Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA)

• A way to model the strategic relationship between contending agents in a (military) conflict developed by by Col. John

• OODA is a sort of meta-cybernetic perspective that the capacity of any complex adaptive system (“agent”) to adapt to or successfully navigate its environment is governed by the

  • rate (speed)
  • bandwidth (quantity)
  • modality (quality)
  • that it can move through a cycle
    • from observation (perception, data)
    • to orientation (sensemaking, information, knowledge)
    • to decision (choicemaking, relevance)
    • to action (expression, change) under specific energetic constraints.

• To the degree my OODA is "inside" the complexity of the task, you will be able to make the changes necessary to continue "ride the wave" of complexity (surfing, handstand, juggling, etc.). You are able to meaningfully “steer” the relationship.

  • Either your current “state” of OODA is inside the complexity of the puzzle or it is not. If it is, then you will solve the puzzle. If it is not, then you will be frustrated

• Typically, OODA is used in contexts where the most relevant aspect of a given context is another agent who is trying to change the context according to its preferences

  • Like say an enemy aircraft who is intending to shoot your aircraft down. If his OODA is inside yours, he is ultimately controlling the overall context of the situation. If you can’t find a way to get inside his OODA, you are going to lose.

• if we have a disregulated nervous-system/emotions, you orientation to your problem is now disregulated. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/liKzLGo9vGs

Links

• https://taylorpearson.me/ooda-loop/
• An explanation of OODA by relating it to blockchain soci
• This is a fascinating frame: “OODA loop as a way of making luck work for you”, "ooda loop as luckbending… like airbending, but for luck"