text: Planning and Operational Considerations
  Figure 7-1. Design concept
  7-15. By definition, design is iterative, and reframing the problem as necessary is essential. Reframing the
  problem involves revisiting earlier hypotheses, conclusions, and decisions that underpin the current
  operational approach. Reframing can lead to a new problem statement and operational approach, resulting
  in an entirely new plan. By their nature, counterinsurgency efforts require repeated assessments from
  different perspectives to see the various factors and relationships required for adequate understanding.
  Assessment and learning enable incremental improvements to the operational approach. The goal is to
  understand the problem, to construct a reasonable explanation of observed events, and to subsequently
  construct a framework within which to solve the problem. The essence of this is determining the
  mechanism or combination of mechanisms necessary to achieve success. These mechanisms may not be
  military activities, or they may involve military actions in support of nonmilitary activities. Once
  commanders understand the problem and what needs to be accomplished to succeed, they identify the
  means to assess effectiveness and the related information requirements that support assessment. This
  feedback becomes the basis for learning, adaptation, and subsequent reframing. (See ADRP 5-0 and
  MCWP 5-1 for more information on design and reframing.)
  7-16. In an ideal world, a commander engaged in counterinsurgency operations would enjoy clear and
  well-defined goals for the campaign from the beginning. However, the reality is that many goals emerge
  only as the mission develops and goals can change as a result of interacting with an environment. For these
  reasons, counterinsurgents usually seek to achieve a combination of defined and emerging goals. Likewise,
  the complex problems encountered during counterinsurgency operations can be so difficult to understand
  that a clear operational approach cannot initially be developed and some assumptions must be made during
  problem framing. Often, the best choice is to create iterative solutions (also known as discovery learning)
  to better understand the problem. The use of design and the planning process allow commanders and staffs
  to learn and achieve greater understanding as they interact with the environment. As this interaction with