CB1004 Modelling Business Systems 31 Modelling Business Systems 3 Inventive Search

CB1004 Modelling Business Systems 3

1

Modelling Business Systems 3

Inventive Search

CB1004 Modelling Business Systems 3 2

The problemIn our supermarket 1 in 10 egg boxes can’t be sold because of cracked eggs


Is it really a problem?Some bakeries like pre-broken eggsEggs are high in cholesterol and involve keeping hens in battery cages – do we really want them?Whose problem is it?Who does it affect?


After discussion to clarify the problem

Distribution from rural producers to small urban retailersCustomers want unbroken eggs in small quantitiesNot concerned with bulk sales or deliveries


Work sequentially

C o m m issio n fe a s ib ility s tu dy

B o x m a y b e to o w e akR e de s ig n bo x?

L o w er g ra d e?

W ill th is c re a te im p o rtp ro b le m s

Im p ort fro m s ta tesu b s id ise d co u n try

C h e ap e r po lys tyre n e?

M o re e xp en s ive

B e tte r pa ckin g?T h icker p o lystyre n e?

1 in 1 0 e gg b oxes can 't b e so ld


Working sequentiallyNeeds patience, time and careOften depends on background technical knowledgeBUTFollows one train of thoughtHow can you ensure that all trains of thought are covered?Instead try ……..


Divergence Different ways of thinkingDisrupting old habits creates anxiety

Setting needs to be conducive to creativity

Interplay between sequence and divergence is importantWeird or silly ideas may not be solutions BUT can lead to practical possibilities


Serendipity The art of being provoked by your environment

Look for ideas in papers, yellow pages ….Talk to other peopleLook at different topicsTry doing nothing until an idea crops up


Eggs and ashtraysIs there any similarity?#


Brainstorming In groups of 5/6, brainstorm the problem area#Look for new angles

Are there any other man-made situations with similar problems?Are there similar situations in nature where small, fragile objects get protected?What fantasies can you ‘spin’ about eggs?What other words do you associate with eggs?Imagine you are a small egg and follow the process from formation to final use


Invite criticismFind people with different viewpoints

Suspend judgement of their ideas and listenMay raise other issues and options


The cycleExpansion

Collecting informationIdentifying promising leads

ContractionIdentifying key elementsFollowing up one lead

Various ideas#


Contraction – veto and terms of reference

NeedLikely costWho will be affected/involvedScope of your authority and competence

RememberClients need your help because they don’t know the answer

Hence query their preferred lines of enquiry

Tight constraints stop you ‘rocking the boat’Negotiating your position is a complex business


Contraction – political process

The power system of the organisationAutocratically – I’m the boss, I chooseOligarchically – We are the board, we chooseDemocratically – the feeling of the group is we choose that option

Roles of the people and the fact they chose matters MORE than the rationality of the choice


Contraction – rational optimising

You knowThe key characteristicsThe relative importance of each characteristic

You can measure the potential solution against these and calculate the best solutionImportance and weighting of the characteristics is subjectiveThe logical solution may not sit with the political entity (the organisation)


Contraction – personal choice

Not often a viable option in business


BUTCreative thinking is easily destroyed

Your promotion depends on this

And can be itself destructiveDon’t you think… you must remember ….it’s not quite that easy

Introducing new ideas can be uncomfortable

CB1004 Modelling Business Systems 3

18

Groundwork


You have the idea now find the niche

An idea needs substanceGrabs other people’s attentionAffects their actionsBegins to have fit in with other things around it

Needs to compete against other projectsMoney, time, resource ….


What you need - powerNeed backing of the organisation

You need to know which ideas will be accepted and which will be passed overIndividual or collective support

May encounter restrictionsMoney can only be spent in certain waysAvailable skills may not be those you needTimescales may be altered


What you need – ripe environment

Change is easier and less destructive when people are ready for itSmall changes are easier to instigateDeeper structures are harder to change quickly


What you need - timingComplex system has many internal cycles

Committee cycles, accounting periods, academic years, contract deadlines …Need to match your movement and timing to it

Very few people have the overview of the organisation which permits this and they may not help


What you need – confidence and support

Change is never completely predictableDecision makers make a lot of guesses

Need to estimate the risksMuch depends on their judgement about your judgementAnd convincing others of this


You - Doing Learned skills

Organisational skillsTechnical skillsLegal skills

Evidence can be producedSystems people

Know about the specialist jobs requiredBut not enough to do them


You - BeingWhat you are NOT what you can do

Groundwork includes maintaining a good supportive environment in which people can workExternal pressures can affect how a team works

YOU may need to change


The change agentNeed the skills, adaptability, resilience and groundedness to cope with all responsesDifferent style

High profile – entrepreneur, visionary, autocratLow profile – facilitator, advisor

Documents

CB1004 Modelling Business Systems 31 Modelling Business Systems 3 Inventive Search