Think-tank charities typically advocate for reform, to influence decision making at government level. Some nations (the US, France and the UK) appreciate the role independent think-tank charities have to play, both domestically and to help them evolve their foreign policies. Others including Japan, China and Germany seem to encourage such charities efforts where they’re alreadyContinue Reading The Power of One
Is photography a recipe and metaphor for living? Should we make similar decisions about shutter speed, depth of field, subject composition and photo vantage point in our life, as we do taking pictures? As photographers, we know that together, those four things add power and impact to the picture. We juggle them and toggle betweenContinue Reading Photographers of Life
A political party (or school) wants to change voter (or student) behaviour. They can attempt this by challenging the assumptions held (reality replacing perception, or perception replacing reality, witness fake news, propaganda and misinformation by governments) to improve the expectations (foster hope), to in turn improve aspirations (ambition). Ultimately it is voters’ aspirations (for fameContinue Reading Flexibility and Governance
History may be continuous, but continuous doesn’t always imply progress. Arguing or complaining needs something else for it to become constructive. Sometimes the slow progress of one approach is overtaken by someone else’s faster approach, using a different design entirely. Economic growth and human migration come in cycles. And not necessarily regular ones either. HumanContinue Reading Perception, Imagination and Focus
‘Companies don’t innovate. Markets do.’ Eric Beinhocker Do markets possess greater business flexibility (BFL) compared to a company, or not for profit organisation? Because markets are extremely flexible on pace, as well as on the spread of outcomes, and because markets don’t sleep (economic activity simply moves time zones), the answer is effectively yes. ItContinue Reading Markets and Business Flexibility
Green Automation (GA) combines business initiatives involving both green initiatives and automation initiatives. A quick web search on green automation brings up services relating to automated greenhouse hydroponics. But GA is a much broader opportunity than that. Then if you combine GA with Business Flexibility thinking, the opportunity space for innovation moves to an evenContinue Reading Green Automation and Business Flexibility (the holy grail)
Sadly, so-called fake news is an age-old problem. And an annoying fixture in business life. So-called fake news in a business setting can include: • accidental distortion – a version-control problem, information-relay error, false logic, false assumption, static, reference error or typo. Or something misheard – perhaps generating a colourful rumour on the office grapevine.Continue Reading Fake News and Business Flexibility
Boards represent the strategic decision-making authority of an organisation and are ultimately accountable when things go wrong for the organisation. Effective boards have voting rights and clear lines of delegation to the executive – the senior management team running the organisation on a daily basis, typically headed up by the chief executive. In terms ofContinue Reading Board size and Business Flexibility (BFL)
‘There is no sickness worse for me than words that to be kind must lie.’ Aeschylus ‘People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.’ Otto von Bismarck ‘People can choose between the sweet lie or the bitter truth. I say the bitter truth, but many people don’tContinue Reading Fake News and Personal Flexibility
‘A good director makes a playground and allows you to play.’ Martin Landau ‘People think that the director’s direct actors. No. Really, what the director’s doing is directing the audience’s eye through the film.’ Julianne Moore ‘Directing is very close to choreography; you deal with space, time, emotions, lighting, making beautiful images.’ Benjamin Millepied ‘IContinue Reading Design, Control, Film Directing and Personal Flexibility