ÜLESANDEKESKNE JUHTIMINE – KAS JUHTIMISSTIIL VÕI MIDAGI ENAMAT?

Mission Command – A Leadership Style or Something Else?

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to initiate deeper discussion within the EDF about the nature and essence of mission command. Despite mission command not being a new concept for the EDF officers’ corps, and although the necessity of integrating the principles of mission command into the EDF leadership doctrine has been addressed at different command levels over the last ten years, there is still too much uncertainty as to how to best approach and describe this phenomenon. Based on the analysis of various scientific studies and examinations doctrines where mission command has been implemented, the author would argue that mission command should be understood as a command philosophy or a basic principle of a command philosophy. Shared understanding, trust, freedom of actions and decentralization are the main cornerstones of this philosophy. The implementation of mission command in the EDF cannot be progress by simply adopting some of the already existing concepts from other armies. The concept must rather be translated, and adapted into the existing cultural environment. The implementation of the new philosophy may even require changes in the existing command and organizational structure. To effectively make such changes, there must be two-sided approach: it must be enforced not only from the top-down, but also from the bottom-up. Moreover, an extensive analysis of the organizational culture of the EDF is also necessary. As every change creates an equal and opposite reaction to the change, a proper implementation strategy also becomes necessary.