Rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic

This was one of my favorite theme for a number of years and I have to describe the state management in many companies, consult with age. Basically, it means that people tend to work on the bad things that their priorities are not good. You see this phenomenon everywhere these days. Besides business, I have seen many nonprofit organizations that operate this way. Frankly, this is very disconcerting.

One of the best examples of this is the disaster of Hurricane Katrina not long ago. A few months ago, I saw a documentary play on television about the impact of future hurricanes. Interestingly, it has focused attention on the city of New Orleans, where conversations with the engineers that describe system of levees that protect the city. An engineer said the levees that have difficulty in maintaining a storm of Category 3 and Category 4 or 5 that would contradict that, unfortunately, proved tragically correct. What this tells us is that the planners knew very well that the levees were inadequate, but chose to ignore the problem and the money diverted elsewhere.

I'm sure we all know that many other examples of this couch "phenomenon" (the world their knowledge the mayor in the movie "Jaws"?). Instead of that need, people tend to take the path of least resistance, less painful path that inevitably entails serious consequences later. Nobody likes to deal with problems as they perceive it as something heavy and did not want be bothered. Instead, they tend to attack symptoms that are apparently less painful and easier to cure. It's like trying to apply a chaplain when a tourniquet really necessary.

I'm a bit of a history enthusiast and one of my favorite examples, I use to illustrate this point is General Billy Mitchell, who has been a strong supporter of the Air Force after World War I. In 1924 he was sent on mission for the army to study the defenses of the Pacific, including Pearl Harbor. This resulted in a detailed report on page 323 that details with great precision the degree of vulnerability our military bases to attack. Although its report was rejected and ridiculed by the army, Mitchell proved prophetic as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, according to the report 17 years earlier. In other words, the military knew they were vulnerable, but the minimum to prevent attacks, causing a strong low rate.

Like the Mitchell shows, in addition to having a good understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, planning requires a little foresight to anticipate problems before they occur. But we have become lax in terms of our ability to plan long term. Perhaps because I now live in a world that rapidly changing and tend to enjoy the moment, as opposed to planning for the future. Or perhaps done wrong things for so long we think is fair. This leads me to believe that we best react against sighted planners. Instead of looking into a crystal ball, preferring to wait until the fingers havoc strikes, then a the other who is to blame.

Let the jokes of various Internet discussion groups dedicated to specific areas. I find it funny that Rufus people tend to speak on an issue or something instead of directly addressing the issue. In other words, we humans have a natural tendency for avoid tackling the problems and discuss issues that are unimportant. Having been involved in the field of IT for many years, I've never met a technical problem that can not be overcome, as it allows to deal openly and rationally. Managers should promote constructive debate instead of trying to extract.

If everyone set aside some time to periodically review and organize their priorities, think about how I could be better. Firstly, all the world would be rowing in the same train instead working against each other. Secondly, to address problems that could really be taken into account. But planning is not easy. Requires brain power. One thing we do not like to commit. Ask yourself when was the last time you actually have its own set of personal priorities? See what I mean.

For As for me, I'm a big believer of any of the patches the hole in the boat, and boarded a lifeboat. I'll let others "Rearranging the chairs for long on the Titanic. "

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About the Author

Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida. You can find his work on the Internet at:
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com

Copyright © 2007 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Titanic: KS3 History

1955 TITANIC STEAMSHIP HISTORY BY WALTER LORD 209 pp. £6.53

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Framed Print of TITANIC SURVIVORS from Mary Evans Framed 10×8 Print, Black Grain Bevel with White Mount. Set in a modern frame with a custom mount, your print will look stunning in any room. An ideal gift for your family and friends. Printed on 25×20cm (10×8) Fuji Crystal Archive Photographic Paper, external dimensions of the frame are 39×30cm (15×12)….

Framed Print of TITANIC AT BELFAST from Mary Evans Framed 16×12 Print, Black Grain Bevel with White Mount. Set in a modern frame with a custom mount, your print will look stunning in any room. An ideal gift for your family and friends. Printed on 40×30cm (16×12) Fuji Crystal Archive Photographic Paper, external dimensions of the frame are 47×37cm (19×15)….

Framed Print of TITANIC IN DOCKS/COL from Mary Evans Framed 16×12 Print, Black Grain Bevel with White Mount. Set in a modern frame with a custom mount, your print will look stunning in any room. An ideal gift for your family and friends. Printed on 40×30cm (16×12) Fuji Crystal Archive Photographic Paper, external dimensions of the frame are 47×37cm (19×15)….

Titanic [VHS] [1998] £0.01 When the theatrical release of James Cameron’s Titanic was delayed from July to December of 1997, media pundits speculated that Cameron’s $200 million disaster epic would cause the director’s downfall, signal the end of the blockbuster era and sink Paramount Studios as quickly as the ill-fated luxury liner had sunk on that fateful night of April 14, 1912. Some studio executives were confident, oth…

Titanic – Collector’s Edition (Double Pack, Film, Cards, Notes & Script) [VHS] [1998] £13.00 When the theatrical release of James Cameron’s Titanic was delayed from July to December of 1997, media pundits speculated that Cameron’s $200 million disaster epic would cause the director’s downfall, signal the end of the blockbuster era and sink Paramount Studios as quickly as the ill-fated luxury liner had sunk on that fateful night of April 14, 1912. Some studio executives were confident, oth…

Titanic – The Untold Story – Memorabilia Pack [VHS] [1998] £6.99 When the theatrical release of James Cameron’s Titanic was delayed from July to December of 1997, media pundits speculated that Cameron’s $200 million disaster epic would cause the director’s downfall, signal the end of the blockbuster era and sink Paramount Studios as quickly as the ill-fated luxury liner had sunk on that fateful night of April 14, 1912. Some studio executives were confident, oth…

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Titanic Adventure Out Of Time £13.99 After the romantic slush and historical inaccuracies of the Hollywood film Titanic comes a CD ROM of what its makers describe as “intrigue and adventure … on board the Titanic”. They claim that the ship is “so perfectly reproduced” that historians used it as reference for a scientific expedition at the wreck site. What the blurb doesn’t tell you is that the game Titanic, Adventure Out of Time is…