Overcome By Events

Overcome By Events (OBE) or Overtaken By Events (OTBE), is a term of military origin used when the initial solution to a problem is rendered useless by unexpected events, raising a need for a different solution.

Examples

An example for OBE, albeit in a political context, would be the changes in foreign politics due to the unexpected event of the September 11, 2001 attacks [Johnson, S. S. (2005, Mar) Can Events Data Analysis be Overcome By Events? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii Online]

In a military context, the first use of the atomic bomb on Japan probably caused the Japanese government to be OBE. [http://www.mythworks.net/myth_obe.asp OBE used in several contexts]

Usage at the United States Marine Corps

To the U.S. Marines, this phenomenon is known as "The 80% solution"; this is a reference to the success rate for the replacement solution. This replacement solution is based on a rational, yet profitable plan. Any effects observed during the post-implementation phase of the "80% solution" often render other considered solutions obsolete. Fact|date=June 2007

References