitler’s Wehrmacht.  The Fuhrer’s failure to learn from Napoleon’s mistakes would eventually contribute significantly to his downfall as well (Betts, 2013).

In the field of UAS, much like the manned aviation fields, the case analysis tool is a valuable resource.  Examination of historical cases involving unmanned and manned aircraft will provide valuable data points by which to make decisions.  Analyses of successes can provide direction in what will work and what a development team will consider emulating.  Conversely, analyses of failures can provide direction in what will not work and what not to do.  One who is aspiring for a future in UAS will need to understand and apply case analysis tools properly.  As mentioned earlier, the UAS field incorporates much of the physical science and engineering disciplines.  Both fields incorporate experimentation and testing.  Examination of past experiments and tests can provide a ready source of lessons learned and save time for development teams by not needing to “re-invent the wheel”.

References:

Betts, M.  (2013, September 13).  Hitler and Napoleon.  In Michael’s RCL Blog.  Retrieved from http://sites.psu.edu/rclmichaelxb/2013/09/13/week-1-hitler-and-napoleon/

Santayana, G.  (2005).  The Life of Reason, Volumes One through Five.  New York: Dover Publications, Inc.