Time is the most egalitarian asset, we all get exactly the same amount. The difference is what each person does with their allocation.
Without some kind of objectives or goals we have nothing to guide us, nor a means to determine if we reached our desired destination. This applies to our BCM and Risk Management programs, our resilience initiatives – and to this blog.
Back on 4 Jan 2010 I posted about the 3 words that would be my focus for the blog in 2010. Time for some self-assessment to see if I achieved these objectives.
This is where you come in – I would really appreciate your feedback. Tell me if you think I did what I set out to do, and also what you would like to read about in the coming year.
Perhaps there are other areas of focus you would like to discuss.
The first focus word was Clarity
The intent was to focus on providing more meaning for the concept of resilience. As I said in the original post it was not about having the answers myself, but reading and writing to develop meaning.
I think I have done this. Because I still do not claim to have the answers, and because I am comfortable that I have helped to explore and hopefully contribute to clarification of the meaning of resilience.
This is an ongoing activity, there are always different perspectives to explore and new thinking on the subject being published.
If you are new to this blog, welcome, try this article to get a taste of current thinking.
Outside the blog I am part of a BCI Partnership Working Group that is exploring resilience and currently proposing to use the following definition;
Resilience: The outcome of behaviours of individuals, communities, markets or hierarchies that sustains social order by strengthening social bonds and by adaptation of function, structure and identity.
Not perfect, but it provides another insight. What do you think about this definition?
The second word was Connectedness
This focus had two dimensions;
- the need to achieve synergy across disciplines, not to replace Risk or BC with a Resilience discipline, and
- the need to consider interdependence and community perspectives in considering resilience.
I think this has perhaps been more successful a focus area than providing clarity.
Promoting synergy means recognising where each discipline can contribute, and where it is weak. This is also the primary area of work of the BCI Partnership Group I mentioned earlier. It will be interesting to see the results of the cross-discipline mapping report to be developed in 2011.
One of the most read posts/series on this blog was the series on Australian Standard AS/5050 – a standard the places BCM within the broader risk management perspective, providing some new ideas to promote synergy between these two disciplines.
The other aspect of this focus area related to the need to think beyond the organisational silo. Resilience grows out of the sense of community.
I think I have been able to meet this perspective also. I am happy with my focus on end-to-end value chain (or supply chain) aspects.
In particular this area of focus needs to keep the human element clearly in the picture. Becoming resilient will require a continued focus on people, culture and the human communities the organisations operate within. I think that message comes through strongly in several posts.
The third focus word was Praxis
A word that many people will not be familiar with, think of it as practical knowledge that leads to action. Making some form of change in your world.
On this area of focus I do not think I have achieved as I intended.
It is perhaps too early to write “how to” guides to achieve resilience, but I believe I could have used more examples of the practical application of some of these concepts.
Perhaps this is because of some of the vagaries of the concept, or perhaps because it can be so vast that we may not know where to start. Despite this we need to remember Lao-tzu’s advice – “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
Either way I hope my focus areas for 2011 will address this area of failing and help people focus on that which is presently beneath their feet.
Again I ask that you provide any feedback on issues you would like to see explored, and how you rate achievement against the three focus areas.
I wish all readers a Happy New Year, and hope you stay safe in 2011.
You will have to come back in a couple of days to read about the new focus words for 2011.
Hello Ken and Happy New Year to you. In hindsight, from my point of view, I would say that you have achieved much of your goal. I’ve learned more about resilience from reading your blog than from any other online resource in 2011. Clarity…check. You have also pointed me to an array of other resources, books, articles, blogs and websites and thus expanded my horizon and greatly enhanced my little knowledge on resilience. Connectedness…check. As to “praxis” or “practical knowledge leading to action” it is hard for me – literally looking at you from far and away – to judge whether you have achieved it or not, but looking at the more personal reflections in your blog posts I think you have. So, praxis…check. I think you are on the right track, and in my opinion your mixture of clarity, connectedness and praxis is just right. Happy blogging!
Thank you for the kind words Jan. Happy New Year to you too.
Despite your comment I am still not sure about the Praxis part.
Perhaps I did not phrase the issue that well, and it serves me right for using a vague word such as this. The intent was to write more posts that related to practical application of techniques to resilience. This is the bit I do not believe I have done well.
Anyway, 2011 has arrived, and will move on to my focus for this year.
I look forward to the continued discussion with you during this year.