Designing the Desired State: A Process and Model for Operational Design
Abstract
The irregular wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 have highlighted the need for a new approach to planning when facing ill-structured problems. The current planning processes, based on a rational decision making model, are inadequate for handling ill-structured problems. Planners must understand whether they are facing a structured or illstructured problem, so that they can apply the proper solution method. III-structured problems require a synthetic problem solving approach, such as design, to understand the interactively complex situation, define the root problems, and devise innovative solutions. The Army and Marine Corps have recently started the transition to operational design; however, both approaches have implementation problems, mostly stemming from a lack of a simple model and process. This paper details a simple, non-procedural design process and model that focuses on designing the desired state. This simple design process and model makes the powerful tool of design easy to teach, understand, and apply by planners at all levels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA602003
Entities
People
- Jonathan M. Stofka
Organizations
- Marine Corps University