What is an essential step if mission analysis is done incorrectly?

Mission analysis is a critical phase in the Joint Military / Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES) as it sets the foundation for all subsequent planning efforts. If this analysis is conducted incorrectly, it can lead to significant issues in the entire planning process.

When the initial understanding of the mission's requirements, constraints, and operational environment is inaccurate or flawed, this misalignment affects all following steps in the planning process. Subsequent assessments, including course of action development, detailed planning, and execution, rely heavily on the accuracy and thoroughness of the mission analysis. If the mission analysis contains errors, those errors will propagate through the planning stages and may lead to fundamental misunderstandings of objectives and strategies.

Consequently, the integrity of the entire operation is compromised, making it essential that mission analysis is thorough and accurate to ensure all subsequent steps can effectively align with the intended mission outcomes. This highlights the crucial nature of the mission analysis and explains why a flaw at this stage can undermine the entire planning process.