Design Thinking and the Development of "Real" Options for Decision-Makers
Abstract
When a situation arises to which the United States considers deploying military forces, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and President of the United States (POTUS) require a range of options from which to address the situation. The current course of action development process fails to provide these options. This failure to provide a range of options limits strategic flexibility and oftentimes leads to an inadequate or inappropriate solution for the given circumstances. This essay proposes integrating elements of design thinking into the Mission Analysis and COA Development steps of the JOPP to develop the variety of options that the POTUS and SECDEF require in a complex and dynamic environment. This position is supported through the analysis of the strategic guidance and course of action development requirements. A discussion of the environmental constraints that shape the problem and the solution is critical to the critical and creative thinking process necessary when using the JOPP. The JOPP mission analysis step is discussed briefly to show how design thinking can be integrated into the planning process and how continuing that line of thinking into the COA Development step is a natural and necessary extension to develop options. Finally, the essay will show how design thinking informs decision-makers of the competing operational requirements that can result in a broader range of options for the POTUS and SECDEF as the employment of military forces is considered.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 16, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA552550
Entities
People
- Dan Mccauley
Organizations
- National Defense University