One of the first things a military officer learns is the five-paragraph operations order. The operations order, or OPORD, provides a common format for communicating an upcoming mission, what soldiers can expect, and how to carry it out. The format is the same no matter the size, from a squad of a dozen men to a division exceeding forty thousand.
If you plan projects, or you manage a team, department, or organization of any size, the OPORD can be a useful tool to have in your proverbial toolbelt. As with any tools, there are times to use them and times to try something else. But having the right tool for the right situation is better than improvising with something less effective.
Continue reading “Military Operations Orders for Civilian Planners and Leaders”When I was in the military, my instructors taught me the SURVIVAL acronym as part of wilderness survival training. The acronym went like this:
At some point I may do a deeper dive into these points, but here are some quick takeaways: