The Rapid Response Institute

Tag: Louis Pasteur

And Just Like That!

Often attributed to the movie character, Forest Gump the title phrase can be interpreted as an abrupt change in one’s life.

The past few years have brought significant changes to many of us. Illness, job change, moving to a new location, kids out of school and so it goes. Disruption can be intimidating, yet it need not be so.
Life is all about change. We move from infancy to youth, adulthood and so on. In each phase our interests and environment are different. Moreover, we often seek change. The celebration upon one’s 16th birthday and getting a driver’s license. In my case turning 25 when my car insurance cost was lowered.
Society is moving into an era whereby an individual can expand his or her horizon. No longer is a college degree seen as the price of entry. Non graduates now have access to IT positions as well as management and other high paying skills. The focus is moving from having mountains of college debt to having the desire to achieve. Additionally, the Great Resignation movement is taking root too.
So What Happens Now?
In our 2oo9 White Paper, Rapid Response Management: Thriving in the New World Order we coined the term, Velocity of Information which we defined as, “Similar to the economic theory, Velocity of Money, it is the frequency at which information is exchanged.” Who would have dreamed today’s volumes would be so massive. Now we are awash in information and disinformation. Decisions that depend on valid and reliable data are more difficult, not less.
However, life’s disruptive moments can force us to move forward in another direction. The recession in 1974 required that this then young individual to more to Louisiana and enter the oil and gas sector. This was not on my radar at all as late as two months earlier when a recruiter called.
This life changing moment was not based on valid and reliable data as ‘I did not have clue’ what I was getting into. Rather the decision was made with almost no knowledge of the subject. Fifty years later, the rest as they say is history.
When one door closes, another opens.
New Relationships
We have previously discussed the RBC Framework; Relationships, Behaviors, Conditions (aka the situation). This straightforward model was developed in 1993 to study International Negotiations and we have found it convenient for all manner of human interaction assessments.
The military refers to the (true)knowledge of one’s environment as Situational Awareness. In other words if one has a good understanding of what is happening around them, their behaviors should reflect that knowledge. Subsequently, relationships may change including making new one or leaving old ones. In my case, the move to Louisiana and entering a new sector is a good example.
Going Forward
Forest Gump embraced change and excelled at a number of things despite his handicap. Disruption was not a threat but an opportunity. Like Louis Pasteur, one can prepare for change even if the next step is not immediately clear.
Finally, “The economist Joseph Schumpeter was the first to coin the term “creative destruction.” Creative destruction is the destruction of old markets and those active in them through innovation, & inventing of new markets, this can be new technologies, methods, business models, services, or products.” One can argue that the creative destruction cycle time is very short today.
What are you doing to prepare for your next step?

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Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials herein. They are provided for education and entertainment only.
The author’s credentials in this field are available on his LinkedIn page. Moreover, Dr. Shemwell is a coauthor for an in press book (to be released in Spring 2023) titled, “Smart Manufacturing: Integrating Transformational Technologies for Competitiveness and Sustainability.” His focus is on Operational Technologies.
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” (Martin Luther King speech at Cornell College, 1962). For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game. You can contact this author as well.
For those start-up firms addressing energy (including renewables) challenges, the author is a member of Global Energy Mentors which provide no-cost mentoring services from energy experts. If interested, check it out and give us a shout.

January 24, 2023
Agility, Resiliency and Sustainability: Needed Now More than Ever

This pundit and his firm have long been proponents of building organizational cultures that provide firm the capability of adjusting to ‘events on the ground’ quickly with strong Situational Awareness. Moreover, when adversity raises its ugly head, the response of a High Reliability Organization enables the resilience to adjust and go forward. Finally, stakeholder value is destroyed if the organization does not have a viable economic future.
In the last few editions of this series, we addressed a number of high impact and potentially negative situations and the forces at work. We continue to make the point, that organizations ignore these signals at their peril.
First Contact
“The German field marshal, known as Moltke the Elder, believed in developing a series of options for battle instead of a single plan, saying “No plan of operations extends with certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy’s main strength.” Today, “no plan survives contact with the enemy” is the popular reconfiguration of this concept.”
In such an environment, P:lan B.,C, D et al. may not be fluid enough. Having the ability to jump to Plan Z or no previous option, is what wins military and organizational battles. In 1944, George Patton famously turned an entire army, in the middle of winter 90 degrees to relive defenders known as the Battle of the Bulge. It was tis type of audacious decision making and effective action that won World War II. This is a model for contemporary organizational behavior, and the basis of our Relationships, Behaviors, Conditions (RBC) approach to agility, resiliency and sustainability in today’s world.
Elite Athletics
In addition to military models, athletics is another allegory for business executives to follow. In 2009 we released our White Paper, Rapid Response Management: Thriving in the New World Order. In that document, we developed the Rapid Response Management Matrix.
In this model we compared organizational Fitness Maturity as a function of its ability to Recover (catch your breath and move on to the next play). Value of course is highest for those that are in the best ‘shape.’
Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
We have discussed this issue before. In our June 22, 2018 blog, we quoted race car driver Bobby Unser, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Additionally, Louis Pasteur taught us. “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
Sports teams, the military and dance troupes as well as others practice incessantly. It is the only way to keep at the top of ‘your game.’ Businesses, not so much.
Choreography
Much like a Broadway musical, organizations need to understand and assure all the moving pieces (and people) work together. For example, a decade or so ago an energy services company sought to understand how NASCAR choreographed ‘pit stops.’ There goal was to see if best practices could be used by the field operations teams.
Into 2023
Years ago in the middle of yet another oil bust, a colleague paraphrased the old Chinese curse by saying, “May we live in less interesting times.” Be that as it may we live in interesting times and must respond accordingly.
How are you and your organization preparing for the uncertainty of the near future?
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Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials herein. They are provided for education and entertainment only.
The author’s credentials in this field are available on his LinkedIn page.
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” (Martin Luther King speech at Cornell College, 1962). For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game. You can contact this author as well.
For more insight regarding the economics of Climate Change, check out our recent blog, Crippling Green.
For those start-up firms addressing energy (including renewables) challenges, the author is a member of Global Energy Mentors which provide no-cost mentoring services from energy experts. If interested, check it out and give us a shout.

October 17, 2022
Sun Sets in the West: Science or Commentary?

One newscaster recently used the metaphor of the sun setting in the west as settled science so contrary views were not newsworthy. His argument–Fairness is Over Rated! What? One wonders whether this is true for those who believe the world is round or for those in the Flat Earth Society?

Yet most political commentary and views are not so apparent. Politicians and pundits constantly refer to ‘so-called’ settled science only to have new information surface. Moreover, we know how to test theories using the Scientific Method. Sadly, outside of formal academic style research this tool does not appear to be in vogue these days.

Sun Set

We learn the truism that the sun rises in the east in the morning and sets in the west (slightly seasonally adjusted). In fact, this calendar and timing have been known for several millennia. This process is measurable and repeatable. This phenomenon is supported by empirical data taken from experimentation and observation. The data is valid (accurate) and reliable (repeatable). Therefore, it follows that the knowledge of the sun setting in the west is based on science.

In My Opinion . . .

The 24/7 news cycle bombards us all with “Breaking News,” often several days after its occurrence. In their rush to get the ‘scoop‘ facts are not available at the time, overlooked or deliberately mangled or omitted. We are told that such and such is settled fact. And then it isn’t!

When one puts forth a position that while may be based on the certainty of one’s perspective on a matter, it often does not meet the test of the Scientific Method. By definition, this type of statement is a viewpoint or a sentiment. However, it can take on the mantle of science but is really Pseudo-Science as the hypothesis cannot be proved false.

One’s perspective or cognitive bias on a given subject can lead to the development of an organizational, policy, political or social agenda designed to sway thinking and thus support the development and implementation of initiatives designed to operationalize said ideas. Proponents often couch their position as “The Science.”

Contemporary Decisions

Our world is awash with significant economic and social challenges. Whether ESG, Covid-19, Climate Change or Inflation everyone has an opinion with data and/or studies to support their positions.

Consumers/Policy Makers/Decision Makers of these information will have to assess their value. How valid and reliable are the positions taken and what is the uncertainty and risk associated with their implementation?

The basis of all decisions include a level of incomplete or incorrect data. This phenomenon is where the military phase, “No plan survives first contact with the enemy” comes from.

So, it is with the confrontations of these four global issues. A robust discussion of the various points-of-view and their basis is necessary. Why is this not happening?

When statements that the ‘consensus’ of vast majority of experts/scientists is blah blah blah are made, this should be a major red flag. The statement that the ‘sun sets in the west’ has a significant body of knowledge behind it. There is a level of uncertainty with most other prognostications.

Louis Pasteur is credited with the statement, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” This is just as true today as when he was developing vaccines for the anthrax and rabies scourges of his day.

The best decisions are made even when controversial such as with Pasteur’s vaccines. Eisenhower’s decision about D-day had similar attributes of uncertainty and risk.

The United States, indeed the world has embarked on a multi-trillion dollar effort to solve the so-called existential threat of global warming. Politically charged, one wonders if any of the proponents and doomsayers are basing their positions on actual science.

How DARE THEY push false agendas that cost so much and will destroy economies. How DARE THEY!!

Are your organization’s decisions based on science or just someone’s opinion?

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Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials herein. They are provided for education and entertainment only.

The author’s credentials in this field are available on his LinkedIn page.

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” (Martin Luther King speech at Cornell College, 1962). For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game. You can contact this author as well.

For more information regarding climate change models, check out Bjorn Lomborg ands his latest book, False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet.

For those start-up firms addressing energy challenges, the author is a member of Global Energy Mentors which provide no-cost mentoring services from energy experts. If interested, check it out and give us a shout.

August 1, 2022