The OODA Loop Sketch A more printer-friendly version

The OODA “Loop” Sketch [A more printer-friendly version appears on page 7. ] Observe Orient Implicit Guidance & Control Unfolding Circumstances Observations Feed Forward Genetic Heritage Unfolding Interaction With Environment Act Implicit Guidance & Control Cultural Traditions New Information Outside Information Decide Analyses & Synthesis Feed Forward Previous Experience Feedback Decision (Hypothesis) Feed Forward Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environment Feedback Note how orientation shapes observation, shapes decision, shapes action, and in turn is shaped by the feedback and other phenomena coming into our sensing or observing window. Also note how the entire “loop” (not just orientation) is an ongoing many-sided implicit cross-referencing process of projection, empathy, correlation, and rejection. Competitive advantage comes from quickness over the entire “loop, ” not just or even primarily from the O-to-D-to-A sequence. March 13, 2006 © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 1

Pumping up OODA “Loop” Speed Observe Orient Implicit Guidance & Control Unfolding Circumstances Observations Feed Forward Outside Information New Information Act Implicit Guidance & Control Cultural Traditions Genetic Heritage Decide Analyses & Synthesis Previous Experience Unfolding Interaction With Environment Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environment “Orientation is the Schwerpunkt. ” Organic Design, 16. “Emphasize implicit over explicit in order to gain a favorable mismatch in friction and time. ” Organic Design, 22. “Interaction permits vitality and growth, while isolation leads to decay and disintegration. ” Strategic Game, 29. March 13, 2006 © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 2

Sometimes, You Just Have to Make a Decision Observe Implicit Guidance & Control Unfolding Circumstances Feed Forward Outside Information Analyses & Synthesis New Information Act Implicit Guidance & Control Cultural Traditions Genetic Heritage Observations Unfolding Interaction With Environment Decide Orient Feed Forward Decision (Hypothesis) Feed Forward Previous Experience Feedback Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environment Explicit decisions are needed when no effective action is available via the implicit link, such as when training or experimenting. However: • Actions will still be influenced by (existing) implicit guidance and controls until these are reset by learning • Explicit decision making and reorientation (learning) always take time March 13, 2006 © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 3

Operating Inside Their OODA Loops • Definition: – Changing the situation more rapidly than the other side can comprehend. • Typical effects: – “It’s like they’re moving in slow motion. ” Boyd describing – “operating inside opponents’ OODA loops. ” “It’s like you’re commanding both sides. ” Common impression of a successful cheng / ch’i operation. [cheng “orthodox, expected, ” while ch’i - “unorthodox, unexpected, shocking. ” By operating inside an opponent’s OODA loop, you will find it much easier to set up and exploit cheng / ch’i situations. ] For other typical and intended effects, please refer to Patterns of Conflict, chart 132, available at: http: //www. d-n-i. net/second_level/boyd_military. htm#discourse March 13, 2006 © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 4

What OODA “loop” speed really means Quickly understand what’s going on Observe Know what to do And be able to do it Orient Decide Implicit Guidance & Control Unfolding Circumstances Observations Implicit Guidance & Control Feed Forward Decision (Hypothesis) Outside Information Unfolding Interaction With Environment March 13, 2006 Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environment Feedback Feed Forward While learning from the experience © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 5

Key Points: • When you’re doing OODA “loops” right, accuracy and speed improve together; they don’t trade off. • An essential task of leadership is to create – mainly by example – an organization that gets better and better (and better) at these things. March 13, 2006 © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 6

Boyd’s OODA “Loop” Sketch Observe Orient Implicit Guidance & Control Unfolding Circumstances Observations Feed Forward Genetic Heritage Unfolding Interaction With Environment Act Implicit Guidance & Control Cultural Traditions Analyses & Synthesis New Information Outside Information Decide Feed Forward Decision (Hypothesis) Previous Experience Feedback Feed Forward Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environment Feedback Note how orientation shapes observation, shapes decision, shapes action, and in turn is shaped by the feedback and other phenomena coming into our sensing or observing window. Also note how the entire “loop” (not just orientation) is an ongoing many-sided implicit cross-referencing process of projection, empathy, correlation, and rejection. From “The Essence of Winning and Losing, ” John R. Boyd, January 1996. Defense and the National Interest, http: //www. d-n-i. net, 2006 March 13, 2006 © 2006 Kettle Creek Corporation 7