Software Engineering Institute

Interoperability is essential for effectively forming Joint, Allied, or Coalition task forces. Much work has been done in defining levels of interoperability for information systems in the C4ISR area, notably the LISI Reference Model. We assert that understanding organizational interoperability is also vital for the effective command and control of these task forces. DSTO has previously developed a Five Layer Model of C2 Support, which includes organizational issues. This paper proposes a model of organizational interoperability that extends the LISI model into the more abstract layers of C2 Support, that is, the C2 Frameworks, C2 Processes, and Information Management areas.