9-85. It is important in COA development that commanders and staffs appreciate the unpredictable and uncertain nature of the operational environment, and understand how to cope with ambiguity. Some problems that commanders face are straightforward, as when clearly defined guidance is provided from higher headquarters, or when resources required for a mission are available and can easily be allocated. In such cases, the COA is often self-evident. However, for problems that are unfamiliar or ambiguous, Army design methodology may assist commanders in better understanding the nature of the problem, and afford both the commander and staff a level of comfort necessary to effectively advance through COA development. Commanders and staffs that are comfortable with ambiguity will often find that the Army design methodology provides flexibility in developing COAs that contain multiple options for dealing with changing circumstances. Staffs tend to focus on specific COAs for specific sets of circumstances, when it is usually best to focus on flexible COAs that provide the greatest options to account for the widest range of circumstances.