A military idea, the Commander's Intent is "the commander's stated vision which defines the purpose of an operation, the end state with respect to the relationship among the force, the enemy and the terrain; it must enable subordinates to quickly grasp the successful end state and their part in achieving it."

When applied in a military context, this means that the commander has to provide a clear goal to his subordinates, along with the forces required to achieve that goal and a time frame for getting it done. After that, its the subordinates who determine the exact course of action for that goal, and are permitted the freedom to execute their plan.

Using This in a Product Development Environment

For any project, try to use the Commander's Intent approach. At the outset, create a document that specifically says why the project is being undertaken, the overall requirements, and the final outcome when the project is finished. Keep it short but don't leave out any essential information. This is then provided to the product development team.

Such a document can help with decision-making as the product development progresses. By keeping the Intent short, those who are developing the product can make their own decisions to achieve the final goal by using their own expertise rather than having to follow excessive directions from above.

When the Commander's Intent is too detailed, the product developers should go back and discuss any instructions that may not be the best route to take for the stated goal. Remember that the point is to provide a clear goal, but to let the developers make the decisions on how best to reach that goal.

A good product developer will read beyond the words of the document and work to fulfill a clients needs, regardless of the specifics of the project. Following the letter of the contract may not satisfy a client, so the developers should try to stick to the spirit of the Intent whenever possible to make sure the client is happy with the final product. A client's satisfaction should always be the underlying intent to any project.