# OODA Loop

> A decision cycle developed by U.S.

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## Definition

A decision cycle developed by U.S. Air Force colonel John Boyd consisting of four phases: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Boyd argued that in competitive environments, victory goes to whichever side cycles through the loop faster — operating inside the opponent's OODA loop forces them to react to a reality that has already changed. The framework has been widely adopted in business strategy, cybersecurity, and high-frequency trading. Its core insight is that decision velocity is itself a strategic advantage when the environment is adversarial and fast-moving.


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