Effects-based planning is a technique used in military planning to identify the desired effect or outcome on a target rather than focusing on specific tasks. It encourages using resources efficiently and integrating capabilities to achieve shared effects. The document provides examples of useful verbs for describing effects, such as neutralize, influence, protect, and delay, that can help planners develop integrated plans focused on achieving the overall strategic effect.

1. MISSION VERBS FOR
EFFECTS
BASED
PLANNING
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Effects-based Planning Verbs
What is it?
Effects-based planning is a
useful technique for
developing and resourcing
plans derived from military
thinking. The approach
requires the planner to
identify the broad effect
being sought on a target or
the wider environment rather
than rushing straight to
giving tasks to groups or
individuals and creating
infrastructure or additional
expensive capability to fill a
perceived gap.
Why is it useful?
The approach is useful
because it encourages the
efficient and cost-effective
use of resources and
improves the integration of
then to achieve a wider,
understood, effect. Within
the context of risk reduction
planning an effects-based
approach encourages an
integrated response with a
range of assets and
capabilities being able to
contribute to the delivery of a
shared effect.
A selection of useful effects ...
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NEUTRALISE
The use of legal and
proportionate force, or
other means, to stop a
threat and render it
harmless.
INFLUENCE
To change the behaviour
or decision making of a
target to better support
your own plans or
needs.
PROTECT
To use a range of
physical, electronic and
other means to prevent
identified risks impacting
o n a n a s s e t o r
location.
DENY
T o p r e v e n t a n
a d v e r s a r y s e c u r i n g
sufficient freedom of action
o r m a n e o u v r e t o
complete their aim, or
task.
DETER
To convince a potential
a d v e r s a r y t h a t t h e
probability of success is
too low for planning or a
h o s t i l e a c t t o b e
followed through.
MONITOR
To u s e v i s u a l o r
electronic means to
observe and report on the
activities of a (potential)
adversary or activity
in an area.
DISRUPT
To cause an adversary
orC threat to have to
temporarily stop hostile or
potentially hostile acts
they are in the act of
conducting.
STRIKE
A decisive (usually
physical) act that has an
observable and conclusive
impact on a threat or
adversary.
DETECT
To receive credible and
timely confirmation that a
hostile, or potentially
hostile act, has occurred.
DELAY
To create sufficient
obstacles to an adversary
that the time to complete a
given task takes far
longer than they had
anticipated.

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