Systema For Life

Episode 120: Ben Ford

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This week, a profound exploration of abstract strategy - and specfically Colonel John Boyd's OODA loop concept - with former Commando and professional technology strategist Ben Ford. If you are interested in any aspect of good decision-making under pressure, this is one you won't want to miss.

Boyd's OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop, is a powerful concept that describes how individuals and groups (and even entire armies or organizations) make and optimize decisions. Boyd, a US military fighter pilot, developed the concept over many decades of research, reflection, and practical experience. Ben Ford has studied Boyd's theory and its implciations extensively, drawing on threads from mathematics, evolutionary biology, manufacturing, and military command structures to provide a deeper context for his work.

  • the origins and central concept of the OODA loop
  • using OODA in combat to disorientate and destroy decision-making structures
  • how expectation shapes observation (and leads to dangerous biases)
  • implicit guidance as applied to everything from martial arts and military combat to motorcycles and manufacturing
    • Many thanks to Ben for such a fascinating and powerful discussion.

    Find out more about John Boyd and the OODA loop in his biography, Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War

    Find out more about Ben's work at https://commando.dev, or follow him on Twitter at @commandodev
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    Systema For LifeBy Glenn Murphy, NC SYSTEMA
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