I was listening to a radio interview with David Cohen, an experienced Special Master. You are probably familiar with the title as it has been in the news lately. But, in case not, a Special Master is essentially a judge’s proxy, charged with ensuring the court’s […]
Heuristics Archives - Amie Devero
The Low-Hanging Fruit Dilemma
We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
-John F. Kennedy
“Pick the low-hanging fruit.” It’s so common a phrase that very few of us ever interrogate it. The […]
Less is More in Product Too
Strategy, product, and service offerings are inextricably linked. Although obvious, it’s worth saying, because the same thing that often makes it so hard for leaders to develop excellent strategy, often rears its head in the product roadmap rather than during strategic planning.
But to make this useful […]
If Culture Eats Strategy, What Eats Culture?
Everyone knows the line: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s usually attributed to Peter Drucker, although for the life of me I can’t find any evidence he said it. But Drucker aside, the meaning is what matters. Without the right culture, even magnificent strategies fail.
But […]
The Reliability Game
To watch the video click here.
Organizations desperately need reliability. Few have it. In most organizations, some people are incredibly reliable, others are not. Some are conscientious and beat deadlines. Others procrastinate. The procrastinators may be overworked, or they may be disorganized and lose track of what is […]
Uncertainty Grammar
In Turkish there is a suffix (mis) that turns a statement uncertain. It’s used to create the “inferential” mood. We don’t have anything like it in English or other Latinate languages, although it does exist in many Baltic languages. In Estonian it is called the oblique […]
Are You Playing the Wrong Game?
Watch the matching video.
One of the hardest things to gauge in a new organization is what is expected. At the grandest level, we call this culture. But the broadness of the term “culture” can obscure the insidious ways it messes with us.
Here’s a different cut […]