Operational Design: The Art of Framing the Solution

While operational design has become a buzzword in the military planning community, it is still poorly defined in joint doctrine. Furthermore, operational design has been allowed to grow off the vine of strategy, from which it was born. The current definition of operational design and the role it plays in the Joint Operation Planning Process require more fidelity. Additional efforts are also required to reconnect operational design to strategy, refine the elements of operational design and explain the role that operational design, operational art and centers of gravity play in campaign planning. This paper examines several fundamental aspects of operational design and how the process of operational design relates to strategy, centers of gravity, operational art and the Joint Operation Planning Process. It first analyzes various theories of operational design as well as the elements of operational design. It then discusses the integration of strategy into the construction of operational design and shows how strategy affects the identification of enemy centers of gravity. Next, it discusses the proper application of operational design during the Joint Operation Planning Process. Additionally, it examines use of a cognitive map to enhance development of an operational campaign and validate courses of action to ensure they achieve all military objectives. Lastly, it proposes broad changes for joint doctrine and the application of operational design.