FM 5-0, The Operations Process - Federation of American Scientists

Chapter 5
Changing the mission proves most difficult as it may desynchronize the force’s operations with those of the
overall force.
RAPID DECISIONMAKING AND SYNCHRONIZATION PROCESS
5-40. The RDSP is a decisionmaking and synchronization technique that commanders and staffs
commonly use during execution. While identified here with a specific name and method, the approach is
not new; its use in the Army is well established. Commanders and staffs develop this capability through
training and practice. When using this technique, the following considerations apply:
• Rapid is often more important than process.
• Much of it may be mental rather than written.
• It should become a battle drill for the current operations integration cells, future operations cells,
or both.
• How much of the technique is explicitly performed varies by echelon and the time available.
5-41. While the military decisionmaking process (MDMP) seeks the optimal solution, the RDSP seeks a
timely and effective solution within the commander’s intent, mission, and concept of operations. Using the
RDSP lets leaders avoid the time-consuming requirements of developing decision criteria and comparing
courses of action (COAs). Mission variables continually change during execution. This often invalidates or
weakens COAs and decision criteria before leaders can make a decision. Under the RDSP, leaders combine
their experience and intuition with situational awareness to quickly reach situational understanding. Based
on this, they develop and refine workable COAs.
5-42. The RDSP facilitates continuously integrating and synchronizing the warfighting functions to
address ever-changing situations. It meets the following criteria for making effective decisions during
execution:
• It is comprehensive, integrating all warfighting functions. It is not limited to any one warfighting
function.
• It ensures all actions support the decisive operation by relating them to the commander’s intent
and concept of operations.
• It allows rapid changes to the order or mission.
• It is continuous, allowing commanders to react immediately to opportunities and threats.
• It accommodates, but is not tied to, cyclical processes such as targeting.
5-43. The RDSP focuses on synchronizing actions and understanding relationships within staffs as well as
among commanders. Leaders can use it with or without a staff and in interagency and multinational
environments.
5-44. The RDSP is based on an existing order and the commander’s priorities as expressed in the order.
The most important of these control measures are the commander’s intent, concept of operations, and
CCIRs. Leaders use these priorities as criteria for making decisions.
5-45. The RDSP includes five steps. (See figure 5-2.) The first two may be performed in any order, including
concurrently. The last three are performed interactively until commanders identify an acceptable COA.
Figure 5-2. Rapid decisionmaking and synchronization process
5-8 FM 5-0 26 March 2010