Col John Boyd described conflict as “time competitive observation, orientation, decision and action cycles.” This model of thought, learning and decision making is called the OODA Loop. Do not be fooled by the simplistic ideas running through your mind as you read this. I can hear some of you now, “come on Freddie, this is the crux of strategic theory leading to grand strategy, overall success and survival, Observe, Orient, Decide and Act”? Quite simply yes it is! This is a powerful tool that assists in making sound decisions in a timely manner. However it’s not as simplistic a process, as it sounds. To learn, understand and translate to a specific environment and apply the Boyd Cycle (aka OODA Loop) effectively to gain the advantage, takes some individual initiative, research, study and training to reap its full benefits in the strategic and tactical realms of conflict. *

From the book the John Boyd Roundtable Debating Science, Strategy, and War; one of the authors Daniel H. Abbott describes John Boyd’s OODA Loop as follows. “The OODA Loop divides cognition into four processes, Observation (perception), Orientation (unconscious or implicit thought), conscious of explicit thought (Decision) and Action (behavior).”

The Boyd Cycle is a decision making model, which focuses on how we process information, through all our 6 senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch and also intuition). A “turned on and tuned in” Boyd Cycle running smooth and fluid allows us to recognize patterns of behavior in conflict, orient quickly and effectively to the climate (situation) we are in, allowing us the ability to make rapid decisions and take appropriate actions to exploit, any advantage that presents itself.

The OODA Loop is not only about one side of the competitive environment, it’s about both sides and you getting inside the mind of the competition as Boyd described; “Operate inside the adversaries observation-orientation-decision and action loops to enmesh adversary in a world of uncertainty, doubt, mistrust, confusion, disorder, fear, panic, chaos… and or fold the adversary back inside himself so that he cannot cope with events/efforts as they unfold.” When two sides of a competitive situation are in conflict, the side that can execute the Boyd Cycle (OODA Loop) process more rapidly and more effectively than the other will gain the advantage over the opponent because initiative is seized and the opponent will constantly be reacting to the decisions of the opposing side. This leads to poor decisions on the part of the opponent followed by paralysis of the opposition’s decision making process. This is what Boyd meant by “operating inside the enemies decision making cycle.”

The most important step in the OODA Loop is orientation. In this step analysis and synthesis of the observations occur. Observations you make are processed and give you a snapshot or picture of what is going on at the specific time and place allowing you to make decisions and take appropriate action. Decisions we make related directly to how we orient to rapidly changing and uncertain situations. This all based on individual knowledge from past experience (birth to present), education and training applied to the current situation. This allows individual adaptability and rapid decision making in situations where risk stake is high and time is critical.

Applying the OODA Loop faster than your opponent is the core of situational awareness and intuitive decision making and the essence of winning or losing.

The next few posts we will break down the OODA Loop, phase by phase with examples of how all our senses are utilized in fine tuning our awareness, allowing timely decisions.  We will learn its much more than just a LOOP!