A response to the Huffington Post piece on 10 Local American Economies That Have Change Forever. City planning. Cities have traditionally been opportunistic. Some entrepreneurs select a city as a site for something, a railroad headquarters, a large government facility, aerospace manufacturing, or a software company. The city then grows up around that industry. That has … [Read more...] about City Planning: A Prescription for Cities
Archives for 2010
Scenarios should make you uncomfortable
During a recent scenario planning session, I was asked, one the scenarios were revealed, if that wasn’t enough. People now knew the future was uncertain, and couldn’t they just get on with creating their plans. I begged the groups indulgence, as I believe that only by living through the scenarios, in a very visceral way, do you come to own the underlying logics of the future … [Read more...] about Scenarios should make you uncomfortable
Scenario Planning: Uncertainties Facing Cities
Scenario Planning: Uncertainties Facing Cities Scenario planning with city and chamber of commerce representatives resulted in the following list uncertainties: Crime and Safety Urban design and open planning Zoning Population (numbers) Population Distribution Demographics Income Character of employment Natural disasters Sensitivity to sprawl … [Read more...] about Scenario Planning: Uncertainties Facing Cities
Apple iPhone 3GS Strategy: Apple’s Design Edge Won’t Help if Company Gets Too Edgy
Last week, it was the antenna. Apple said it was normal and then made a fix. Well, a case. Not clear it is a fix, but it is a case. Now, it is the battery life on the 3GS. Apple’s strategy is to be cooler and simpler, and to charge a premium for the Apple experience. All of those rely on the hardware and software doing what they are intended to do. The most important thing, … [Read more...] about Apple iPhone 3GS Strategy: Apple’s Design Edge Won’t Help if Company Gets Too Edgy
The Problem with Housing Starts: Why we need new national economic metrics
Toward new national economic metrics: Housing starts (New residential construction) and foreclosures offer insight into the current economic malaise in the United States. They also reflect an ingrained view of consumption measures as the yardstick for economic health. Our measurement system is driving us to establish conditions similar to those before the recession. If we … [Read more...] about The Problem with Housing Starts: Why we need new national economic metrics