Strategic Thinking Skill-Building Exercises

Army leaders who effectively engage in strategic thinking can successfully navigate volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous VUCA environments. As part of a larger effort to study the impact of practice on strategic thinking development, the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences ARI developed four practical exercises that will build and reinforce cognitive and behavioral skills that underpin the ability to think strategically. The four exercises are Reflecting on the Environment, Questioning to Deepen Learning, Telling a Story - An Exercise in Connecting the Dots, and Envisioning Potential Futures. These exercises can be used in classroom and field settings. This Research Product includes all materials required for each exercise, including a facilitator guide, a slide deck with an overview and brief tutorial, and a participant exercise aid.