Thinking about strategic thinking: developing a more effective strategic thinking culture in Defence

In this inaugural issue of the Vanguard Occasional Paper Series, Major General Mick Ryan identifies broad gaps in how Defence has traditionally approached strategic thinking skills in its people and provides a way forward to nurture and build better strategic thinkers. Senior leaders in the Australian Defence Force and Defence, more broadly, recognise that an improved institutional capacity of strategy thinking is required to navigate Australia's defence and security challenges, now and in the future.

This paper looks at the current situation, considers the core skills and behaviours Defence needs in a strategic thinker and to nurture a strategic learning culture, and the challenges this presents.

”Individuals think strategically, not institutions. However, the development of strategic thinkers cannot be separated from institutional culture.” Improving Defence capacity for strategic thinking will require commitment over the medium term by all institutional leaders and communication with all of their people to realise this improved capacity for strategic thought. It will be hard, but there is little choice if Defence are to effectively navigate the challenges of the current and future security environments.

Author