This document discusses Boyd's OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop model for command and control (C2) architectures. It compares OODA to other models like SHOR, Rasmussen's three-level model, and Klein's RPDM model. The authors note some shortcomings of OODA and propose re-engineering it using techniques like SADT and UML to address these issues. They plan to implement a demonstrator and further validate the re-engineered OODA model through additional analysis, testing, and papers.

1. ROYAL NETHERLANDS MILITARY ACADEMY
Comparing OODA and Other Models as
Operational View C2 Architecture
Tim Grant * & Bas Kooter **
Tim Grant * & Bas Kooter **
* Royal Netherlands Military Academy
* Royal Netherlands Military Academy
TJ.Grant@mindef.nl
TJ.Grant@mindef.nl
** MultiNeeds b.v.
** MultiNeeds b.v.
MultiNeeds@planet.nl
MultiNeeds@planet.nl

2. Outline
Introduction
Boyd’s (1996) OODA
OODA as Operational View
Comparison with other models
OODA’s shortcomings
Re-engineering OODA
Further work
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3. Introduction
“Beyond SA: closing OODA loop”
“Beyond SA: closing OODA loop”
Authors:
Tim Grant: Professor, Operational ICT
Bas Kooter: Independent consultant
Royal Netherlands Military Academy:
Faculty of Military Science, MOD (NL)
Faculty’s research themes:
Optimising operational resources
Future wars
Intelligent support for decision-making
Technology-induced transformation
Partnerships
Availability
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4. Boyd’s (1996) OODA model
Observe Orient Decide Act
Implicit Implicit
Unfolding Guidance Cultural Guidance
Circumstances & Control Traditions & Control
Genetic
Analyses &
Feed
Observations Forward
Heritage
Synthesis Feed Decision Feed Action
Forward Forward
(Hypothesis) (Test)
New
Information Previous
Outside Experience Unfolding
Information Interaction
Unfolding With
Interaction Feedback Environment
With
Feedback
Environment
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5. OODA as Operational View
OODA
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6. Comparisons (1)
OODA compared with:
Wohl’s (1981) SHOR model
Rasmussen (1983) three-level model
Mayk & Rubin’s (1988) review of 15 models
Klein’s (1998) RPDM model
Endsley’s (2000) SA model
Demming’s (1951) Plan-Do-Check-Act
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7. Comparisons (2)
OODA SHOR Rasmussen Mayk RPDM SA PDCA
Control loop? √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Detailed? √ √ √ √
Tempo? √
Planning? √ (1) √ (2) (3) √ (4)
Learning? √
Interaction? √ √ √ ?
Peer review? √ √ √ ? √ √ √
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8. OODA’s shortcomings
Neither detailed nor formalised
No guarantee of scalability
Other agents not modelled explicitly
Competitive interactions only
Lacks psychological validity:
No domain state or world model
No concept of attention or memory
Lacks deliberative planning process
Lacks learning process
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9. Re-engineering OODA (1)
Re-engineering process:
Define requirements:
√
√
“Rational reconstruction” of OODA
Apply use-cases √
√
Formalise using SADT: √
√
-> Operational View architecture
Object-oriented analysis using UML:
-> Systems View architecture
Implement in Java, C# or Smalltalk:
For verification of Operational View
Real-time performance NOT optimised
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10. Re-engineering OODA (2)
Agent
Set Filter
Signal Observation Retrieve alternative COA
Observing
Goals
Unexpected situation Goals
Sensors Orienting
Accepted
Expected
goal
Situation
Control of planning
Prototypes
Plans
Observed Assessors Planning
prototypes Construct
COA Effects achieved
Environment
New/modified
Prototypes Prototype
Planners
Deciding
Situation not
recognised
Selected
Decision Plan
makers
Control of Sensemaking
Existing
prototypes
Sensem aking
Acting
Sensemakers
COAs Actuators
Expectations
Actions
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11. Further work
UML analysis (in progress)
Implement & test demonstrator
Incorporate lessons learned in:
Operational View architecture
Systems View architecture
Publish further papers:
Rational reconstruction (submitted)
Validation against 9/11 timeline
Planning niche
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12. Any questions?
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