IDF Tells Officers: Lose the PowerPoint Presentations

Published: 
June 8, 2009

Source: Haaretz

 

The deputy chief of staff of the IDF, Brig. Gen. Erez Weiner, wrote a damning indictment of Powerpoint presentations in last month's issue of the IDF journal Maarachot. He claimed that such presentations represent a strong point that has turned into a weak point and as the IDF remains addicted to this tool, it is paying for it dearly.

 

He added that "for many years the use of presentations in the civilian world has expanded, and even more so in the military. It is virtually impossible to have a discussion or lecture in a military forum in which the presentation is not used. I believe the use of presentations has made the level of discussion, and the depth of study, more superficial."

 

Weiner also quoted U.S. military scholar Col. Douglas Macgregor, who has published reports on senior defense figures discovering that the officers were simplifying complex ideas with "sound bites and amusing pictures." Since they were not forced to explain their positions over several written pages, the officers tended to resort to less coherent arguments.

Updated: Jun. 09, 2009
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