1. 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

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

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

4. 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?”

5. “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.?”

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Discussion