S.T.O.P. (see the obvious problem?)
Innovation is driven by a pressing need or a problem or an opportunity – and someone else may offer an insight or an answer. The obvious problem is “What’s the Question”.
If that statement sounds a little unclear, consider this video about “STOP” signage:
WHAT’s The POINT? {{–video
Like so many misplaced initiatives, this obvious example hallmarks the way our good intentions can create unintended consequences. Whatever our goal. it is usually our desire to somehow stop the nonsense – and replace it with common sense.
Too often we find ourselves engaged in mere “change” that only results in even more non-sense.
Much of what we “hope” for in process improvement and innovation results in another problem – in terms of the process by which the original issue is first analyzed and then addressed.
In our haste to find a solution we are often beguiled to just take action, any action, on any one of many symptoms – only to create even more symptoms, non-sense. The urge to accommodate those coming from other countries can obliterate the unique identity of the country that benevolently intends to assimilate them, non-sense. The urgency to save the shoreline may encourage us to move our activities off-shore – to drill for oil at depths and distances that prevent us from safely managing the process that then fails – and then threaten the very shoreline from which we retreated earlier, non-sense.
The list goes on and on and you have your own opinions about local examples of failing to act within a more expansive (or even global) context. Actions taken within any isolated viewpoint will predictably impact those outside of that limited field of view. Again, it is obvious that our viewpoint must acknowledge the perspective of everyone else that has a viewpoint – all stakeholders – and even those that may only be surprised by the results…. of our implementing some totally unexpected non-sense.
Transparency requires equitable representation
– and accountability requires equitable benefits.
Obviously, we need a methodical approach and a consistent way to find answers. We need a process from which those consistent answers can be equitably (re-)produced.
Obviously we may not have FOUND the right questions…
– or perhaps we just have not USED them…(?)
The challenge is to S.T.O.P. (see through others’ problems) before suggesting alternatives. Obviously there is a key question – or more likely a series of questions – to help us ALL get to the root cause of the real issues – that we ALL desire to solve.
Once we find the “best questions” – we can realistically expect the best answers.
Until then or even when we do – the next question may be:
“Will we agree to use them..?”
The answer to that question will be obvious!
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Written by gsbigger
May 28, 2010 at 10:21 am
Posted in accountability, Arizona, BP, collaboration, crowdsourcing, design thinking, Distributed innovation platforms, drilling, Global Redesign Initiative, Idea platform, illegal, immigrant, innovation, Louisiana, Obama, offshore, oil spill, politics, Process Improvement, recovery, social capital, social media, social networking, stimulus, transparency
Tagged with Arizona, BP, disaster, illegal, immigrant, innovation, Louisian, offshore, oil, shoreline, spill
2 Responses
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The mention above to the oil spill is a very good example of a non-sense answer to a perceived problem. The perceived problem is safety in off shore drilling. The “short term” solution is to ban off shore drilling.
Two points.
1) Obama and company know that the way to stop further drilling is to initiate at “temporary” halt to drilling. This will cause the oil development to move to other non-US locations. The lie is that this is “short term” or “temporary”. The truth is – once the platforms leave, they are not coming back for a very long time. That solves part of the “drill baby drill” problem.
2) The gulf region was damaged beyond measure by this spill. The actions of the Obama administration to halt further development in the area will cause even longer lasting economic devastation for those folks.
Ron Cooper
August 8, 2010 at 4:24 pm
The justification – for doing what doesn’t really make sense otherwise – is always “because”..
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The path to a solution – that mutually serves us all – is always discovered – hidden under “root cause”
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We just have to ASK4 it – and everything changes,
then cooperate, and everything changes for good!
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Tyranny is never transparent, accountable, or cooperative – and when tyranny prospers, none dare call it tyranny…”because”…..
gsbigger
August 8, 2010 at 5:10 pm