Valuing psychological operations

‘Soft Targeting’ in information operations is becoming an increasingly important consideration. Psychological Operations (PSYOP) are one of the classic approaches to targeting an opposition's will to fight. While PSYOPs are a long-standing military practice, there have been no fixed measures of merit for evaluating PSYOP options. This study reports on using Value-Focused Thinking and multi-objective value analysis to develop first cut measures for the evaluation of PSYOP products. The value hierarchy, based on doctrine and expert opinion, is reviewed. Its use is illustrated via the analysis of a set of PSYOP options in a notional scenario. Several changes in the way PSYOP products are evaluated and considered are identified. The model allows the Psychological Operations Detachment Commander to quantify the potential of proposed PSYOP products in meeting the theatre commander's psychological objectives.