Making Decisions During Times of Uncertainty: The Fighter Pilot’s Method
/BY: COACH BILL HARVEY
While working in a dynamic business environment during uncertain times, it’s helpful to have a decision-making framework to foster adaptability and flexibility in your organization. John Boyd, a fighter pilot and military theorist, developed the concept of the OODA Loop to help individuals and teams understand how they respond to events within their environment. This concept is relevant in any competitive and dynamic arena. Regardless of industry, size, or stage in a company’s life cycle, the OODA Loop can benefit organizations as they respond to changing business climate.
My first contact with the OODA Loop came while studying military theory as a Marine Corps fighter pilot. I used the concept of the OODA Loop to prepare to lead teams in combat and train pilots at home. In particular, Boyd’s notion of how organizations develop an orientation—prior to entering the operating environment—is particularly helpful. Building a common understanding of how to synthesize and analyze information within a team was a great way to get aligned. This focus on orientation also helped ensure the team’s actions aligned with the overall strategy of our organization. The OODA Loop helped me focus during mission preparation and make decisions during execution.
The OODA Concept:
Here’s how to understand the diagram as it applies to a business:
Observe—Gather Data
· Gather data about the market, economic situation, and competitive forces
· Collect information from and the results of any previous tests or actions
Orient—Build Understanding
· Determine your position in the market relative to your vision.
· Consider your vision, values, business model, structure, and history to help guide your understanding
Decide—Form a Hypothesis
· Form a hypothesis of what actions will reduce the gap between your vision and reality
· Determine action steps needed to test the hypothesis
Act—Execute the Plan
· Test your hypothesis in the current operating environment
· Identify the resources used in execution
Leaders can develop agility in their teams by focusing on developing the components of their team’s orientation. They’ll need to develop and communicate a vision for the business and imbue common values. A business model and organizational structure that complement the vision and values will drive alignment. If you’re experiencing a pause in operations due to social distancing, it’s a great time to develop your team’s orientation to prepare for speeding up later!
If you’d like to know more about John Boyd and his work, start here:
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram
If you’re interested in working more with Coach Bill to help your organization navigate these uncertain times, contact us today.