The Rapid Response Institute

Tag: situation

  • Pressure Differential

    Pressure Differential

    Managing Tension at the Margin

    As September draws to a close the Houston metropolitan area has dodged two hurricane bullets; Laura and Beta.  Fingers crossed that this very active season draws to an early and quiet close.  The beauty and downside of the 24/7 news and weather reporting is that lay people learn more jargon then we ever new possible.  Take for example, the term Pressure Differential.

    One broadcaster used this phrase to describe the low at the eye-of-the-storm and circulating higher pressure.  In other words, the ‘tension at the margin’ or stress between competing bodies—the engine of power.

    Humans constantly deal with this phenomenon and sometimes the stress caused by this dichotomy can seem to be overwhelming.  Sometimes, it seems this powerful internal engine races without a governor.

    The Power of Change

    The pandemic, storm season, economy, job, family and a host of other issues tug at our margins constantly.  When writing about stress, Winston Churchill famously stated, “But the element which is constant and common in all of them is Change.”

    Mark Twain is credited with, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes (and it will change).”  Hurricane pressure differentials subside and the sun shines again.  Yet, the hurricane engine does not change of its own accord.

    In the case of Beta, dry air at its margin was one element that sapped it of its strength.  Storms change as a result of exogenous events.  Humans can also incorporate endogenous actions as change agents.

    Use Case

    Recently, I commented on a LinkedIn post where the author was reminding recruiters that hospitality workers have great and transferable skills.  The example I suggested was around events.

    The traditional conference event sector has been hit hard by the pandemic with most conferences cancelled.  The toll on those employees and supporting contractors must be horrendous.

    However, there is a surge in online event like activity.  Many of the same activities for in person conferences are the same.

    The program must be developed and marketed.  Speakers, panelists, participants and others must be recruited.  Wouldn’t those sales, planners and others from the traditional sector bring immediate and significant value to the digital venue?

    The power of change is within all of us.  Govern that engine properly and your pressure differential will nullify.

    What’s Your Change Plan for these Transformative Times?

    For More Information

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

    For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game

    We presented, Should Cross Cultural Serious Games Be Included in Your Diversity Program: Best Practices and Lessons Learned at the Online Conference, New Diversity Summit 2020 the week of September 14, 2020.  Check Out this timely event and contact the organizer for access to the presentations!!

    You can contact this author as well.

  • Resolution: Celebrating a New Operational Start–One More Time

    Resolution: Celebrating a New Operational Start–One More Time

    It is hard to believe we are now 19 years into the century.  Seems like only yesterday we were worried whether the lights would stay on at Y2K.

    Each year many of us promise to do better at a list of things, some personal and some professional.  Some days or weeks later, some or all of our resolutions go unmet.

    For many heavy industry sector firms, January 1st is also the start of a new fiscal year.  New budgets will be released, and management will extol their workforce to meet new (possibly stretch) targets.

    If the equity markets are a barometer of things to come (leading indicator), then the Conditions organizations will find themselves in will most likely be volatile and some segments may even face significant challenges.

    For example, WTI crude oil closed on January 4th at US$ 47.96/bbl.  Some are bullish on this sector, with an expectation higher prices in the future.  History has shown this faith may not bear out.

    Regardless, organizational Behavior will need the flexibility to adjust in a process relevant time frame as conditions change.  The resulting Relationship with the firm’s ecosystem is a function of the behavior in the conditions or market circumstance.

    In other words, the R B C Framework is applicable in our everyday corporate life.  Why is this important?

    One way to view the global marketplace is one of continual change.  Often purveyors of Change Management/Organizational Transformation present this as a point in time.  Statements about continuous improvement are seemingly afterthoughts.

    We have developed an Operational Excellence Platform, as depicted in the following figure.  Please note that it is built upon the R B C Framework.

    Since the nature of Relationships across the organizational ecosystem will continuously evolve based on the marketplace, it follows that maintaining Operational Excellence depends on these tree factors.  Safe and profitable operations on strong, positive relationships.

    How well does your organization understand the R B C Framework for its ecosystem?

    Further Reading

    The author and others have published extensively on this subject.  The list of appropriate articles and papers is too extensive to list here.  However, readers are invited to peruse Dr. Shemwell’s extensive list of blogs and publications.

    See our Economic Value Proposition Matrix® (EVPM) for additional information and a free version to build your own EVPM.

    For further information Contact Us.