OPERATIONAL SCIENCE AND ART: A PERSPECTIVE ON DESIGN

• Main Author: André Gabriel Sochaczewski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Marinha do Brasil, Escola de Guerra Naval 2017-04-01
• Series: Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval
• Subjects: war; science; operational art; design approach; operational design; joint planning
• Online Access: https://revista.egn.mar.mil.br/index.php/revistadaegn/article/view/554/pdf

This article presents the relation between Operational Art and Science, which has been questioned in War Studies for centuries. It examines that relation through a methodology that employs the research based on a literature review, explored with mixed methods of enquiry in the search for answers. Thus, the article concludes that the Operational Art provides the Operational Commander with a margin of creativity and personal influence in the planning process of a Campaign or Military Operation. It permeates all the Operational Science of this planning, where it shows its aspect of rationality. This Science can also be expressed in Operational Planning through Operational Design, which has in its concepts the vital link between Operational Art and Science. However, the British Operational Design still has a broader scope than the Brazilian Operational Design, which is only a graphic representation of the Course of Action synthesis chosen by the Operational Commander.