Excellent article by LtCol Price titled,

The Downfall of Adaptive Planning

http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/digita...2012/Price.pdf

I would like to hear from others their thoughts on JOPES (pro's and con's) and the author's recommendations.

Some key points he makes in the article are:

All of AP’s tools emphasized increasing the speed of the same basic
planning process. Instead of realizing that the primary shortfalls of the
existing process stemmed from a lack of strategic thought, all efforts
sought to make the existing system work faster and provide more options.
Rather than fundamentally questioning the entire process, developers
assumed that it was correct and simply needed fine tuning.
I couldn't agree more, and the more I'm forced into the JOPES process the more flaws I see with it. As he points out we have a lot of planners enambered with process and products versus producing something useful.

AP intended to optimize the presentation, writing, coordination, and
sourcing of the massive plans but failed to address the most fundamental
aspect of plan credibility—critical and creative thought. The military’s penchant for process and its fixation with planning did not allow questioning of the most fundamental assumptions about the chosen method for generating and delivering sovereign options. No one could challenge the presupposition that the vaunted military decision-making process would always deliver.
He further defines the difference between strategic thinking (which he identifies as a weakness) and strategic planning (too often limited by process). He summarizes this discussion with,

purposeful thought about the issues is more important than the process or products
His five recommended actions to improve our planning:

1. Develop and strengthen strategic thinking skills.
2. Expand the community.
3. Break the mold.
4. Change the process.
5. “Red-team” the review.
Much more in the article.