ATTP 5-0.1 Commander and Staff Officer Guide - Army Electronic ...

Chapter 7
Figure 7-3. Sample assessment framework
7-32. Establishing a baseline for comparison is often useful in a formal assessment plan. A baseline is a
time in the past against which the present is compared. The word baseline is a statistical term. In the
context of assessment, do not use it to mean starting point. Often commanders choose the baseline from a
time when conditions are similar to their desired conditions. However, the baseline must be recent enough
to be relevant. In protracted operations, the baseline may represent conditions from which commanders are
trying to move away. Baselines provide a focus for the commander and staff in comparing data across
different blocks of time. Baselines are particularly useful when using standard deviations to establish
thresholds. Staffs calculate the standard deviation over the baseline and use multiples of those values to set
thresholds.
STEP 4 – DEVELOP THE COLLECTION PLAN
7-33. Each indicator represents an information requirement. In some instances, staffs feed these
information requirements into the reconnaissance and surveillance synchronization process. Then, staffs
task reconnaissance and surveillance assets to collect on these information requirements. In other instances,
reports in the unit standard operating procedures may suffice. If not, the unit may develop a new report.
Staffs may collect the information requirement from organizations external to the unit. For example, a host
nation’s central bank may publish a consumer price index for that nation. The assessment plan identifies the
source for each indicator as well as the staff member who collects that information. Assessment
information requirements compete with other information requirements for resources. When an information
requirement is not resourced, staffs cannot collect the associated indicator and must remove it from the
plan. Staffs then adjust the assessment framework to ensure that the MOE or MOP is properly worded.
STEP 5 – ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CONDUCTING ANALYSIS AND GENERATING
RECOMMENDATIONS
7-34. In addition to assigning responsibility for collection, commanders assign staff members with
responsibility for analyzing assessment data and developing recommendations. For example, the
7-6 ATTP 5-0.1 14 September 2011