presented by george p. burdell to evidence based research, inc 20 february 2009 “the observations,...

Presented by George P. BurdellPresented by George P. Burdelltoto

Evidence Based Research, INCEvidence Based Research, INC20 February 200920 February 2009

““The observations, comments, descriptions, slander, and defamations The observations, comments, descriptions, slander, and defamations presented here are solely the product of my own experience, capacity for presented here are solely the product of my own experience, capacity for

reason, and fertile imagination and should not reflect – favorably or reason, and fertile imagination and should not reflect – favorably or otherwise – upon any person or organization with whom I am or have otherwise – upon any person or organization with whom I am or have

been associated.”been associated.”

Leadership in Complex Responses:

Command & Control Or Beseech & Cajole?

OutlineOutline

Premise 1 – Unity of What?Premise 1 – Unity of What? Premise 2 – Pronouns are ImportantPremise 2 – Pronouns are Important ““Do You See What I See?”Do You See What I See?” Premise 3 – Culture WarsPremise 3 – Culture Wars The Unavoidable ProblemThe Unavoidable Problem The Problem is SimpleThe Problem is Simple ““Let’s Not Make This Difficult”Let’s Not Make This Difficult” The Great TruthThe Great Truth

PREMISE 1: “You can’t have unity of PREMISE 1: “You can’t have unity of effort without unity of vision”effort without unity of vision”

Blind men describing Blind men describing an elephant:an elephant:

Each is correct;Each is correct; But none are But none are

completely correct;completely correct; None can understand None can understand

what the others what the others describe;describe;

All are necessary to get All are necessary to get it right!it right!

PREMISE 1 (extended): “You can’t have PREMISE 1 (extended): “You can’t have unity of effort without unity of vision, unity of effort without unity of vision, and you can’t have unity of vision and you can’t have unity of vision without unity of command.”without unity of command.”

Voluntary unity of vision (as opposed Voluntary unity of vision (as opposed to command-driven) is episodic and to command-driven) is episodic and unreliable. unreliable.

Imagine if “pedestrians in a cross-Imagine if “pedestrians in a cross-walk have the right-of-way” was walk have the right-of-way” was optional…optional…

PREMISE 2: “There can be no unity of PREMISE 2: “There can be no unity of command because there is no unitary command because there is no unitary ‘we’. ”‘we’. ”

““Pronouns are important”Pronouns are important” There is no “interagency;” no There is no “interagency;” no

“international community”“international community” Business Class lounge analogyBusiness Class lounge analogy ““If the planet Mars was named for the If the planet Mars was named for the

God of War, then I’m guessing the God of War, then I’m guessing the planet Uranus was named for the God planet Uranus was named for the God of Bureaucrats!”of Bureaucrats!”

What the U.N. saidthey wanted

In the Absence of Leadership…In the Absence of Leadership…


What the E.U. saidthey wanted


What USAID saidthey wanted







What DoD said they wanted





What DoD saidthey wanted

What IO productsdescribed







What the Pressreported








What Congressthought they funded









What the NGOspreferred









What the Contractorprovided









What the Field had requested!









What the NGOspreferred

What the Contractorprovided

What the fieldhad requested!


““Do You See What I See?Do You See What I See?

Premise 3: We Are IncompatiblePremise 3: We Are Incompatible

““long-haired, dope-long-haired, dope-smoking, yogurt-slurping, smoking, yogurt-slurping, pinko hippies”pinko hippies”

Decentralized authorityDecentralized authority Decisions by consensusDecisions by consensus Peace building/makingPeace building/making Analog metricsAnalog metrics Focused on stayingFocused on staying

Direct lines of authorityDirect lines of authority Command driven decisionsCommand driven decisions Peace enforcementPeace enforcement Digital metricsDigital metrics Focused on exit strategyFocused on exit strategy

““Unibrowed, knuckle-Unibrowed, knuckle-dragging, muscle-headed, dragging, muscle-headed, Neanderthalic thugs”Neanderthalic thugs”

LegosLegos DuplosDuplos

Tactical

The Unavoidable ProblemThe Unavoidable Problem

Ambiguity

OperationalLevel of

Act

ion

Tolerance of A

mbiguity

Execution

Vision

Geo-political/diplomatic:Host Nation

Capital(s)AccountantsCongress

Strategic

The Problem is Simple…The Problem is Simple…

WhoWho– Are we? Are you? Is causing the problems?Are we? Are you? Is causing the problems?– Is in charge?Is in charge?– Pays for all this mess?Pays for all this mess?

WhatWhat– Are we here to accomplish?Are we here to accomplish?– Is the division of labor?Is the division of labor?

WhenWhen– Will “we” be finished here?Will “we” be finished here?COMMON RELEVANT OPERATING PICTURE

COMPREHENSIVE

WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH

Let’s not make this difficult…Let’s not make this difficult…

"Men who achieve greatness do not "Men who achieve greatness do not work more complexly than the work more complexly than the average man, but more simply....average man, but more simply....

In dealing with complex problems, with In dealing with complex problems, with the simplicity that is natural to him he the simplicity that is natural to him he goes directly to the point, unaffected goes directly to the point, unaffected by the confusion of details in which by the confusion of details in which another man would have lost himself." another man would have lost himself."

MayoMayo

The Great TruthThe Great Truth

presented by george p. burdell to evidence based research, inc 20 february 2009 “the observations,...

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