The time expended on the process can vary from an hour at lower tactical levels to days at a higher operational level. By following the process you will consistently invite and listen to staff advice and information, and seek and compare feasible courses of action. Then you can select your best course of action and issue your orders based on all of the above as well as on your personal judgment. At each successive level, planning includes those details required for that particular level. All parties participating in a plan must be kept informed so that the planning will be coordinated throughout the command.
Coordination ensures that the elements of planned actions fit together.
Coordinate your efforts internally and externally at all appropriate levels. Planning is coordinated through conferences and liaison visits between units and agencies concerned. Much of the coordination essential to operational success is carried out at each echelon through the integrative functions of the echelon commander's technical and tactical staff. The staff members, each in a position responsible for one or more functional areas or broad fields of interest, work closely with each other to integrate their command activities and to coordinate plans crossing areas of responsibility, interest, or technical concerns. Staff members also maintain continuous coordination with their functional counterparts on staffs at other levels of command.