Overview

There seems to be something badly wrong with the command of western armed forces.  Headquarters are too big.  They produce orders which are too long.  They take too long to do so.  ‘Something Rotten’ looks at those problems by examining the command system as a whole. What is it for?  What does it do?  How does it do that? How is it structured and organised?  Most importantly, what about the people who work in it? ‘Something Rotten’ points out logical and practical problems with organisations and processes. It challenges the reader as to why such problems exist and persist. It suggests abandoning much overt process; building up human expertise; relying on fewer but better-trained people; and deciding and acting much faster.    ‘Something Rotten’ focusses largely on the command of land forces.  Other uniformed (and not necessarily armed) services will, however, readily identify parallels and insights.

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9781912440320

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Reviews

'Jim Storr provides a crisp, informed, vigorous, and uncomfortable analysis of what has gone wrong with command systems in the British Army.' Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman KCMG CBE 'A scathing critique. Jim Storr is an original thinker who has never been afraid of asking the awkward question, never slow to challenge conventional wisdom, never shy of being deemed controversial or heretical. This book bears all those hallmarks. It is highly thought-provoking and stimulating.' Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC 'Storr has produced a clarion call for action which I hope will be listened to by the British Army. Ignoring the issues raised will lead to failure, and the future British Army is too small to get a second chance.' Lieutenant General Robert Baxter CBE 'Jim Storr is Britain's most lucid military thinker. In 'Something Rotten' he savages the zombified command practices and structures of Western armed forces. More, though, he provides a compelling way forward. This book is chock full of insight and good judgment. It is by far the most useful book on the subject since Martin Van Creveld's Command in War.' Professor David Betz, King's College, London

'Jim Storr provides a crisp, informed, vigorous, and uncomfortable analysis of what has gone wrong with command systems in the British Army.’  Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman KCMG CBE 'A scathing critique. Jim Storr is an original thinker who has never been afraid of asking the awkward question, never slow to challenge conventional wisdom, never shy of being deemed controversial or heretical. This book bears all those hallmarks. It is highly thought-provoking and stimulating.’ Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC ‘Storr has produced a clarion call for action which I hope will be listened to by the British Army.  Ignoring the issues raised will lead to failure, and the future British Army is too small to get a second chance.’  Lieutenant General Robert Baxter CBE ‘Jim Storr is Britain’s most lucid military thinker. In ‘Something Rotten’ he savages the zombified command practices and structures of Western armed forces. More, though, he provides a compelling way forward. This book is chock full of insight and good judgment. It is by far the most useful book on the subject since Martin Van Creveld’s Command in War.’   Professor David Betz, King’s College, London 'We started reading the book wanting to like it.  We finished the book, loving it.... His insights into command must influence how we think....a must read for any serious officer or soldier.' The Wavell Room 'This book is an important, convincing and compelling challenge to the status quo.  Read it.' 5 Mushroom Heads, The Army Rumour Service

Author Information

Jim Storr was an infantry officer in the British Army for 25 years. He served in the Headquarters of British Forces Falklands Islands; the 1st Infantry Brigade (The United Kingdom Mobile Force); and United States European Command; in the British Army of the Rhine (three times), Northern Ireland, Canada and Cyprus. He gained a doctorate for considering the nature of military thought; planned the introduction of battlefield digital systems; and wrote high-level doctrine.  In his second career he has consulted to international tech and oil companies; been a professor of war studies, and taught human factors at Oxford University. ‘Something Rotten’ is his fifth book. 

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