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

Chapter 4
Course of Action Advantages Disadvantages
COA 1
COA 2
Compare Courses of Action
Decisive operation avoids major
terrain obstacles. Adequate
maneuver space available for units
conducting the decisive operation
and the reserve.
Shaping operations provide
excellent flank protection of the
decisive operations.
Upon completion of decisive
operations, units conducting
shaping operations can quickly
transition to establish civil control
and provide civil security to the
population in Town X.
Units conducting the decisive operation
face stronger resistance at the start
of the operation.
Limited resources available to
establishing civil control to Town X.
Operation may require the early
employment of the division’s reserve.
Figure 4-15. Sample advantages and disadvantages
4-173. Comparison of COAs is critical. The staff uses any technique that helps develop those key outputs
and recommendations and assists the commander to make the best decision. A common technique is the
decision matrix. This matrix uses evaluation criteria developed during mission analysis and refined during
COA development to help assess the effectiveness and efficiency of each COA. (See Figure 4-16.)
Weight 1 1 2 1 1 2
Criteria 2
Course of
Action
Simplicity Maneuver Fires Civil control
Inform and
influence
activities
TOTAL
COA 1 3
2
2
(4)
2
1
1
(2)
8
(11)
COA 2 3
1
2
1
2
2
7
Notes:
(2)
(4)
(10)
1
The COS (XO) may emphasize one or more criteria by assigning weights to them based on a determination of their
relative importance.
2
Criteria are those assigned in step 5 of COA analysis.
3
COAs are those selected for war-gaming with values assigned to them based on comparison between them with
regard to relative advantages and disadvantages of each, such as when compared for relative simplicity COA 2 is by
comparison to COA 1 simpler and therefore is rated as 1 with COA 1 rated as 2.
Figure 4-16. Sample decision matrix
4-174. The decision matrix is a tool to compare and evaluate COAs thoroughly and logically. However,
the process is based on highly subjective judgments that may change dramatically during the course of
evaluation. In Figure 4-16, values reflect the relative advantages or disadvantages of each criterion for each
COA as initially estimated by a COS (XO) during mission analysis. At the same time, the COS (XO)
determines weights for each criterion based on a subjective determination of their relative value. The lower
values signify a more favorable advantage, such as the lower the number, the more favorable the score.
After comparing COAs and assigning values, the staff adds and totals the unweighted assigned scores in
each column vertically under each COA. The staff multiplies the same values by the weighted score
associated with each criterion and notes the product in parenthesis in each appropriate box. They add these
weighted products vertically and note in parenthesis in the space for “Weighted TOTAL” below each COA
column. Then the staff compare the totals to determine the “best” (lowest number) COA based on both
4-36 ATTP 5-0.1 14 September 2011