Image via Wikipedia Some look at acquisition as a purely dog-eat-dog zero sum game. Another perspective coming out of game theory that takes a slightly different approach than the “Always Trust” strategy is documented in a Robert Axelrod‘s “The Evolution of Cooperation” . There are games where the strategy of “Always Trust” or Don’t Play” […]
Category: Military
Reflecting on wicked force management problems (Army)
My take on the problem with force management is that it has been treated as a complicated problem, suitable for central planning (PPBES) and not as a complex problem, rife with social & political context, in a dynamic state where the variables change parameters far faster than the planned decision cycles. Consequently, we never get […]
Systems dynamics meets the Afghan war via Powerpoint
It is becoming a common practice to laugh at that slide, but try on this thought experiment: what if someone made a slide of a zoom in on the surface of a semi-conductor chip? Wouldn’t that seem as incomprehensible and “foolish”? and yet by the slow process of developing knowledge we have become capable of extraordinary […]
The persona of the process consultant: is it intentional or assigned?
Image by Getty Images via Daylife I’m wondering if you have ever had the experience of deliberately planning your relationship to the organization you’re trying to help change. I am discovering that I tend to have a particular role that I favor witches being an expert. Sometimes when I act as an expert by taking […]
Maximum sustainable rate of change
my organization definitely has a maximum sustainable rate of change. There some things that are definitely off limits, but I will tell you I have been repeatedly surprised with just how much change the organization can accommodate. It was far more than I originally estimated. Some of this has to do with the use of […]
A reflection on entreprenurial spirit and stability operations, and engagement areas in nation-building
Image via Wikipedia Thoughts while TDY: action learning: a discipline/focus on actionable learning (see Lewin, Schein…) Planning: we seek to understand so that we can act Design: we act, iteratively, on the basis of fundamental principles, in order to learn we live life forwards, but understand it looking backwards we build nations and stabilize societies […]
A reflection on educating Army officers in force management
Image via Wikipedia The college in-briefed the new Commander yesterday; From the dialogue emerged his 4 priorities 1. Leader Development (sub-bullets below are not all-inclusive) – Develop and implement ILE 2010 – Identify ILE and captains career course backlog issues related to ARFORGEN 2. Mission Command Center of Excellence (We emphasized LD&E’s contribution of manpower […]
Preview of Professor Mike Wesch’s symposium on Mediated Culture/Mediated Education
Image via Wikipedia Professor Mike Wesch‘s visit on 5 April 2010 is a really big deal. Here are a few points of interest for those interested in exploring his work before the symposium on Mediated Culture/Mediated Education He is a profound thinker, and a genuinely nice person. His insights have important implications for our leaders in […]
education, leadership, biodiversity and the limits of reason
Image via Wikipedia at the other end of the time scale from the doctoral programs, i think the right model to use is that of bio-diversity. It’s not “survival of the fittest” in the wild, it is extinction of the unfit & toleration of the “good enough” which promotes a broad gene pool. A broad […]
A reflection on leading and managing a complex Participatory Action Research curriculum project
Image via Wikipedia 1. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to examine my current leadership skills. I will describe and reflect upon a recent curriculum project that I was in charge of at the US Army command and Gen. staff College. I will use a lens of the Bolman and Deal four Frameworks to evaluate […]