These work on the (strategic layer).
To use console commands in , you must first enable the developer console, as it is disabled by default. Unlike later titles, enabling it usually requires either manual configuration file editing or a small mod. How to Enable the Console
Using console commands in XCOM: Enemy Within is a personal choice. For a first playthrough, avoid them. The fear of loss and the joy of scrapping by with a squad of wounded rookies is the core experience.