Applying the Art of Systems and Organizational Architecting in Order to Implement Operational Design into Marine Corps Planning Doctrine

摘要

In 2010, the USMC changed its Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) to include operational design in response to direction from the Commander of United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM). This updated process however has proven to be misunderstood and fundamentally no different from the previous edition based upon the classical decision making model. This thesis therefore presents an alternative planning process for the United States Marine Corps. This thesis uses the foundations of systems architecting to redefine operational design as operational architecting and presents a detailed operational architecting process that translates strategic guidance into an operational design. This operational design then becomes the starting point for the traditional military planning process. The alternative planning process describes operational architecting as a distinct activity from operational planning but provides for a seamless transition between both activities and for multiple iterations if needed. The thesis recommends this process as a baseline for further refinement and experimentation as the USMC further develops its planning theory and doctrine.