Information centric systems, such as the Future Combat Systems (FCS), require leaders and battle staff members to perform activities that span an information processing continuum. These activities are primarily cognitive in nature. This continuum begins with the Soldier accessing critical information from the battle command network. The information is analyzed and managed to enable the leaders and/or battle staff members to gain insight into a multitude of events shaping the operational environment. With the necessary insight, a course of action is planned in a collaborative fashion. As the course of action is implemented the leaders or battle staff members seek acknowledgement of the status of the action and distribute pertinent information resulting from the action.

The use of a taxonomy to define an information processing continuum is a new and evolving approach that is being used by three teams conducting task analysis for leaders and battle staff members for FCS equipped Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). The taxonomy was developed by examining the activities that are part of the operational architecture for the weapon system. The taxonomy is being used in the development of task performance steps in preparation for the design of training products for FCS. By using the operational architecture as the foundation for the taxonomy two exceedingly important outcomes are being realized. First, the language of the FCS engineer is being merged with the language of the FCS BCT Soldier. Second, gaps in what the Soldier expects the system to do and what the system is being designed to do are being identified. This systematic process is helping to ensure the ultimate design outcome; that is, when FCS is delivered the Soldier will be designed into the system