JP 3-33, Joint Task Force Headquarters - Defense Innovation ...

Chapter IX
achieve their end state. Finally, JOPP is an orderly, analytical process through which the
JFC and staff translate the broad operational approach into detailed plans and orders.
b. Operational art provides the vision that links tactical actions to strategic objectives.
More specifically, the interaction of operational art and operational design provides a bridge
between strategy and tactics, linking national political aims to tactical combat and
noncombat operations that must be executed to accomplish these aims. Likewise,
operational art promotes unified action by helping JFCs and staffs understand how to
facilitate the integration of other agencies and multinational partners toward achieving
strategic and operational objectives.
c. Elements of operational design support operational art with a general methodology
that helps the JFC and staff reduce the uncertainty of a complex operational environment,
understand the nature of the problem, and construct an operational approach to achieve the
desired end state. The design elements (see Figure IX-2) are individual tools that help the
JFC and staff visualize and describe the broad operational approach. Some design elements,
such as military end state and lines of operation, are important to the operational design
effort early in mission analysis, while other design elements are more useful later in JOPP.
For a detailed discussion of operational art, operational design, and the elements of
operational design, see JP 5-0, Joint Operation Planning.
7. Joint Operation Planning Process
a. Joint operation planning occurs in a networked, collaborative environment, which
requires dialogue among senior leaders, concurrent and parallel plan development, and
collaboration across multiple planning levels. Clear strategic guidance and frequent
interaction between senior leaders and planners promote early understanding of, and
agreement on, planning assumptions, considerations, risks, and other key factors. The focus
is on developing plans that contain a variety of viable, embedded options for the commander
to consider as the situation develops. This facilitates responsive plan development and
modification, resulting in plans that are continually updated. Joint operation planning,
through APEX, also promotes earlier, robust, and frequent discourse between DOD planners
and their interagency and multinational counterparts throughout the planning process. Key to
Elements of Operational Design
• Termination
• Military end state
• Objectives
• Effects
• Center of gravity
• Decisive points
• Lines of operation/lines of effort
• Direct and indirect approaches
• Anticipation
• Operational reach
• Culmination
• Arranging operations
• Forces and functions
Figure IX-2. Elements of Operational Design
IX-6 JP 3-33