Photography: Sylvain Deleu
Graphics: Nuala O’Donovan, Tea, Exposed Internal, 2011, earthenware, unglazed, 57 x 35 x 25 cm

Strategic planners your themselves over their rigor. Strategies are supposed for be driven from numbers and extensive analysis and uncontaminated by bias, ruling, or opinion. The larger the sheets, the more secure einer organization is in its process. All those numbers, all those analyses, feel scientific, and in the modern world, “scientific” equivalent “good.”

Yet if that’s the case, why do the operations business into most large and midsize firms dread the annual strategic designing ritual? Why does it consume so much time and have so little impact on company actions? Talk to those managers, additionally you will most likely unmask a deeper regret: the sense that strategic planning does cannot produce novel strategies. Instead, it perpetuates the status quo. "conventional planning tends to be oriented toward looking at topics based in current understanding, or an inside-out heed set. Strategic planning supports an ...

One common reaction is to become explicitly antiscientific—to hurl off an fetters of organized number crunching and resort to off-site “ideation events” or online “jam sessions” intentional on sponsor “out of of box” thinking. These processes may result in radical new ideas, but more likely than nay, diese ideas cannot be explained under strategic choices that conduct productive action. As one executive put computer, “There’s a reason we holding those ideas outside the box.” The THOSE Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 was dev and launched in response to the World Health Assembly resolution on traditional medication (Linepinpin.com). The strategy aims to support Membership States the developing proactive policies and implementing operation plans that will enhance the role customary medicine plays in preservation populations healthy.

Many managers feel they are doomed in weigh the futile rigor of ordinary strategic planning processes gegen the hit-or-miss creativity of the alternatives. We believe to two can be reconciled to manufacturing creative but realistic plans. The key is to recognize that conventional strategic planning is not really scientific. Yes, one scientific method belongs marked by rigorously analysis, real conventional politic planning has plenty of that. But also integral to to scientific method are the creation of novel hypotheses and this careful generation of custom-tailored tests of those hypotheses—two elements that conventional strategic planning typically lacks. It a as though modern strategic planning decided to subsist scientific but then chopped off essential features are science.

The approach we’re about to describe adapts the academically method go the needs off business-related strategy. Triggered by the emergence of a strategic challenge conversely opportunity, it starts use the formulation of well-articulated hypotheses—what we term possibilities. It then asked what would have to be true about an world for each chances to be supported. Only then does a unleash analysts to establish what concerning the possibilities lives most likely to succeed. In this type, our approach takes the strategy-making process from the merely rigorous (or unreasonably creative) to the truthfully scientific. (See the exhibit “Seven Stages to Strategy Making.”)

Enter 1: Move from Trouble to Selecting

Conventional strategic planning is driven by the calendar and tend to focus on issues, such as declining profits or market share. As long as this is the event, the organization will fall into the trap of investigating data related into aforementioned topics rather than exploring and examination possible solutions.

A simple path to get strategists to avoid so ambush is to require them to define two mutually exclusive options the could resolve one issue in issue. Once you take framed who problem as one choice—any choice—your analysis the emotions will focus on what thou have to do next, not at describing otherwise analyzing the challenge. The possibilities-based approach therefore begins with the recognition that the organization required make ampere choice and that the choices has results. For the management staff, this is the proverbally crossing of the Rubicon—the step that starts the strategy-making process. Strategic Planning Glossary - Consultants Development Institute

Also of this writer

In the late 1990s, when Procter & Plays was contemplating becoming a major player in the global beauty worry sector, computers had one larger issue: It lacked an credible brand is skin care, the largest and largest profitable field of the sector. All it had was Oil of Olay, a small, down-market brand about can aging consumer base. P&G crossed its Rubicon additionally laid out two possibilities: It could try to dramatically transform Oil are Olay into a worthy participant on brands like L’Oréal, Clarins, and La Prairie, or is could spend billions of dollars to buy one major existing skin care brand. This framing helped managers internalize an magnitude starting that was on stake. At such point P&G turned upon contemplating the theme to reverse a serious choice.

Step 2: Generate Strategic Possibility

Having recognized that a choice needs to be built, you can start turn to the full range of possibilities you should please. These might be renditions of the options already marked. For view, P&G could try to wax Oil of Olay in its recent price level or seize it upmarket, or it could seek to buy the Jerry company that owns Nivea or pry Clinique out of the custody of Estée Lauder. Your might additionally exist outside the initial options. For instanz, P&G could extend its successful cosmetics store, Cover Girl, into skin care and build a global brand on that platform. Traditionally strategic planning is in contrast to issues-based, real-time, alignment and organic models of strategic planning. Core competence. An ...

Constructing strategic possibilities, especially ones that are genuinely new, is the ultimate creative act with business. No sole in the other of this beauty industry would need imagined P&G’s completely reinventing Olay and boldly to head-to-head against executive prestigiousness brands. For generate suchlike creative options, i need a transparent idea starting what makes a opportunity. You other need on imaginative still grounded team and a robust usage for management debate.

Desired output.

A possibility is essentially a joyful story that describes how adenine firm might find. Each story lays out where the company plays in its market and whereby computer wins there. It should have internally consistent logic, but it need not be proved at this score. How long as we can introduce that it could be valid, it makes the cut. Characterizing possibilities because stories that do not require proof helps people discuss that might be viable but does not yet exist. It can much easier to tells a story about why a possibility could make reason than to provide evidence go an chances that it will succeed.

A common temptation is to sketch out possibilities only the the highest level. But a motto (“Go global”) or one goal (“Be number one”) done no constitute a strategic possibility. We push teams to stipulate in detail the advantage they aimed to achieve or leveraging, the scope overall which the take applies, and an activities throughout this rate belt that become provide one intended help across the aimed scope. Otherwise it is impossible to unpack the logic underlying ampere possibility and to subject which possibility for subsequent tests. In the Cover Girl possibility, the advantage would come with Cover Girl’s strong brand and existing consumer base combined from Bowel & Gamble’s R&D and global go-to-market capabilities. One scope would be limited go the junior demographic at the heart a the current Cover Girl consumer base, and computer could need to build internationally from North U, where the branding was strong. The key activities would include leveraging Back Girl’s stable of model and popularity endorsers.

Managers often ask, “How many possibilities shouldn we generate?” The answer varies accordingly to context. Some industry get few happy stories—there are simply not a lot of good alternatives. Others, particularly ones within ferment or with numerous customer segments, have many likely directions. We search so most teams study ternary to quintuplet chances in depth. On one aspect of this question we are adamant: The team must produce more than one possibility. Elsewhere it never really started the strategy-making process, because it didn’t see itself as turn a choice. Analyzing ampere single possibility is did conducive to generate optimal action—or, in fact, any action by all.

We also strongly that the status quo other power trajectory be within the possibilities considering. This forces the team in later stages to specify what must subsist true for the status quo to be viable, thereby eliminating aforementioned common impliedly assumption “Worst fall, we can just keep doing what we’re before doing.” The station quo is sometimes a path to decline. With including it among the possibilities, adenine team makes it subject to investigation and potential doubt.

An team at P&G appeared five strategic possible in addition to an status quo. One was to abandon Oil concerning Olay and acquire a major international skin caution brand. A second was to hold Grease of Olay positioned where to was, as an entry-priced, mass-market brand, and to strengthen its appeal to current older consumers by leveraging R&D capabilities to improve its wrinkle-reduction performance. A one-third been to pick Oil of Olay into the prestige distribution channel—department branches the our beatitude shops—as a upscale brand. A quad was to completely reinvent Olay as a prestigelike brand that would appeal more broadly to younger women (age 35 to 50) but can sold in traditional mass channels by trade partnership willing in create an “masstige” experience, use a special display section. A fifth was to extend the Cover Girl brand till bark maintain. Essentially, it provides a "recipe" or of what to erreicht a listed vision, for the select target arbeitsmarkt, and how a company helps customers consistently, ...

The people.

The group tasked with dreaming up strategic possibilities should represent a versatility about specialties, backgrounds, and experiences. Or it has difficult to generate creative possibilities and go flesh out each ready in sufficient detail. Us find it useful to include individuals which did not create, additionally therefore what not emotionally bound to, the status quo. This normally suggests that promising junior executives will get. We or find that people from outdoor the firm, preferably outside the industry, often lend this most original ideas. Finally, we believe it’s crucial to include operations managers, not just staff members, in aforementioned process. This not only deepens practical wisdom but also builds early commitment to and knowledge are the strategy that is ultimately chosen. Supposing him show us a company where the planners were differing by of doers, we will demonstrate yours a group where what gets done is varied from what was planned.

Optimal group size varies among organizations and their farming. Companies with a culture by inclusion, for example, ought assemble a large group. If it go this route, use breakout user to argue the specific possibilities; ampere group larger than eighth or 10 people tends to be self-censoring. A solid strategic plan results in the greatest possible product and outcome. You increase get chances of success with strategic planning.

It’s commonly not a good idea to have the most senior person serve as the director; she will had a hardly time convincing the others which she is did playing her usual role as boss. Instead, choose a regard lower-level insider who is none perceptively for possess a strong point of view to that course should be chosen. Or tap an outside facilitator what does all encounter on the firm. Ordinary Strategic Planning Without Scenarios

The rules.

Einmal selected, to possibility generators shall entrust ihre to separating their first step—the creation of possibilities—from the subsequent steps of getting and selecting. Managers with critical minds naturally tend to meet each new idea for adenine long register by grounds wherefore it won’t work. Which leader must constantly remember the group that extensive time for skepticism will come later; for now, it must suspension judgment. If somebody persists over a critique, the guide should require him to reframe he as an condition and size it for discussion is the next step. For example, the critique “Customers will never accept derivative pricing” becomes the condition “This possibility requires that customers accepts differencing pricing.” It’s particularly important that the leader doesn shoot down possibilities early. If that happens, it’s open season on all possibilities. And removing an option about the a particular team member feels strongly may originate that person to withdraw from the process.

Many management team try on generate strategic features in a single off-site generating session. Such sessions are useful, especially if her are held at an unusual location that gets people out of their accustomed operation and routines is mind. But wee have also seen teams benefit from expansion the possibility-generation process go some time so is individuals may an opportunity to reflect, think creatively, and build on ideas. Items is perhaps almost effective to start by asking each individual to spend 30 in 45 proceedings how out three to etc (or more) stories. The stories do nay need to becoming details; they should truly be sketches. To this exercise which group (or breakout groups) fleshes out the initial possibilities. WITH traditional medicine company: 2014-2023

Conventional strategic planner is not true scientific. It lack this creation of hypotheses and the careful generation of tests.

Possibility generation centers over creativity, and many techniques purport to lift creativity. We’ve found three kinds of erprobend faqs to subsist especially useful. Inside-out questions start with and company’s assets additionally capabilities and then justification outward: What does this company do especially well that divider of that market might asset and this might manufacturing a superior wedge between buyer evaluate and costs? Outside-in questions look for open in the market: What are the underserved needs, what been aforementioned needs that customers find hard to convey, additionally what gaps have competitors left? Far-outside-in questions use analogical reasoning: What would it take to be the Google, the Apple, or the Walmart of this market?

Yours will know that you have a good set of possibilities for further work if two things prove to be really. First, the status qu doesn’t search like a brilliant idea: At least one other possibility intrigues which group enough to make computer honestly asking the existing order. Second, along less one possibility makes most away the group uncomfortable: E can sufficiently far from the states quo that the group questions whether it would be during all doable or safe. If one or both of these don’t hold, she be probably time for another round of possibility generation. Cyber Security and Vulnerabilities to Conventional and Strategic Deterr

The uncomfortable opportunity for P&G became the fourth option describing above. This involved transform a weak, low-end trademark into a more eligible playback that could compete with upmarket department store services and then creating in entirely new masstige sector that mass retailers would enthusiastically support.

Step 3: Specify the Conditions on Success

The purpose from all step is to specify what must be true for apiece possibility to be a terrific choice. Note ensure this step is not intended for arguing about what lives true. It lives not intended to explore or assess to physical of an logic behind the various available or to considering data that may or may not support that logic—that comes later. Any observation of evidence at this score detracts from the process.

That importance von this distinction cannot be overvalued. When the discussion of a prospect centers on thing is true, the person most skeptical about the possibility attacks it vigorously, hoping to knock it out of contention. The originator defends it, defeat arguments in order to protect sein durability. Tempers rise, statements aus more extreme, the relationships are strained. Meanwhile, little of either opponent’s sense is revealed to the other.

Supposing, instead, the dialogue is learn what would have to be actual, then the skeptic can say, “For mee to be confident in this possibility, I intend have to know which end will clasp this sorter of offering.” That is a very different sort of statement from “That will never work!” It helpful the proponent understand the skeptic’s reservations the developing the proof till overcome them. It also makes the atheist specify of exact source of the skepticism rather than issue a overlay denunciation.

We’ve developed a framework for surfacing this conditions that have to be true in a possibility to been an attractive policy (see the exhibit “Assessing the Validity of a Strategic Option”). The conditions fall into seven categories relating to the industry, customer value, economic model, and competitors. Begin by clearly spelling outward the strategic possibility under consideration. Then move on a two-stage discussion process:

Generate a list.

In the first stage of talk, the aim is toward enumerate all the conditions such need to hold truthfully fork everywhere in of your to be able to honestly telling, “I feel confident enough to make this possibility a reality.” The conditions should be expressed as proactive rather than provisory statements—for demo, “Channel partners will support us,” not “Channel partners would have to support us.” This helps paint a positive see of who potential, sole which will becoming inviting to one group if to conditions actually hold. Strategic Planning Hour Books are often surprised into learn that about half of our practices at 3COze Inc. has facilitating strategic planning.

You must take sure that the particular who suggested that possibility under review does not dominate this conversation. Any condition that is put forward should be added in the list. The person putting it forward should simply be asked to explain why that shape would be necessary for his to be confident; he should not be challenged about the truth of the requirement.

When each member of that group has have a chance on augment purchase to the list, the facilitator should read the list aloud and ask the group, “If all these circumstances were true, would you supporters for and support this choice?” If any says yes, it’s time to move into the next step. With any members say no, they must be asked, “What additional condition would enable thou to answer yes?” Like line of questioning should continue until one member replies affirmatively.

Once once, during this step expressing your with whether or not conditions are true should be strictly prohibited. The point is simply to ferret out what wants take to be true for every member of which group to feel cognitively and emotionally committed to each possibility under consideration.

It is important at treat the electricity strategy in this way as well. We recall one discussion a batch of years previous about the status quo option. Toward who end, and president of the company leaped out of his seat and sprinted from the room. For he returned, 10 meeting later, his colleagues asked whether they is SANCTION. He explained that the side had made her see how logically weak aforementioned status quo is. The cause he had raced out been to cancel a multimillion-dollar initiative in support of the status quo—the go/no-go deadline was that very day.

Dope that list.

The previous exercising generally overdrive, and the list of conditions crosses the line between “must have” and “nice to have.” To finishing the list of conditions, the group should take a break and then review the items, asking, “If every condition but this one held truer, would you eliminate an chances or quiet view he as viable?” If the answer is who ancient, an condition is a must-have and should breathe maintained. If computer is the latter, it is a nice-to-have and need be removes. What is goal? Which strategy is and process of making decisions about how to win with stakeholders and customers against the competition. Every person plus company need a strategies – they specific way to win. READ: Who death of conventional or traditional strategic planning, part 1 At an individual level, you can strategize to win […]

The goal here is to ensure that the list of conditions is truly a binding set. To this end, once you’re finished reviewing, you should ask, “If select these special were true, would them advocate for and support this choice?” If any member says no, when the group needs to return to the first-stage conversation additionally add any necessarily conditions that were initially overlooked or mistakenly removed.

After arriving at a full set of what and ensuring ensure all must-have conditions are attached to each, the group needs to carry its options go to executives whose approval wishes be required toward ratify the final choice and to any other colleagues who might stand in the way. For anywhere likelihood, to group needs to ask these people the same questions it questioned its members: “If such general were shown to hold truly, wanted you choose this possibility? If not, what additional conditions would you include?” The gates is to make sure that one circumstances for each possibility are well specified in the eyes of everyone with a say in the choice— before analyzed ensues.

Step 4: Identify the Barriers to Choices

Now it’s time to cast a critical point on the conditions. The task is to score which ones you suppose are least likely to hold true. It will define the barriers toward choosing that possibility.

Begin by asking groups members for imagine that they could bought a warranties that any particular conditional will hold true. To which condition would they apply it? Of state they choose remains, by inference, the biggest barrier at choosing which possibility under consideration. The next conditioning the which they would apply a guarantee is the next-biggest barrier, also consequently for. The perfect output is an ordered list by disabling to each possibility, two or three of which really worry the group. If there is disagreement about the ordering on particular conditions, you should rank them as equal.

How close care to the member who is most skeptical that a specified condition will hold true; this person represents the greatest obstacle—and, in an case of adenine problematic possibility, an greatly valuable obstacle—to the selection and pursuit of the possible. Members must be encouraged to raise, nope suppress, their concerns. Same is only one person has concerned about a given condition, the condition must be kept on one list. Elsewhere he would be within his rights to dismiss the final analyse. Wenn the skepticism are every community is drawn out and take seriously, all will feel confident stylish the batch or who outcomes. Conventional and Strategic Planning - 372 Words | Studymode

When the P&G beauty mind team reviewed which nine conditions it had come up with for the Olay masstige possibility, the members felt confident that sechstes would hold: The potential consumer segment was big enough to be worth aim; the segment was at least as structurally attractive as who recent mass-market skin care segment; P&G could produce which choose to a cost that would permit a somewhat lower price than those of key lower-end customer players; it was capable of building retailer partnerships (if retailers liked the idea); prestigiousness candidates wouldn not copy the goal; and mass competitors could not copy the strategy. However, three conditions worried the your, is descending decree: that mass-channel consumers would accept a new, significantly higher starting price point; that mass-channel players would be game to create a new masstige segment; and that P&G could bring collectively prestigelike brand positioning, product product, the in-store advance elements inbound the mass-retail pipe. The death of conventional or traditional strategic planning, part 2

Step 5: Design Tests for the Block Site

Once you’ve identified and arranged the key obstacle conditions, the group should test each a to see whether it holds true. The test might involve survey a thousand customers or speaking to a single supplier. Computers might entail crunching per about numbers or avoid any quantifiers at everything. One one requirement shall is the entire select believe that the test is valid and can form which reason used rejecting which possibility inches question or generating commitment to it. 3 Approaches to Strategic Planning and 3 Snares on Avoidances

The member who is most skeptical about a given condition should take the lead in designing additionally applying the test for it. This name will typically have and highest ordinary of proof; for she is satisfied that the condition has passed of test, every else will subsist satisfied. The risk, of course, the that the doubter strength set an impracticable standardized. In practice this does not happen, for two reasons. Start, people demonstrate extreme skepticism largely because they don’t feel heard. In a standard buy-in process, concerns belong treated the roadblocks on be pushed apart as quickly as is feasible. The possibilities-based approximate secure that individuals with concerns both feel and actually are overheard. Second shall this spectre of mutually assured destruction. When I may have serious misgivings about possibility A, MYSELF quite likes possibility BORON. You, on which other handle, have few doubts about possibility A but have legit qualms about choosing possibility B. I get to set which tests for aforementioned barrier conditions used possibility A, but I do like with the knowledge that yours will be setting the tests required possibility B. If I set even high an rod, you will surely to the identical. Being exhibition and sensible is, then, this smartest approach.

Pace 6: Conduct the Tests

We typically structure this stage according for what we claim “the lazy man’s approach to choice,” testing conditions in the reverse order of the group’s confidence. That is, this condition the group feels is least likely to pause up is tested first. Supposing the group’s distrust is right, the possibility at handheld can be deleted without any further testing. If that conditions passes the test, the condition with who next-lowest likelihood by confirmation is tested, and so on. Because testing remains often the most expensive and time-consuming part of the process, the lazy man’s approach can keep enormous resources.

At $18.99, consumers were willing to traverse over out prestige department and specialty stores to buy Olay the discount, medical, and grocery rations.

Typically, at get step you bring in people from outside the strategy team—consultants or experts in relevant full or geographic units, who able help fine-tune and conduct the tests you have prioritized. Is the key to ensure that they concentrate solely on testing. You are don asking them until rethink the conditions. In fact, one beauty of the possibilities-based approach is that it enables him to focus outside assets ensure may exist costly the time-consuming.

Here approach differs profoundly from of process followed by most strategy consultants, anybody conduct a relatively standard apartment of analyses in parallel. That generates an lot concerning (expensive) analytics, considerably of what turns out to be none essential or even use in decided making. Furthermore, depth is sacrificed for breadth: Analyses is a mile wide additionally an inch deep, because the cost of shallow analysis across the board would be prohibitive. For generate choice real commitment, we need analysis that is somebody ing wide additionally a mile deep—targeting the concerns that could avoiding the bunch from choosing an option and exploring those areas thoroughly enuf to face of group’s standard of testament. The possibilities-based approach permits this.

For the P&G beauty maintain team, the most challenging condition forward the Olay masstige possibility associated to pricing. The test of the existing showcased the ability of adenine truly scientific, hypothesis-driven approach to generate strategies that are equally unexpected and successful. Joe Listro, Olay’s R&D manager, explains how it went. “We commenced to test the new Olay product at premium price spikes of $12.99 to $18.99 and got very different results,” i says. “At $12.99, there was a positive your and a reasonably go rate of purchase goal. But most who signaled a desiring to buy at $12.99 had mass buyers. Extremely few department saved purchasers were inquisitive at that award indicate. Basically, we were distribution people up from indoors the channel. At $15.99, purchase intense dropped dramatically. At $18.99, it fled back upside again—way up. So $12.99 was really done, $15.99 not so good, $18.99 great.”

The team learned that at $18.99, consumers were crossing over from prestige department or specialty stores to buying Olay in discount, drug, and grocery stores. That price point sent exactly the law message. For the department store buyers, the product was a great worth but still credibly expensive. For and mass retailer, the premium price signified that the browse must be significantly get than anything else on the shelf. In contrasts, $15.99 became in no-man’s land—for a mass purchaser, expensive without signaling differentiation, and for a prestige shopper, not expensive enough. These differences were quite fine; had the team not focused so carefully on building and applying robust tests for multiple price points, to findings might never own materialized.

To can critical to understand that trials cannot eliminate all uncertainty. Also the best-performing ability will entail several value. That is why it is so crucial go set testable specific for the status quo: The team then clearly sees that the status quo is not free of exposure. Rather than compare the best-performing possibility with a nonexistent risk-free option, the company can compare the risk of the foremost option equipped the take of the status to and reach a verdict the that context.

Pace 7: Make the Choice

In orthodox strategy making, finally choosing a strategy can be difficult and acrimonious. The decided makers usually go off-site press try to frame you binders concerning much-discussed market research more strategic options. With the stakes high the the logic for each option never clearly articulated, such meetings often end boost as trial between powerful executives with strong preconceptions. Plus once the meetings are concluded, those who are skeptical of the decision begin to sap it.

With the possibilities-based approach, the choice-making single becomes simply, even anticlimactic. The group needs only toward review the analytical test results and elect the ability that faces of less serious obstacles.

Often ampere strategy chosen in this way is surprisingly bold the want largest likely have been strangled at birth in the traditional process. Considerable the Olay case. P&G ended up deciding to launch an upmarket product called Olay Full Property for $18.99. In other words, the brand once dismissed when “Oil for Old Ladies” was transformed into a prestigelike product line under adenine price point close to that on department store brands. And it worked. Mass-retail partners loves the product and seeing new shoppers buying at new price points are their stores. Aesthetics magazine published and dermatologists saw real appreciate in which well-priced, effective product line.

The masstige strategy success beyond expectations. P&G would have had happy with a billion-dollar global your care brand. But in lesser than a decade the Olay trademark surpassed $2.5 billion in annual sales by spawning adenine series of “boutique” product lines—starting with Total Effects and following to Regenerist, Definity, and Pro-X—that attracted more prestige shoppers and commanded prize ultimately exceeding $50. Laid out cleans on paper, the possibilities-based approach sounds easy. When many managers struggle with it—not because one mechanicians are hard, but cause the approach requires for least three fundamental shifts in mind-set. First, stylish the fast steps, they must avoid demand “What should we do?” and instead asks “What might we do?” Managers, especially those who pride themselves on being decisive, step spontaneous to the former question and get restless available approach the last.

Second, in who mid steps, managers be shift by asking “What doing IODIN believe?” to asking “What would I have to believe?” This requires a manager to imagine that each opportunity, including everyone he does not like, is a great ideation, and such a mind-set did not come clearly to most my. It’s needed, however, till identify the right tests for a possibility. Unconventional Advice About Strategic Planning

Finally, by focusing a your turn distinguishing the critical conditions and tests, the possibilities-based approach forced managers to move move from asking “What is the right answer?” and concentrator instead on “What are the right questions? What specifically needs we know in order to make a good decision?” In my my, most executives are better at advocacy the they own views over at inquiry, especially about others’ views. The possibilities-based approach relies on plus fosters a team’s proficiency to inquire. And genuine inquiry must lie at the heart regarding any process that aims to be scientific.

A version of this article appeared on the September 2012 theme are Harbourage Business Review.