 Commentary by Michael S. Slocum Subscribe via Email or RSS |  Biography |
February 24, 2009
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More With Less |
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More and more the economic pressures will increase the need for proficiency unilaterally. One way for us to respond to this challenge would be to optimize those things that we currently do. This means of course that we need to get better- and we may already be very good. So although this sounds logical that doesn't mean it is easy to do. In fact, it can be very difficult. Especially as financial resources cause us to reduce headcounts and streamline other expenses. That compounds the issue adding the complexity of having to do more with less. And the more has to be more efficient than it was before. This forces the less into a higher state of expectation. So it is quite a conundrum. Clearly we cannot proceed with a business as usual mindset. Things have to change. You can't expect things to change just because you need them to. The type of change needs to be intentioned. Also, capability must be provided to those expected to deliver the needed change. This makes these difficult times an ideal opportunity to provide training. As more is expected with less, it seems natural that the innovative ability of all needs to be increased. Therefore, intentional and structured innovative techniques are found to be more important than ever before. The impetus for change is here. Take advantage of that and get the capability of your staff increased. Let innovation guide us through the storm. It has before and it can again. |
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Comments [1] | Permalink |
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| Categories: General, Leadership, Management | |
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| posted by John Stepleton [ http://knowledge-fulcrum.com ] | March 4, 2009 at 12:17 pm |
I’ve been a huge fan of R. Buckminster Fuller for many years. In his first book “Nine Chains to the Moon” Fuller coined the term ephemeralization – which refers to the ability of people to use technology advances to continuously do more with less. His vision was that ephemeralization will result in an ever-increasing standard of living for an ever-growing population despite finite resources. Here’s a simple illustration of this idea. In 1520 Magellan spent 2 years sailing in a wooden boat around the globe. 350 years later steam ships could navigate the earth in just 2 months time. 75 years later an airplane, made of alloys, took 2 weeks to fly around the world. 35 years later a space capsule, made from exotic alloys, needed one hour to circle the earth. The rate of advancement is increasing at an exponential rate. How has ephemeralization affected what is possible? Talking and thinking about what is possible starts with you, and it starts with me. We define how and what we can do to make our world different. Maybe it’s simply spending 1 hour a day thinking about what’s possible for your life, dreaming of what will make your life better for you, your family, and your fellow humans without any limitations. I do know that we cannot turn back time and change the place we find ourselves living in today. |
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