5-5. Decisive action begins with the commander’s intent and concept of operations. As a single, unifying idea, decisive action provides direction for the entire operation. Based on a specific idea of how to accomplish the mission, commanders and staffs refine the concept of operations during planning and determine the proper allocation of resources and tasks. Leaders must have a situational understanding in simultaneous operations due to the diversity of threats, the proximity to civilians, and the impact of information during operations. The changing nature of operations may require a surge of certain capabilities, such as protection, to effectively link decisive operations to shaping or stabilizing activities in the AO. In other operations, the threat may be less discernible, unlikely to mass, and immune to the center of gravity analysis, which requires a constant and continuous protection effort or presence.