Peter Compo Part 4: The Limitations of Aspirations, Plans Metrics

The Innovation Show

In this episode, Peter Compo delves into the emergent approach to strategy and discusses the limitations of traditional frameworks using aspirations, plans, and metrics alone. He further discusses the concept of 'killer problems' in innovation and emphasises the importance of a central rule that provides real-time guidance, unifies decisions, and allows for free choice. Complex examples from business and military strategy illustrate how granularization and over-specification can lead to failure, whereas centralized, low-level constraints help create coherence and foster creativity. Peter also explores nested systems and the necessity of having individual strategies for different segments within an organization. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:25 Limitations of Aspirations, Plans, and Metrics 01:12 The Killer Problems of Change and Innovation 03:04 Framework Components and Their Shortcomings 05:25 The Power of Central Rules 06:45 Challenges in Digital Transformation 10:27 Local vs Global Strategy 13:54 Granularization Problem in Strategy 18:31 The Fallacy of Shrinking Time 22:38 The Hidden Blockers of Transformation 26:11 Introduction to Chapter Five: How Strategy Functions 30:20 Granularization and Cascading Problems 31:13 Identifying and Overcoming Bottlenecks 33:29 Elon Musk's Engineering Approach 35:40 The Importance of Low-Level Rules 41:21 Strategy and Tactics in Warfare 48:46 Nested Systems and Organizational Strategy 54:58 The Role of Leadership in Strategy Implementation 56:23 Conclusion and Further Resources Link to Peter’s website: Link to Peter’s Music: Link to Aidan McCullen for Keynotes, workshops and event MC. Find us on Substack for Shownotes and competitions: Peter Compo, strategy, emergent approach, aspirations, plans, metrics, innovation, complex adaptive systems, real time guidance, central rule, rule adherence, deviations from diagnosis, decision making, organizational change, digital transformation, investment in new products, granularization, cascading goals, bottleneck constraints, nested systems, military tactics