OODA Loop

The OODA or Observe-Orient-Decide-Act Loop is an interesting decision making theory which has it roots in the miltary. The brain-child of Col. John Boyd, it emphasizes the need for quick decision making in a continuous process which pays attention to the reaction of the opposition. Broadly, the four step loop goes like this:

1. Observe - To be aware of the situation in the environment and factors around oneself. This step involves being observant enough to identify objects of interest and to be experienced and discreet enough to pick out only essential elements for the decision making process.
   
   
2. Orient - With the situational information gathered, apply past ideas, cultural background, experience and analysis to gain understanding of what all these elements of the environment mean. Also, trying to understand the opposition (in some cases) and how their decision making process may work given the same set of situational factors will also enable a better decision in the next step.
   
   
3. Decide - Based on the first two steps, select a best fit option to be implemented. There may be several alternatives present in theis stage and some limited mental hypothesis may be used to select the most appropriate one.
   
   
4. Act - The implementation phase itself to put the chosen alternative into action. In some cases, the action may be a limited ones used as a means to test out the effective-ness of complete commitment.

And the cycle doesn't stop here, it continues again as the last action taken affects the situation and one has to start at the observation stage again.

This is a pretty interesting decision making process and probably one that can become faster as one gets used to the schematic framework of this. The resulting increase in decision making speed should be a tremendous advantage in many situations.

( Further Reading : Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War )

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Top 10 Patton Quotes

Strange that we don't see colourful figures like this anymore:

1. "You are not beaten until you admit it"
   
   
2. "Lack of Orders if no excuse for inaction. Anything done vigorously is better than nothing done tardily"
   
   
3. "We received a number of replacement captains. I had initially assigned them to companies under lieutenants until they had learned the ropes. While this is not authorized in the regulations, I did it in both this and the First World War, and it works." (On training tactics)
   
   
4. "Do not take counsel of your fears" (Letter of Instruction No. 1, issued to Corps, Division and Separate Unit Commanders)
   
   
5. "There seems to be an unwitting conspiracy [by higher command] to make me lose my self-confidence, but so far it has failed"
   
   
6. "I don't want to get any messages saying 'I am holding my position'. We are not holding a goddamned thing. Let the Germans do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding on to anything, except the enemy's balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all the time. Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under or through the enemy." (Speech to Third Army)
   
   
7. "I have studied the German all of my life. I have read the memoirs of his generals and political leaders. I have even read his philosophers and listened to his music. I have studied in detail the accounts of every damned ones of his battles. I know exactly how he will react under any given set of circumstances. He hasn't the slightest idea of what I'm going to do. Therefore, when the time comes, I'm going to whip the Hell out of him" (On the importance of knowing your enemy)
   
   
8. "It is always best, when practicable, to drive to the front, so that the soldiers can see you going in that direction, and to save time, fly back by Cub plane so that you are never seen going to the rear." (On Leadership)
   
   
9. "May God deliver us from our friends; we can handle the enemy" (On the fatal ineffectiveness of SHEAF, High Command)
   
   
10. "I have taken Trier with only two divisions. Do you want me to give it back?" (Telegram in response to an order from SHEAF not to take the city of Trier anything less than three divisions, which was ignored and promptly conquered with two divisions)