Double-Edged Risk

Risk is a simple four-letter word that can mean the next breakthrough or represent impending failure. In the business world risk is generally defined as a “potential problem or threat that could affect the project/program/business ability to meet its commitments (e.g.- capabilities, performance, technical, cost, schedule, financial or other objectives)." Organizations often times have dedicated Risk Managers, Risk Plans, Risk Boards and monthly board meetings to address risks. We routinely brainstorm for new risks that could have a bearing on our business objectives.

Management Risk

Basic Project Management (PM) disciplines involve detailed planning, execution and control of a project until objectives have been satisfied. In the course of doing business though, unknown unknowns and potential known risks can affect project outcomes. Early identification of these risks helps reduce mitigation costs downstream.

Can ZERO Add Value to your Organization?

As humans mature out of their childhood and teenage years, environmental factors in our upbringing create invisible personal barriers that keep our thinking predominantly aligned with like-minded individuals well into our adult years; in essence we fall into a “group-think” syndrome. We will naturally migrate to affinity groups (formal or informal) that share our political, cultural, socio-economic or age related values, to name a few ideologies.

As is customary, any contrarian thinking from someone that is not in our “affinity group” can be regarded as left-field, odd or even non value-add. Hence, our engagement with these “odd” thinkers may be regarded as a zero-sum addition to the quality of our life. So we minimize, or avoid, any interaction with these people.

Get Marketplace Advantage: Add-Vantage Points

Organizations that build, foster and promote diversity of thought have a wealth of information assets at their disposal. Leaders can often perceive unopposed single-mindedness as efficient but if everyone is thinking alike someone is probably not thinking (or at least voicing their respective vantage opinion).

The Blind Eyes of Ethics

Every organization proclaims to have an ethics code that guides their every action. It is an underlying code of conduct that conveys a sense of what is good, what is right and how the organization should behave. Thousands of employees adopt these guidelines everyday and look to their respective leaders as examples to emulate. Invariably though, the written words are too often window dressing; accepted but not acted upon.

Job loyalties justify blind following, bonuses spur personal redefinitions of ethics for the few and generous philanthropic gestures provide a convenient ‘pride covering’ that helps those on the inside overlook what outsiders seem to see so clearly from afar.

Hypocrisy in our Health Care Views?

Oh, how I cherish my health and freedom,
Which allows me to live and work, and build my good name.
With every passing year, and my chosen charitable donations,
I shower a small percentage of my financial power to others less fortunate
While I continue to build my wealth with those wonderful taxable deductions.