DECISION MAKING PROCESS - Research Paper Example

Decisions making process in military Decision Making Process in Military Decision making process is a routine activity in everybody’s life. We are making lot of decisions daily in our social, family and professional lives; some of them could be intelligent decisions while the rest could be foolish decisions. The decision making process in military is entirely different from the decision making process in other originations. This paper compares and contrasts the problem identification and formulation styles in military before taking decisions.

“The full MDMP (Military decision making process) is a detailed, deliberate, sequential, and time-consuming process used when adequate planning time and sufficient staff support are available to thoroughly examine numerous friendly and enemy courses of action (COAs)” (The Military Decision-Making Process, n. d, p.1). The actions of enemies are important in taking decisions in military whereas in other organizations actions of the competitors are important in taking decisions. For example, Indian military usually take decisions about arms purchase based on the military equipment purchased by the Pakistan military.

Pakistan has developed long range surface to air missiles recently and India also is trying to develop such missiles now. In short, the actions of the enemies are important in taking military decisions in a country. “The commander is in charge of the military decision-making process and decides what procedures to use in each situation” (The Military Decision-Making Process, n. d, p.1). In other words, autocratic decision making method is prevailing in military. In other organizations, CEO’s or the director board of a company is taking decisions mostly in a democratic manner.

No subordinates can question the decisions taken by a commander even if the subordinate has 100% surety about a wrong decision taken by a commander. The slogan; superior is always right is prevailing in military organizations. Even though the ultimate decision would be taken by the commander, in many cases, the commander seeks the opinions of his subordinates before taking the final decisions. “The decision-making process in military begins with the receipt or anticipation of a new mission” (The Military Decision-Making Process, n. d, p.3).

Military is always on the lookout for various kinds of missions. These missions involve not only attacking enemies and defending the sovereignty of the mother country, but also saving the lives of the people when they faces huge natural or manmade disasters. Before taking the final decisions, the commander and his subordinates undertake a comprehensive planning process based on the information collected from the enemy camp and the resources locally available for them. The careful evaluation of the movements and strategies of the enemies will help the commander and his associates to take sound decisions based on the availability of resources to them.

To conclude military decision making process is somewhat autocratic in nature whereas in other organizations it is mostly democratic nature. References The Military Decision-Making Process (n. d). Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/fm101-5_mdmp.pdf