Main content

4. Looping the Loop

Matthew Syed asks what the world's greatest fighter pilot, John Boyd, can tell us about decision making in all areas of life.

Matthew Syed asks what the world's greatest fighter pilot can tell us about decision making.

He discovers a theory that transformed warfare and might have played a key role in Brexit.

John Boyd was a rebel. The quintessential cigar-chomping fighter pilot. A legend within the US Air Force, he was known to be able to shoot down any opponent in a dogfight in under 40 seconds.

He developed a decision making tool that would take the military by storm – OODA - observe, orient, decide, act. Boyd explained that this process looped, with each action leading to a new opportunity to observe. To defeat an enemy all you had to do was disrupt their OODA loop.

Matthew reveals how Boyd devotee Dominic Cummings, deployed OODA during the Brexit campaign with great effect.

While the OODA loop is highly effecting in confrontational settings, Matthew asks whether this form of thinking works when co-operation, rather than domination, is the name of the game.

Producer: Robbie MacInnes

A Novel production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4, first broadcast in 2021.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Tue 23 Jan 2024 21:00

Broadcasts

  • Wed 3 Mar 2021 16:00
  • Mon 8 Mar 2021 00:15
  • Tue 23 Jan 2024 21:00

Sideways - Articles

Sideways - Articles

Features on some of the fascinating topics from Sideways with Matthew Syed.

My last 5p: How one homeless man’s generosity led to him marrying the love of his life

My last 5p: How one homeless man’s generosity led to him marrying the love of his life

How one act of generosity can have profound consequences.

Why we all need an alter ego

Why we all need an alter ego

Matthew Syed looks at how adopting an alter ego can help us all to access confidence.

What's the secret of making a smash hit pop song?

What's the secret of making a smash hit pop song?

Exploring the success of Max Martin, the behind-the-scenes genius behind 22 No.1 hits.

Podcast