2-121. Commanders and staffs constantly assess where an operation is in relation to the end state and make adjustments to accomplish the mission and posture the force for future operations. The commander’s visualization and the staffs’ running estimates are the primary assessment tools. Keeping running estimates current is essential to ensuring commanders are aware of feasible options. Staffs continuously replace outdated facts and assumptions in their running estimate with new information. They perform analysis and form new, or revise existing, conclusions and recommendations. The commander’s visualization identifies decisions commanders expect to make and focuses their staffs’ running estimates. Up-to-date running estimates provide the recommendations commanders need to make timely decisions during execution. (See FM 6-0 for more information on running estimates.)