This Is War!

In our February 2013 issue, we briefly discussed the late USAF Col. John Boyds famous OODA Loop, a decision-making process originally developed to assist fighter pilots in air combat training. We noted, Key to understanding and implementing the OODA Loop, according to Boyd, was the accuracy and rate with which we step through the decision-making process. If we fail to accurately assess our environment, we cant make effective decisions. If we fail to make those decisions quickly enough, external events will overtake us and also result in poor decisions. The OODA Loop is derived from the acronym formed by it's four basic steps: observation, orientation, decision and action.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) is a four-step decision-making process developed for fighter pilots to make effective and timely choices in dynamic environments.
Its effectiveness hinges on the speed and accuracy of processing information, assessing the situation, making decisions, and taking action, as slow or inaccurate steps lead to poor outcomes.
The iterative process involves continuously observing the environment, orienting oneself by analyzing gathered data, deciding on a course of action, and then implementing it, looping back to reassess the impact and adjust, much like strategic thinking principles found in "The Art of War."

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In our February 2013 issue, we briefly discussed the late USAF Col. John Boyds famous OODA Loop, a decision-making process originally developed to assist fighter pilots in air combat training. We noted, Key to understanding and implementing the OODA Loop, according to Boyd, was the accuracy and rate with which we step through the decision-making process. If we fail to accurately assess our environment, we cant make effective decisions. If we fail to make those decisions quickly enough, external events will overtake us and also result in poor decisions. The OODA Loop is derived from the acronym formed by it’s four basic steps: observation, orientation, decision and action. Theyre summarized below.

Of course, mastering the zen of flying isnt like going to war, although some may train it that way and opine that its you against the elements, or something else, and you must be victorious. If you subscribe to that opinion/philosophy, and it works for you, consider the three quotes in the text box at bottom. Theyre from The Art Of War, Sun Tzus classic text on military strategy. Theyre not at all unlike a zen-influenced koan, are they?