Psychologist Karl Weick tells a well known story about Hungarian soldiers lost in the Apls to explain his contention that in a crises, leaders need to act in order to think. This has come to be known as enactment.
This theory is discussed with regard to the current environment in a recent article in the Harvard Business Review.

http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/hbreditors/2009/01/leap_while_you_look_moving_for.html

Weick offered a practical example of his theory. Some Hungarian troops who got lost in the Alps wandered around aimlessly until one of the soldiers found a map in his pocket. The platoon found their way to safety, only to learn that the map they used was, in fact, a map of the Pyrenees. "I just love that story," Weick laughed, "because it illustrates that when you're confused, almost any old strategic plan can help you discover what's going on and what should be done next. In crises especially, leaders have to act in order to think - and not the other way around."

Would people agree?