The OODA Loop

The OODA Loop was created as a framework by Colonel John Boyd in the 1950s as a military feedback loop to win dogfighter engagements. Implemented in military strategy around the globe, it has also demonstrated success when used as a framework to solve business issues. The OODA Loop is a mental model used to make more effective (and more timely) decisions than your opponent. Typically outlined as a four stage process, Observe (situational awareness), Orient (situational understanding), Decide (situational judgement), and Act (situational influence). Once you complete the Act step you begin the feedback Loop again by observing the response to your action (or inaction). This can be summarised as collecting relevant information, recognizing potential bias, deciding on the best course of outcome, acting out your decision, and repeating the process with new information.

Captain Jack Sparrow as a pilot in World War I

OODA for Disruption

When first thinking about OODA Loops, it can seem that the goal is to shorten your loop to be faster (and therefore complete more actions) than your opponent. However as a side effect of making more effective loops, the real benefit is to actually make more timely decisions than your opponent. Truly understand your opponent's OODA Loop by feeding him information and misinformation, and strike at a time that is most disruptive to his Loop and forces your opponent to spend longer at the first two stages (Observe and Orient). OODA Loops are most effective in constantly changing, chaotic environments. 

Gotcha!

OODA for Attacks

What’s most obvious about these feedback models is the advantage of being ‘steps ahead’. Take the example of a street-thug, ready to sneak attack a lone victim at a bus stop. The thug is already on stage 4 of their OODA Loop, having observed their victim, oriented the best method of attack, decided on their course of action, and is now ready to act on their plan. On the other hand, the victim must wait until they are attacked to begin their feedback loop. By the time they are able to even observe the threat, they are most likely incapacitated. The thug will always be advantageous if he strikes a clean blow from an unobservable or seemingly non-threatening position. For the victim to gain any sort of advantage once attacked, they should commence a series of chaotic and disruptive actions that re-orient the thug into a new OODA Loop. The thug must now spend more time observing and orienting against the strange behaviour. Your response as the victim should always be action-focused with the goal of disrupting your attacker's natural OODA Loop.

It's not looking good for this guy

OODA for Improvement

Just as OODA Loops are used for military success, if you view yourself (or business) through the lens of OODA Loops you can easily identify areas of improvement. Combine OODA Loops with a SWOT analysis when reflecting.

Observation

• How can you observe faster? 
• How can you automate your senses? 
• How can you increase the quality of reflection with yourself? 
• How can you receive a greater quantity and quality of actionable feedback from others?

Orient

• Which of your assumptions are yet to be questioned?
• Which of your skills require mentoring?
• Which of your skills do you need to outsource?
• Which observations give you the most insight into yourself and others?

Decide

• Are you making optimal predictions?
• Are you making effective decisions?
• Are decisions related to key life goals or objectives?
• Are decisions being made with future-self in mind?

Act

• Have you carried out your decisions effectively?
• Have you been strong in your actions?
• Have you stood up for yourself and others?
• Have your actions stood the test of time?