The October 2010 Scientific American reports on an exclusive poll about trust in science. For the most part, people trust scientists, but not at the highest level, especially when it comes to things that non-scientists have personal experience with. At the low end of the trust rung were food safety, vitamins and supplements, genetically modified crops, pesticides, … [Read more...] about Science, Uncertainty and Being Right
Strategic Planning
Augmenting Strategic Planning for Dummies
Overall, I like Erica Olsen’s Strategic Planning for Dummies, but I am not a fan of the scenario planning overview, which comes rather late in the book. Here are some thoughts for readers that they should consider when using Olsen’s text. Strategic Planning for Dummies covers scenario planning in a very cursory way on pages 291-294. It provides a high-level overview, which … [Read more...] about Augmenting Strategic Planning for Dummies
Strategic Measures: Toward New Measurement for a Sustainable, Knowledge Economy
New Measurement Sustainable Knowledge Economy As America grasps for innovative ways to exit the recession, we have forgotten a fundamental business reality: measurement determines behavior. Ask any salesperson if their bonus structure determines which products they lead with or not. The problem with America’s national investments is that they say green, but they shout … [Read more...] about Strategic Measures: Toward New Measurement for a Sustainable, Knowledge Economy
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