Near Real Time System for Operational Management

Current organizations integrate different social realities which result in a complex intersection of people, processes and technologies. Since people are the only agents endowed with the necessary autonomy to make decisions, and considering that the timeliness of information affects, overwhelmingly, the effectiveness of decision making, it is necessary to provide these same people a robust Self-Awareness. Indeed, in the current constantly changing environment, it is a great advantage for organizations to recognize uncertainty as an important factor to consider in its operation. Thus, like the aircrafts, the organizations require Near Real Time mechanisms that allow them to be ahead of the organizational environment, i.e., to know, at any given moment, the real status of its means and resources. Based on the principles of Organizational Engineering, this paper proposes a Near Real Time Model for the Portuguese Air Force. Considering its core business, the air defense of the Republic, the main objective of this investigation is to provide the Air Force's operational component with the necessary Near Real Time mechanisms. Although this model is based on a particular set of requirements, its conclusions and principles might be considered a reference for the entire organization and, furthermore, for modern enterprises.