Why are we always solving the same issue yet calling it something else? Answer: A systemic problem manifests as different symptoms, yet we focus only on the symptoms and never the system of causes. We do this because in general: we react to the symptom-of-the-moment; we are lead by fear not understanding; and we don’t [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Statistical Thinking’
Fiddling as Rome Burns
Posted in Economy, Life, Problem Solving, tagged Business of business, Critical Thinking, Decision-making, Economy, Problem Solving, Progress, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on December 23, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
A Matter of Results
Posted in Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking, tagged Complexity, Decision-making, Problem Solving, Progress, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking, Variation on November 30, 2010 | 29 Comments »
It seems we are obsessed with results. We conduct life as if results are the only things that matter. To most results by any means are results just the same. We manage by results, we define problems by results, we define our job by results, we make individuals accountable for results, we cause harm to [...]
Either/Or Thinking
Posted in Management, Problem Solving, Statistical Thinking, tagged Decision-making, Learning, management, Problem Solving, Statistical Thinking, Variation on October 20, 2010 | 11 Comments »
The Newtonian-Cartesian dualism that informed the development of our socio-economic system also guides us to think in dichotomous or dualistic terms—win/lose, us/them, liberal/conservative, profit/loss, good/bad, favorable/unfavorable—and also to believe that if something is not quantifiable it isn’t important. Such thinking promotes judgment of experience not learning from experience. Because of this either/or habit of thought [...]
Educating Management
Posted in Leadership, Management, tagged Business of business, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Learning, management, Progress, Quality, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on October 8, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Would you agree to be a passenger on a plane piloted by a person not having the knowledge and ability to pilot the plane? Would you allow a doctor who was not educated and trained to perform surgery to operate on you? Would you help your children on a school bus driven by a person [...]
Objects or Subjects
Posted in Leadership, Relationships, Statistical Thinking, tagged Complexity, Decision-making, Leadership, Learning, management, Statistical Thinking, Variation on September 16, 2010 | 14 Comments »
Newton’s laws of motion afford the quantification of the motion of matter (i.e. objects) and correspondingly by way of calculation the determination of the movement of the objects. It is because of these laws we can determine the effect of two objects interacting (colliding), such as when a golf club hits a golf ball or [...]
Hidden Lessons in Leadership #10
Posted in Leadership, partnership, tagged human spirit, Leadership, Learning, management, partnership, Problem Solving, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on July 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
In saying, “I believe that it is not about me…it’s very much about the team”, Linda Heasley, President and CEO of The Limited, concisely expresses her philosophy of leadership. Underlying this position on leadership is the fact that leadership involves We and not Me.
Uncertainty to Chaos
Posted in Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking, tagged Complexity, Critical Thinking, Learning, management, Problem Solving, Quality, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on May 26, 2010 | 3 Comments »
What do you do when faced with uncertainty? Consider for example that you are scheduled to arrive at a meeting location where you have never been and are uncertain about the length of time it will take to get there, what do you do? If you are like most you leave a bit earlier, just [...]
Misinterpreting Data
Posted in Statistical Thinking, tagged Decision-making, Learning, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on March 8, 2010 | 4 Comments »
The March 5, 2010 New York Times headline read, “jobless rate holds steady, raising hopes of recovery”. Apparently it doesn’t take much to raise hope, at least among those doing the reporting. Why is two consecutive points with the same value (i.e. 9.7% in both January and February) a reason for hope? Would two consecutively [...]
Mind Before Money
Posted in Problem Solving, Quality, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking, tagged Complexity, Critical Thinking, Decision-making, Leadership, management, Problem Solving, Progress, Quality, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on February 3, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Often those in authority within an organization—frequently referred to as ‘the leadership’—use the thing they believe is valued by most as a way of resolving a complex problem. That is, they throw money at it! While it does cost money to solve problems—energy is often expended—this does not mean that everything can be solved with [...]
Connect The Dots
Posted in organizational design, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking, tagged Critical Thinking, Decision-making, Leadership, Learning, management, organizational design, Problem Solving, Quality, Statistical Thinking, Systems Thinking on January 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Christmas Day terrorist attempt on a flight to Detroit highlighted an all too common problem in organizations. Information may exist but knowledge is not always developed. Business organizations are not immune to the design and management problems we often see in government. You’ve probably heard, if not your self said, the left hand doesn’t [...]
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