Conclusion

John Andreas Olsen*, Martin Van Creveld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The evolution of operational art has seemingly reached a critical point following almost two decades of strategic bewilderment caused by the end of the Cold War, exasperating peace operations, and 9/11. But regardless of the form that future conflicts may take, officers will find themselves tasked with translating short-term operations into a larger operational design that links their near-term actions to the strategic aim of the campaign. Undoubtedly, interpretations and applications of operational art will differ widely in accordance with each commander's mission, personality, and priorities. Yet there is a common thread: from a problem-solving perspective, operational art will make it possible to take an unstructured problem and give it sufficient structure to ensure that further planning can lead to useful action. Understanding operational art improves the fundamental understanding of military operations per se, and therefore underlies all military successes. Consequently, whatever else officers may study and master - organization, leadership, intelligence, technology, logistics - they must have operational art at their fingertips.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Evolution of Operational Art
Subtitle of host publicationFrom Napoleon to the Present
PublisherOxford University Press
ISBN (Electronic)9780191595806
ISBN (Print)9780199599486
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Several Contributors 2011. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Campaign
  • Military operations
  • Military success
  • Operational art
  • Planning operations

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