Vanguard Magazine

28 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com NAVAL I ntroducing a new class of ship, from concept to requirements definition, and then through design, build, and delivery, is a complex venture that takes years. How does it actually begin and what are the steps that are fol- lowed to lay out the Navy's requirements? More interestingly, how does the Navy of today actually determine what the Navy will need 20 to 30 years into the future? How does the Navy ensure that industry, which will ultimately design and build the new ships, is able to bring the best equip- ment solutions to the table? This short exposé will not only unpack some of this capability development pro- cess but will also illuminate the reader as to how the RCN is leveraging "use cases", an innovation tool used by an increasing number of organizations in the commer- cial high technology sector, with a view to achieving the best solutions for the RCN. USE CASES – A PICTURE TELLS THE STORY What is a use case? A well-constructed use case is able to simplify a concept and support the explanation of an idea – with a focus on describing an outcome rather than defining a solution. In a business world increasingly pre-occupied by inno- vation, the use case is a tool used in agile development and enables users, working with innovation and industry specialists, to collaboratively develop a solution, in an iterative manner, over time. So too for the RCN as we guide the procurement of the Canadian Surface Combatant to ensure it is delivered as envisioned - the right ship for Canada! The Ship Virus Response Management use case below is one that the RCN has recently developed during the Covid-19 pandemic. It portrays an outcome in the future where the Navy may be better able to manage the challenges of a pandemic against its needs to be ready to deploy ships and sailors on missions. The use case is oriented around some digital technolo- gies, some interconnected processes and procedures, and finally, the ability to track the status of a ship's crew. What makes the use case approach dif- ferent, or in the case of RCN procurement - innovative? First, it allows you to pursue something without knowing exactly what is specifically needed. This approach can be very useful when the goal is to capture needs that extend 20 to 30 years into the future. Next, the use case is meant to en- able a collaborative effort on the part of the user and the solution provider. This collaboration allows for development to evolve over time, with a view that the end- solution more closely aligns with the out- come sought by the user and the ability of the provider to develop the solution while technology continues to evolve. This ele- ment is particularly helpful when dealing with an outcome, like a modern warship, that is a highly complex system of systems that will take several years to design and build. Finally, the use case represents a well- focused snapshot of an outcome – but one that is not exhaustive in detail. As such, as the journey towards the outcome pro- gresses, the user and provider may dis- cover other outcomes that are potentially beneficial to pursue but could not have been imagined earlier. In this light, by em- barking on a journey towards a described outcome rather than a specified solution, use cases help create an environment of in- Figure 1: Ship Virus Response Management Use Case 1. A highly contagious virus spreads globally; international business and supply chains are disrupted 2. The RCN is tasked to send a ship to support the Government of Canada's domestic response to the pandemic 3. RCN Recall App sends detailed safety instructions to sailors on how to return to the ship 6. Sailors are alerted on their wearable devices if they pass screening and are permitted entry 5. Health data of arriving sailors is analyzed without human contact, and alerts the Quartermaster if anyone requires quarantine procedures 4. As the sailors board the ship, the Quartermaster wears mixed reality goggles to inspect each arriving person prior to entry 7. The Quartermaster is alerted to persons not part of the crew for a more detailed security screening 8. Arriving sailors are automatically 'checked in' to the Crew Management System, and the Captain is alerted to screening anomalies 9. The Quartermaster receives updates that are viewable on the 'heads up' display, allowing for uninterrupted entry screening 1 Director Navy Innovation – 2020

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