how to determine a course of action

by Daphney Schroeder 8 min read

Guidepost for determining the best course of action:

  1. Values: what’s really important to us in our heart of hearts?
  2. Affect on others: will a given course of action cause suffering; if yes, is it worth it?
  3. Research: make Google your friend – you can’t be too informed.
  4. Advice from others: pick the brain of the experienced or the wise.

Courses of action address the what, who, when, where, why, how for each threat, hazard, and function.
...
Identify Courses of Action
  1. Depict the scenario. ...
  2. Determine the amount of time available to respond. ...
  3. Identify decision points. ...
  4. Develop courses of action.

Full Answer

How do you determine the recommended course of action?

Staff: Conduct a detailed analysis with the entire staff to determine the recommended course of action. Staff: Use a decision matrix with criteria developed from commanders' guidance, critical events, and other significant factors pertaining to the mission to analyze the courses of action.

What is a course of action?

A course of action is a step or administrative decision to be taken up for improvement or follow-up for further action in regard to the problem, policy etc. on the basis of the information given in the statement. Broadly, we can classify these questions in the following two types:

What is detailed analysis of course of action?

Detailed analysis during comparison identifies a course of action that satisfies the criteria better than one the staff believed was best. After courses of action are war-gamed, the staff determines which one to recommend to the commander. This requires the staff to continue to analyze and compare each course of action.

How are the courses of action ranked?

meets the criterion is ranked No.1, the next supportive, a No. 2, and the one that least meets the criterion, a No. 3. Once all courses of action are ranked against the criteria, the ranks are totaled. The lowest score identifies the course of action that best fulfills the criteria and will be

What is an example of a course of action?

Someone's course of action is what that person is going to do. For example, say you're listening to your friend's vacation plans. Your friend's course of action might be: Take a flight to Paris.

What is the first step in selecting the course of action?

Selecting a focus The first step in conducting action research is to identify and define the focus of your investigation. You'll want to develop some questions about the area of your focus. Finally, you'll need to identify a plan to effectively study and answer the questions you've developed.

What is courses of action mean?

Definition of course of action : the actions to be taken We're trying to determine the best course of action at this point.

What should my course of action?

Correct course of action should either lessen the problem or improve the situation created by the problem. Simple problem must have a simple course of action and not a complex one which may create more problems than to solve or reduce it.

How can you select appropriate course of action in making decisions?

We recommend the following seven steps:Investigate the situation in detail.Create a constructive environment.Generate good alternatives.Explore your options.Select the best solution.Evaluate your plan.Communicate your decision, and take action.

What are the 4 stages of action research?

The cyclical and iterative action research process comprises four stages: planning, acting, develop- ing, and reflecting.

What is course of action in research?

In the course-of-action method, researchers first collect a set of behavioural data relative to singular time stretches in the targeted naturally occurring learning situation.

What is a course of action in law?

a plan to achieve a certain result. The best course of action is to file suit.

Can we agree a course of action?

Answer: We agreed TO a certain course of action.

Which is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action?

In its simplest sense, decision-making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action. In the wider process of problem-solving, decision-making involves choosing between possible solutions to a problem.

What are the 3 steps to choosing a course of action?

Selecting the best course of actionCriteria. Selection is done through the application of some form of criteria, which may be consciously or subconsciously selected. ... Negative selection. Remember when you last bought or rented a home. ... Forecasting and risk analysis. ... Positive selection.

What is next course of action?

the procedures or sequence of actions that someone will follow to accomplish a goal. I plan to follow a course of action that will produce the best results.

Why is the course of action important?

Courses of action address the what, who, when, where, why, how for each threat, hazard, and function. The planning team should examine each course of action to determine whether it is feasible and whether the stakeholders necessary to implement it find it acceptable.

What the manager have to apply for selecting the best possible course of action?

The manager will have to apply permutations and combinations and select the best possible course of action.

Published by

Greetings from Down Under. My name is Richard Grumberg and I'm an American expat currently living in Queensland, Australia. My background is in law having practised as a lawyer in the United States for fourteen years and in Australia for another six.

Zen and the Art of Everyday Living

Greetings from Down Under. My name is Richard Grumberg and I'm an American expat currently living in Queensland, Australia. My background is in law having practised as a lawyer in the United States for fourteen years and in Australia for another six.

What is the Course of Action?

A course of action is a step or administrative decision to be taken up for improvement or follow-up for further action in regard to the problem, policy etc. on the basis of the information given in the statement.

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Brainstorming potential courses of action

We will be looking some more at the ‘cons’ in the next section on risk. But we will start here by looking to generate various courses of action so we can then evaluate them. We need a variety of options to examine and compare so at this stage we do some brainstorming.

Divergent thinking

There are many ways to help your creativity in thinking through a problem. Edward de Bono has written some excellent books on the topic such as Lateral Thinking and Six Thinking Hats . Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘ Blink ’ and Tony Buzan’s work on Mind Mapping are other good resources that can help you.

Contingency planning

The time spent on this process is not wasted as the courses you don’t choose become your contingency planning. There is an army phrase that “no plan survives contact with the enemy.” In other words, there will always be unforeseen circumstances meaning you will have to adapt your ideas.

Making your choice

By this stage, you should have several courses of action that you could choose, Each option could achieve your aim. You will also have a feel for which option is the most attractive.

What is the most valuable step within the course of action analysis?

DISCUSSION: Wargaming is the most valuable step within the course-of-action analysis. Observations from the CTCs indicate that few staffs understand how to war-game effectively, and that many staff officers are not involved in the procedure. By wargaming , the staff takes a course of action and begins to develop a detailed plan. Additionally, it can better synchronize the course of action when the entire staff is involved in wargaming . Information recorded during the warga me provides the information for the development of paragraph three (execution) of the operations order, the execution or synchronization matrices, and the decision support template. Because of the importance of its results, and the time it requires, more time is allocated than for any other step. Wargaming results in the identification of tasks, combat power requirements, critical events and priority efforts, task organization and command and support relationships, decision points and possible fratricide locations.

What does the commander do when he does not adhere to his planning guidance?

The commander, recognizing courses of action that do not adhere to his planning guidance or are not feasible, responds by having the staff do the work again, which wastes time. Or, in the absence of adequate planning time, the commander develops a course of action himself.

What is the purpose of the decision matrix?

THE DECISION MATRIX WILL HELP THE STAFF RECOMMEND .

What is the scheme of maneuver?

The scheme of maneuver is a narrative description of how the forces arrayed will accomplish the commander's intent. Ensure the scheme of maneuver addresses the elements of the battlefield framework (deep operations, covering force/security force, close operations, rear operations, and reserve).

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