Through the use of heuristics, DHARMA applies strategies using readily accessible, though loosely applicable, information to control problem solving through the use of improvisational "rules of thumb", educated guesses, intuitive judgments, and simple common sense. The Heuristic Model (or commonly referred to as the gut-level approach) is a simplifed method of decison making that puts emphasis on the internal personality attributes of the decision makers.

DHARMA upholds the simple concepts of improvisation, agreement, support, heightening, exploring, in pursuit of the one true way. DHARMA presents a central concept that is used in order to explain the "higher truth" or metaphysical state (ultimate nature of reality) of the universe.