US Army Contracts Stottler Henke to Develop Training for Measuring Progress in Stability and Reconstruction Operations

Advanced training software will help US military and civilian agencies use the Measuring Progress in Conflict Environments (MPICE) framework and software

SAN MATEO, CA, July 10, 2009 — Stottler Henke Associates, Inc. today announced the award of a two-year $750,000 contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop an advanced training system to help US government agencies use the Measuring Progress in Conflict Environments (MPICE) framework and software tool. The system will help military and civilian agencies learn to apply MPICE more effectively to assess the progress of stability and reconstruction operations.

It is extremely difficult to assess the progress of stability and reconstruction operations conducted in complex environments such as Iraq and Afghanistan. To address this problem, the US Government developed the Measuring Progress in Conflict Environments (MPICE) framework. It is a comprehensive catalog of quantitative metrics for assessing institutional performance and drivers of conflict in five sectors: stable governance, safe and secure environment, rule of law, sustainable economy, and social well-being. In addition, a new MPICE software tool will help leaders and analysts capture, manage, analyze, interpret, visualize, and report MPICE metrics data to measure the progress of operations in conflict environments more quickly and effectively.

Under this new contract, a team led by Stottler Henke will develop the MPICE Intelligent Tutoring System (MPICE-ITS). This system will teach higher-level analytical skills needed to use the MPICE framework and software tool effectively. Planned learning objectives include selecting, adapting, and weighting metrics that are appropriate for the environment and mission. Additional learning objectives include collecting and interpreting metrics data to assess progress and model the causes and effects in the environment. MPICE-ITS will introduce concepts, facts, and strategies for using the MPICE methodology. In addition, it will include scenario-based exercises that challenge students to apply this knowledge to solve problems in hypothetical or historical conflict environments. Tutoring dialogs will provide hints and pose questions to guide the students’ reasoning, elicit and assess their rationale, and encourage them to reflect on their own reasoning and decisions.

Founded in 1988, Stottler Henke Associates, Inc. applies artificial intelligence and other advanced software technologies to solve problems that defy solution using traditional approaches. The company delivers intelligent software solutions for education and training, planning and scheduling, knowledge management and discovery, decision support, and software development. In 2006, Stottler Henke was the subject of a NASA “Hallmarks of Success” video profile for its work developing and later commercializing advanced planning and training software systems. Stottler Henke received a 2004 “Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning” award for innovative technology. Stottler Henke was named one of the “top 100” companies making a significant impact on the military training industry by Military Training Technology magazine, and in 2005 received a Blue Ribbon recognizing it as a company that leads the industry in innovation. Web: https://www.stottlerhenke.com. Email: