REPLY Future Development Directions (SD6278)

[System Dynamics Mailing List]

Posted by  Paul Holmström <ph at holmstrom.se>

Obviously there are senior managers who operate in their own self-interest.

Fortunately there are enough of the others, who could be our potential
clients. I have consulted to upper management for 19 years and have yet to
come across anybody with dubious morals.

Neither have I met anybody who is stupid or ignorant. All of them have been
plain busy trying to do a good job. Hoards of staff, customers, suppliers
and consultants are constantly tugging their sleeves and trying to get their
attention. Virtually all of them are suffering from attention overload. Of
course this is partially their own doing as they got to where they are
buying solving problems and pursuing opportunities.

Most of them have several consultants or academics approaching them every
week. We in the sd community are just part of that incessant background
noise trying to get through. They do not see why they should talk to yet
another consultant or academic with the panacea for all.

If we are not getting through we cannot blame them. The onus is on us to
showcase breakthrough thinking and how our methodology cuts through "the fog
of war". 

I have attended two sd-conferences. I think there is an interesting mix of
academics, practitioners and consultants. I have found it most rewarding to
attend. But maybe we should allow sessions where we cast aside the academic
rigor in order to showcase good presentations of real world problems.

Paul Holmstrom
Posted by  Paul Holmström <ph at holmstrom.se>
posting date  Sat, 17 Feb 2007 13:13:30 +0100