Course of Action — Definition

Definition

Course-of-action reasoning asks which response is justified by a stated problem and its constraints. A good response addresses the identified cause or risk, can be carried out by the responsible actor and remains proportionate to the available evidence.

It may combine an immediate protective step with further investigation. The task differs from predicting what an organisation will actually do or selecting whichever option sounds most forceful. Information not supplied by the question must not be treated as established.

Where several principles compete, compare the options against the same objective, time frame and practical limits before choosing.