4-5. Given the inherently complex and uncertain nature of operations, particularly those operations dominated by stability, commanders and staffs use the Army design methodology to help them understand the root causes of instability and approaches to solving problems. The Army design methodology is a methodology for applying critical and creative thinking to understand, visualize, and describe problems and approaches to solving them (ADP 5-0). The Army design methodology is an iterative process of understanding and problem framing that uses elements of operational art to conceive and construct an operational approach to solve identified problems. (See the discussion beginning in paragraph 4-19 on selected elements of operational art used in stability planning. See ADP 5-0 and ATP 5-0.1 for detailed discussions on the Army design methodology.)