John Boyd was a fighter pilot who developed the OODA Loop Decision Making Framework. He helped develop the F15, F16 & F18. Boyd’s manual of fighter tactics changed the way every air force in the world flies and fights. He discovered a physical theory, Energy-Maneuverability theory that forever altered the way fighter planes were flown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boyd_(military_strategist)
OODA Loop Steps
The OODA Loop is the cycle observe–orient–decide–act, developed by military strategist and the United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd. Boyd applied the concept to the combat operations process, often at the operational level during military campaigns.
Observing – finding all the information you can. This requires to be present, open-minded and knowledge of the facts.
Orient – we think about the data and facts and develop a framework base on this information.
Decide – orientation creates options. From here we can develop a hypothesis of what actions to take.
Act – action is a result of the data and hypothesis we developed. Record the outcome. Repeat the process of the OODA Loop.
As a result of utilizing the OODA Loop in decision making we should become:
- Better decision-makers.
- Rely on and obtain better data and facts.
- Increase our decision-making capabilities.
- Reduce the bias in our decisions.
- Make conscious decisions that lead to better results.
- Increases your leadership capabilities.
How can you increase your decision-making capability? What tools can you utilize?