STEP 5 – Course of action comparison

Question 1

Step 5 – COA Comparison

Answer 1

Input = 
•Wargame Result
•Evaluation Criteria
•Updated Running Estimates
•Updated Assumptions

Output =
•Evaluated COA
•Recommended COA
•COA Selection Rationale
•Updated Running Estimates
•Updated Assumptions

Question 2

COA Comparison – Conduct Advantages and Disadvantages Analysis

Answer 2

• Staff members analyze/evaluate each COA’s advantages and disadvantages from their perspective.
• Staff present their findings for the others’ consideration.
• The staff outlines each COA, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages, using the evaluation criteria.
• Each COA is compared by their relative strengths and weaknesses in order to identify their advantages and disadvantages with respect to each other.

Question 3

COA Comparison – Decision Matrix (DecMat)

Answer 3

•COA comparison is critical
•Assist the commander making the best decision
•Common technique is the decision matrix
–Uses criteria developed during mission analysis and refined during COA development
–Staff officers may each use their own matrix to compare COAs with respect to their functional areas
–Decision matrixes alone cannot provide decision solutions

•The staff compares feasible COAs to identify the one with the highest probability of success against the most likely enemy COA, the most dangerous enemy COA, the most important stability task, or the most damaging environmental impact.
•The selected COA should:
–Pose the minimum risk to the force and mission
–Place the force in the best posture for future operations
–Provide maximum latitude for initiative by subordinates
–Provide the most flexibility to meet unexpected threats and opportunities
–Provide the most secure and stable environment for civilians in the AO
–Best facilitate initial information themes and messages

Question 4

Recommend a COA: Decision Brief

Answer 4

•A decision briefing includes:
–The intent of the higher and next higher commanders
–The status of the force and its components
–The current IPB
–The COAs considered, including—
•Assumptions used
•Results of staff estimates
•Summary of wargame for each COA to include critical events, modifications to any COA, and wargame results
•Advantages and disadvantages (including risk) of each COA
•The recommended COA

Question 5

COA Comparison: EWO Responsibilities

Answer 5

• The EWO compares COAs using the EW related advantages and disadvantages.
• The EWO may choose to develop an EW functional matrix to compare the COAs or use the decision matrix developed by the staff.
• COAs are compared using evaluation criteria developed prior to war-gaming.
• The Chief of Staff/Executive Officer will normally weight each criterion used for the evaluation based on its relative importance and the commander’s guidance.

Question 6

COA Comparison: EWO Products and Information

Answer 6

•By the conclusion of COA comparison, the EWO and EW working group should have the following products and information:
–A list of the pros and cons for each COA relative to EW
–A prioritized list of the COAs from an EW perspective
–An update to the EW running estimate if required