The OODA Loop Sketch A printerfriendly version appears

The OODA “Loop” Sketch [A printer-friendly version appears page 5. ] [Click (left) mouse button toonadvance] 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 Previous Experience Feedback Feed Forward 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.

Pumping up OODA “Loop” Speed 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 “Interaction permits vitality and growth, while isolation leads to decay and disintegration. ” Strategic Game, 29. “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.

Sometimes, You Just Have to Make a Decision 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 Decision (Hypothesis) Feed Forward Previous Experience Feedback Make (explicit)Feedback decisions when you need to harmonize the actions of groups of people, i. e. , to reorient them to a new goal or purpose. However: • Until they reorient, their actions will still be influenced by their implicit guidance and controls • Decision making and reorientation always take time Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environment

Operating Inside Their OODA Loop “It’s like they’re moving in slow motion. ” — Boyd describing “operating inside opponents’ OODA loops. ” “It’s like you’re commanding both sides. ” — typical impression of a successful cheng / ch’i operation. [cheng - “orthodox, expected, ” while ch’i “unorthodox, shocking, irregular. ” By operating inside an opponent’s OODA loop, you will find it much easier to set up and exploit cheng / ch’i situations. ]

Boyd’s OODA “Loop” Sketch Observe Unfolding Circumstances Orient Implicit Guidance & Control Feed Observations Forward Genetic Heritage Unfolding Interaction With Environment Act Implicit Guidance & Control Cultural Traditions New Information Outside Information Decide Analyses & Synthesis 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, 2001

Boyd’s OODA “Loop” OODA Loop Colour Observe Unfolding Circumstance s Implicit Guidance & Control Observations Outside Informatio n Unfolding Interaction With Environmen t Orient Feed Forwar d Decide Implicit Guidance & Control Cultural Traditions Genetic Heritage Act Analyses & Synthesis Feed Forwar New Previous Information Experience Decision (Hypothesis) d Feedbac k Feed Forwar d Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environmen t 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, 2001 6

‘Evolved’ OODA LOOP (Peter Hermann) Schwerpunkt / Telos (Purpose / Goal) Observation Unfolding Circumstance s Implicit Guidance & Control Observations Outside Informatio n Unfolding Interaction With Environmen t Feed Forwar d Orientation Decision Implicit Guidance & Control Significant Relationships Genetics & Physiology Values, Culture & Traditions Feed Forwar New Information Thinking Processes Decision (Hypothesis) d Previous Experience Feedbac k Action Feedbac k Feed Forwar d Action (Test) Unfolding Interaction With Environmen t 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 cross-referencing process. 7