The OODA Loop was developed by John Boyd to develop and manage strategy in battle, but was soon adopted to boardrooms and business meetings because of it’s effectiveness.
A problem well-stated is half-solved
– Charles Kettering
The steps of the OODA Loop are very simple:
1. Observe – what is truly occurring in the present moment
2. Orient – discover what should be happening (“Begin with the end in mind” – Stephen Covey)
3. Decide – plan how to connect step 1 and the present and step 2 and the vision for what could be better
4. Act – take Slight Edge action towards that vision on a daily basis
The result of this process is many-fold, first you see where you truly are in the present, where you want to go in the future, plan to get there, and then take action towards that vision. It’s a powerful technique indeed!
This is explained in much more detailed here in this PDF.