Military history expert Stephen Bungay discusses the art of action and how leaders can learn from military history and NATO tactics to lead in uncertain conditions. He explains the concept of mission command, the structure of a strategy briefing, the process of planning and reviewing, and the interlinking of strategy and tactics. He also explores the adoption of mission command by the British Army, the impact of organizational structure on agile practices, and the importance of embracing uncertainty and driving organizational change.
Standard operating procedures fail in uncertain conditions; mission command empowers teams in an uncertain world.
Briefings provide clarity on intent; back briefings allow teams to make decisions and take action.
Mission command bridges complicated and complex systems in business, requiring a shift in mindset and trust in competent individuals.
Deep dives
Embracing Mission Command in Uncertain Conditions
Military history shows that predictive plans and standard operating procedures fail in uncertain conditions. Mission command empowers teams to achieve the leader's intent in an uncertain world.
The Benefits of Briefing and Back Briefing in Operation Rhythm
Briefings are essential in mission command, providing clarity on overall intent and outcomes. Back briefings ensure understanding and allow teams to make decisions and take action. Regular operation rhythms help close the gaps between plans, actions, and outcomes.
Tailoring Strategies for Complicated and Complex Systems
Complicated systems, like F1 pit stops, benefit from standard operating procedures. Complex systems, like software development or product innovation, require adaptive approaches. Mission command provides a bridge between complicated and complex systems in business.
The Challenge in Implementing Mission Command in Corporate Environments
Many corporations still adhere to Taylorist principles, viewing organizations as machines with top-down decision making. Implementing mission command requires a shift in mindset, trust in competent individuals, and creating structures that enable decision-making and autonomy.
The Importance of Training and Continuous Improvement in Mission Command
Training academies and ongoing learning help develop the necessary competencies for implementing mission command. Organizations need an operation rhythm with regular reviews to ensure adaptability and alignment with changing circumstances.
Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Stephen Bungay about the art of action. What can managers learn about leading in uncertain conditions from military history and modern NATO tactics? Military history shows that predictive plans and standard operating procedures work well when we are doing the same thing a thousand times, but fail badly when there's uncertainty, friction or competition, as there always is in software product development. Stephen explains how the military uses mission command to empower teams to achieve the leader's intent in an uncertain world. He explains the mission briefing process, the back briefing process and the review process. And he tells lots of entertaining stories from military history to explain his point. Join us to learn how to become a much more effective leader in conditions of uncertainty.
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