The OODA loop: Why this decision-making framework built for competitive environments is ideal for racing partnerships

Observe, Orient, Decide, Act: A four-step mental framework for decision-making and rapid adaptation developed by the United States Air Force. It goes one further than simply relying on static measurement frameworks set in place for the year. You might not realize it yet, but your partnership needs to move as quickly as business does at the racetrack. The OODA loop is a simple way to remain ahead of the game.

Observe: Is your partnership on track?

Orient: Are your plans to activate on track? Is the rightsholder giving you what you need on time? Has your brand story changed, or will it be changing soon? Do you have enough resources allocated in the correct places?

Decide: If something is working well, reinforce with your partners, stakeholders and shareholders that things are working. If not, decide what needs to change. Do you need to escalate an issue in order to get to a resolution? Do you need to bring on more help for your teams? Does your budget need to be reallocated?

Act: Reinforce the positives while making necessary changes.

Racing moves much faster than most corporate environments – you need to be in a leveraged position ahead of the next race weekend. Don’t be afraid to always have a sense of urgency.
Loop: The beauty of the OODA loop is that you’re not done once you complete “act.” After you’ve taken action, loop back to Observe – have your plans turned out the way you envisioned? Is your partnership on track?

Repeat.

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