Perhaps no decision in our society is more difficult or more important than the tactical combat decision made on the ground during battle. These decisions are often made under great stress. Battle staff officers go for many days without sleep in their efforts to thoroughly analyze all aspects of the recommendations they make.
Commanders often do the same, ensuring that their soldiers are prepared to fight.
The physical demands, the time demands, and the emotional stress of the battle weigh heavily on the minds of all involved. These endeavors ultimately have a negative impact on decision making. Battle planners often find it impossible to analyze the courses of action they develop. The process involves too much data. Enemy options, weapons system performance characteristics, friendly capabilities, and large expanses of terrain all interact in a complex manner to determine a winner or loser.