There is a time for bold, aggressive thought and there is a time to fall in line." With these words spoken at the Naval Institute's Annapolis Seminar in April, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Vern Clark articulated a view shared by leaders of every hierarchical organization. Endless argument is tiresome and irritating—it gets in the way of action. Continuous questioning, like endless studies, postpones decisions and action. A decision is reached usually when some outside power requires it or when the decision maker judges that further information will add little value. At that point, the process progresses from argument to action. Without a decision, no "metal is cut," no "rounds are put on target."
