Military Review English Edition January-February 2015 | Page 75
PERFECTION OF PROCESS
(Photo courtesy of Fort Leavenworth PAO)
Soldiers and their classmates employ design methodology 2 November 2010 while attending the School of Advanced Military Studies
at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In using the Relevant Actor Diagram, the students contemplate the military and paramilitary capabilities of as
many relevant actors (enemy, friendly, and neutral) as can be identified in a given operational scenario.
The Need to Know Why
German philosopher Friederich Nietzsche famously
quipped, “If you know the why, you can live any how.”12
Within Nietzsche’s simple yet eloquent statement is the
acknowledgement that the how is not as important as the
why in determining purposeful action. Unfortunately, all
too often as military professionals we are predisposed to
embracing the how. The Army takes pride in its ability to
collect and promulgate tactics, techniques, and procedures and lessons learned. It always searches for optimal
solutions to perceived problems. Enamored with finding
out how to solve a problem, and encouraged by doctrine
replete with examples of the best processes, steps, and
guidelines to quench the soldier’s voracious appetite for
action, the soldier often fails to answer the why.
Previous experiences become problematic when
soldiers try to develop understanding through the
perfection of a process and not through appreciation
of the environment. In contrast, the spirit of design
embraces a humble way of thinking that accepts the
human inability to achieve complete understanding. The
strength of design lies in appreciating the possibilities
within an open system rather than embracing a specific
process.
Although the practical aspect of the ADM can
provide utility if its purpose and value are understood
correctly, it is important to appreciate that no planner
“perceives more than a tiny patch of the vast tapestry
of events,” and no process or methodology will change
this fact.13 This humbling notion should remain in every
planner’s mind to ensure he or she does not confuse
the spirit of design with the practical methodology of
the ADM. Perfection of process does not equal perfect
understanding.
Maj. David Oakley is an Army strategist (functi