In the recent paper “Prediction and Judgment: Why Artificial Intelligence Increases the Importance of Humans in War” the OODA loop is referenced in the following manner:

“Feedback from actions produces more data, which can be used for more predictions and decisions or to reinterpret judgment. The so-called OODA loop in military doctrine captures the same ideas. Decision cycles govern all kinds of decision tasks, from the trivial  (picking up a pencil) to the profound (mobilizing for war).  The abstract decision model [OODA Loop]  is agnostic about implementation, which means that the logic of decision might be implemented with organic, organizational, or technological components.”

For business leaders, this paper offers very interesting insights into different types of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) implementations – and the risk implicit in AI-enabled systems for strategy, decision-making, and judgment.

We typically provide research and analysis utilizing the OODA Loop as a positive tool for decision intelligence and risk awareness.  Usually, this takes the form of advice and recommendations on how to leverage the OODA Loop for business strategy.   Here,  OODA Network Member Chris Flaherty takes another angle – that of interventions on and disruptions of an adversary’s information ecosystem  – so as to disrupt the clarity, management, and effectiveness of an adversary’s OODA Loop during the fog of war (impacting disinformation campaigns and propaganda).

We strongly encourage OODA Loop subscribers to continue to prioritize tools for clear decision-making while operating in a low information environment.  It is this ‘tightening your OODA Loop’ we want to reinforce now as we head into year three of our research and analysis of the pandemic and its impacts. Our goal is to assist our members (and your organizations) in your efforts to recognize the behavioral psychology patterns and cognitive traps which are manifest when dealing with uncertainty and imperfect information environments. We will continue to use the OODA Loop to generate that value for our membership in the year ahead. Using our Covid-19 response over the last two years as a case study, here is how we do it.

In August of 2020, Matt Devost and Bob Gourley spoke with Chet Richards, a close associate of the late US Air Force Colonel John Boyd. Richards was there as the concept of the OODA Loop was being developed. Chet is the author of “Certain to Win”, the first book to describe how the OODA Loop and associated Boyd concepts apply to today’s business problems.

In this conversation, Richards shares his, and Boyd’s, perspectives on applying the OODA Loop in Business.

In August of 2020, Matt Devost and Bob Gourley spoke with Chet Richards, a close associate of the late US Air Force Colonel John Boyd. Richards was there as the concept of the OODA Loop was being developed. Chet is the author of “Certain to Win”, the first book to describe how the OODA Loop and associated Boyd concepts apply to today’s business problems.

In this conversation, Richards shares his early days interacting with Boyd during the formulation of his early briefs.  By the 1980s, Richards is formally collaborating with Boyd as he created the OODA Loop.  Richards also shares personal anecdotes not necessarily available in the many books written about Boyd.

In February of this year, Matt Devost spoke to Rob Richer, a highly regarded advisor to international executives and global government leaders including several heads of state.

In October of 2020, Bob Gourley had a conversation with Rear Admiral Paul Becker, USN (Retired). In January of 2021, Admiral Beck also took part in an OODA Network Interview with OODA Expert Network Member Chris Ward. Admiral Becker is an author, speaker, and board member with extensive experience in intelligence operations.

These three conversations with Becker and Richer cover topics such as domestic terrorism, cyberthreats, China, Iran, Russia, and decision-making.

Each year we compile a list of our top posts based on page views.  It provides interesting insight into what topics were top of mind for our Members.  Obviously, Covid was a key interest area, but we also saw heavy interest in cyber and security, as well as a resurgence in older pieces that provided key insight into Russian cyber operations.

The OODA Loop team has launched a COVID-19 sense-making page that will serve as a dynamic resource for OODA Network members looking for Coronavirus/COVID-19 information to drive their decision-making process.   We’ll update it with new links as we encounter them.  This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather a compilation of the most useful resources.

On this 22nd anniversary of Boyd’s death, our adversary is the Coronavirus and it is manifesting itself through predictable models that should be informing our decision process and invoking certain actions. 

In this particular pandemic, you need to tighten your OODA Loop and make impactful decisions quicker.  In fact, you need to make them right now.

The top stories on OODA Loop provide good insight into what issues will be top of mind for executives and experts going into 2020.  Here are the 20 most popular posts of the year.