Abstract
In 2023, a new basis as to how leadership is to be conducted in the Danish Armed Forces
was published, and Mission Command is an essential part of this. Retention of soldiers and
in the Danish military is a growing problem, especially among IT-specialists, and the leader’s
ability to keep employees motivated is essential in this context. Therefore, the aim in this
project is to explore the following research question “How can a platoon commander
motivate specialists in a Communication and Informations Systems (CIS) platoon at the
command support regiment through mission command.”
We use Shamir’s theory of Mission Command. Through the use of SDT
(Self-Determination-Theory), and “Primadonnaledelse” a specialist leadership archetype
theory by Helle Hedegaard Hein, we investigate how specialists in a CIS platoon can be
motivated through Mission Command.
We conducted 17 interviews and questionnaires which included: 2 platoon commanders, 4
section commanders and 11 privates. The interviews and questionnaires were used to
identify how Mission Command is conducted in the units and which problem occurs, how the
specialists found the principles of Mission Command motivating, and how different specialist
archetypes were motivated through the principles of Mission Command.
Through the use of SDT we conclude Mission Command enhances intrinsic motivation in a
specialist unit, and that the four different archetypes prioritize different elements of Mission
Command in relation to motivation. Using the challenges and advantages found in the
interviews as a basis, we present 11 recommendations on how to increase motivation
through the use of Mission Command.