Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) Problem Solving and the Planning Process Good morning/afternoon/evening. My name is . I am from the US PACIFIC COMMAND Training & Exercises Directorate (J7). (I am representing the multinational planning augmentation team (MPAT) secretariat.) I would like to say a few words about the MPAT program. Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) 07 December 2017

Purpose To discuss the basic elements of how people solve problems. Link how people solve problems to a planning process.

Problem Solving Theory Identify the problem Determine endstate or goal Develop possible solutions Select and implement a solution Assess effectiveness of the solution

Problem Solving Theory Identify Problem Determine Endstate Develop Possible Solutions Select & Implement Solution Assess Effectiveness “What is the problem?” “Where do we want to go?” “How can we get there?” “Are we there yet?” “Which way do we go?”

“Is it just an earthquake…?” Identify the problem Extremely important Poor identification causes poor solutions Requires thinking and openness Identify Problem “Is it just an earthquake…?” “Or does this earthquake have long term impacts like…food security, dengue fever outbreaks, decreased tourism confidence, etc.?”

Determine Endstate or Goal What should the situation look like when we solve the problem? Do we restore to original conditions? Do we relocate or abandon the original conditions? Or do we improve the situation beyond the original conditions? Critical to our ability to assess progress Determine Endstate

Develop Possible Solutions Requires creativity Uses a deliberate or intuitive process Based on knowledge of the problem Suitable, Acceptable, Feasible, Complete Develop Possible Solutions

Select and Implement a Solution Pick a solution Requires decisiveness Translate the solution to action Clear communication Clear methods of control Clear definitions of responsibility Select & Implement Solution

Assess effectiveness of the solution “How do we know when we have finished?” What do we assess? The effectiveness of our actions The change in the situation or environment Proximity to our endstate or goal What if our solution is not working? If it is, who determines when we are finished? Assess Effectiveness

Problem Solving in Large Organizations How does your organization solve problems? Hire a genius? By committee? Roll Dice?

Linking to a Planning Process Perhaps the organization uses a planning process to solve problems… Planning is the activity of preparing for future actions or contingencies Large organizations benefit from a common understanding of problem solving A Planning Process provides rigor, structure, and consistency to problem solving

Steps in the process Mission Analysis COA Dev COA Analysis COA Comparison Orders Development Receipt of Mission Higher Commander’s Warning Order, Operation Plan or Order Commander’s Operation Plan or Order 2 1 3 4 5 6 COA Approval 7 Identify Problem Determine Endstate Develop Possible Solutions Select & Implement Solution Assess Effectiveness

Discussion