tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461010492997967211.post5925567393094139504..comments2023-08-21T04:21:39.084-05:00Comments on Planninga from Nanninga: A Strategic Planning Blog: Strategic Planning Analogy #345: Up in the CloudsGerald Nanningahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10102230443942149045noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461010492997967211.post-86569832096327042652010-08-17T18:01:25.026-05:002010-08-17T18:01:25.026-05:00I think we're all on the same page in that we ...I think we're all on the same page in that we want to soar (or float, as the case may be). Nobody wants to fall (or sink). My point is that falling or sinking is the natural order of things. We have not found a way to repeal the law of gravity. <br /><br />Therefore, if you want to continue to soar, you have to intentionally work on lightening the loads which weigh companies down. Otherwise, it will not happen.<br /><br />This intentional work includes getting rid of the weight of the status quo, the weight of the "tyranny of the imediate", and the weight of bureaucracy.Gerald Nanningahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10102230443942149045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461010492997967211.post-26603873776991468742010-08-15T23:54:06.843-05:002010-08-15T23:54:06.843-05:00Charles, I enjoyed your response greatly. You are ...Charles, I enjoyed your response greatly. You are right in seeing the analogy. The whole idea is to float and not sink without losing your inner self.<br />Great posts generate great comments. This is what Gerald has been doing.<br />I wonder if Gerald wants to add a comment.ali ananihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948497521950629086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461010492997967211.post-90611957027929907942010-08-13T20:04:44.623-05:002010-08-13T20:04:44.623-05:00Hello Ali and Gerald –
Within your limestone analo...Hello Ali and Gerald –<br />Within your limestone analogy – the fact that the fatty material changes the surface tension force to make the limestone to float is - very much like how eagles learn to change the surface tension by latching on the wind thermals - and clouds learn to maintain the surface tension (and density) without them precipitating (remember the moment clouds start precipitating they come down in the form of rain).<br /><br />Interestingly – I ran in to an art work yesterday– in which this artist has beautifully painted a cloud in the form of a soaring eagle within the context of a scriptural verse - But those who wait on God will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.<br />Very inspirational posts to learn from God’s wonderful creations. Let us keep it going.<br /><br />Regards,<br />CharlesCharles Prabakarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15714461775981814360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461010492997967211.post-81521173421164126162010-08-12T14:38:09.766-05:002010-08-12T14:38:09.766-05:00Hi Gerald and Charles,
I enjoyed immensely the po...Hi Gerald and Charles,<br /><br />I enjoyed immensely the post and the comment. Having commented before on Charles's metaphor before on his blog, I want to add one comment to this great post.<br />I have learnt from my chemistry background another way of floating. Immerse a limestone piece in water and it sinks. However; coating the same stone piece with a fatty material causes the stone to float. The fatty material changes the surface tension force to make the stone float.<br />Companies can act similarly by "coating" their outside image leaving their inner side intact. This way they may not sink in the waves of competition.<br />This is a great reading, indeedali ananihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948497521950629086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461010492997967211.post-16851017255659136402010-08-10T00:31:26.996-05:002010-08-10T00:31:26.996-05:00Hello Gerald – I applaud you for communicating the...Hello Gerald – I applaud you for communicating these key strategy development lessons using a “cloud density analogy” very similar to the way (yet, in a complimentary fashion) I had used “eagles analogy” to communicate a similar message (http://strategywithapurpose.blogspot.com/2010/07/strategy-is-like-eagles-mounting-up.html). <br /><br />Yes, your “cloud density analogy” is indeed a complimentary analogy to my” eagles’ analogy”- as they both reinforce and support each other in terms of the lessons learned. More specifically, your point of – “myopic focus on the goals and broadened view on the plan” as the means to reduce density of the strategy– reminds me of the importance of balancing the Purpose (goal) and Profit (plan) parts of the strategy - for it to soar up high regardless of the environment –very much like how eagles have the capacity to both swim and fly high depending upon the environment it is operating. While flying, eagles, learn to ride along the wind thermals (equivalent to reducing the density) - and while swimming – eagles also quickly learn to ride the wave (again, equivalent to reducing the density) with its flapping wings.<br /><br />Granted, the factors like excessive bureaucracy, conflicting goals, micromanagement, lack of infrastructure, weak systems, corruption, etc - increases the density - very much like how the headwinds impede the eagles –but, these smart eagles, on the other hand –also know how to overcome them and latch on to the wind thermals quickly. Once they latch on to the wind thermals – no one can stop the soaring eagles very much like how no one can stop the soaring clouds.<br /><br />Yet another inspirational insight!<br />Regards,<br />CharlesCharles Prabakarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15714461775981814360noreply@blogger.com