Disaster Scenarios. As we send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan, we need to consider the role that these unthinkable events play in our lives. In Japan, earthquakes and tsunamis are not unthinkable events, they are everyday occurrences, but that commonality has not bread national complacency, rather, it has heightened awareness about how bad a big version of a … [Read more...] about Scenario Planning, Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Strategy
Time to Rethink Performance
My colleague Diane Spiegel of Sage Leadership Tools pointed out this OP-ED from the NY Times on why performance reviews are bad, and what should be done to correct them. Why Your Boss Is Wrong About You I agree with the premise. Reviews, and the lack of mutual objectives between manager and employee, drive the wrong behavior. No employee should be an "underperformer" at a … [Read more...] about Time to Rethink Performance
The Microsoft Tablet Strategy: Time to Redefine
The Microsoft Tablet Strategy: Time to Re-examine My first review of a Tablet PC was posted this morning at Tablet PC Magazine. I looked at the Dell Inspiron Duo. The hardware was solid but was missing a few key features (like video out). The real problem was Windows 7. Windows 7 is not designed for touch on a high-resolution screen. You just can't get your finger to the … [Read more...] about The Microsoft Tablet Strategy: Time to Redefine
5 Ways to Own Vision
5 Ways to Own Vision Organizations that behave strategically own vision. A good vision becomes operational. If the vision sits out at the 10-year horizon and never finds its way into operational influence, it is nothing but a meaningless historical artifact. Here are 5 ways to own vision: Start using the vision as a way of framing near-term plans. Ask people to … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Own Vision
Watson and Jeopardy and Why I’m Only Marginally Impressed
IBM Watson Logo from IBM Well, Watson beat (NPR) human its human competitors on Jeopardy, but I think the challenge Ken Jennings gave to IBM today sums up the one-trick pony aspect of Watson: Let put it on Dancing with the Stars to see what it can really do. Watson could not see nor hear, and it could not write, let alone dance. Watson was trained, in this instance, … [Read more...] about Watson and Jeopardy and Why I’m Only Marginally Impressed