Effects-based operations: language, meaning and the effects-based approach

The effects-based operations (EBO) concept has been proposed as an approach to maximizing efficiency and minimizing wasted effort in the pursuit of goals, military or otherwise. While not a new idea, it is an attempt to institutionalize the heretofore-intuitive approaches that many military commanders have exercised during periods of war. It has also arisen due to the complex nature of modern conflict, where military forces are operating across the spectrum of conflict, dealing with other forces and non-military organizations and the interactions are many and multifaceted. While there is generally a common understanding of the aspiration of the concept, there is less consensus on the formalisms that can transform it from a concept to a process. One hindrance to this is a lack of a precise common language for discussing and understanding effects and EBO. This paper proposes a set of fundamental concepts that are clear and precise. These are then compared to several different sets of definitions and a simple example is provided that shows the utility of the construct.