5.4.2 Architecting a Command and Control (C2) System

The C4ISR Architecture Framework (C4ISRAF) mandates architecture products that are needed to describe typical defense information environments and hence entities such as a hypothetical future Command and Control (C2) Architecture. However, as is commonly understood, the C4ISRAF does not describe a methodology for creating the architecture products. This paper seeks to redress this deficiency by identifying a suitable methodology to create and evolve a C2 Architecture that maps to the C4ISRAF and its products. The strong influence of human activity in the problem domain necessitates both a functionalist and an interpretive approach to system design. This has been used to define an approach based on a multi‐methodology. The paper describes the steps taken to identify appropriate candidates for the multi‐methodology and concludes that there are two leading candidate hybrid multi‐methodologies: one that could be described as a soft mantle with a hard systems core and one that follows a more traditional hard systems paradigm.