Business Advocate Blog: Unknown Unknowns (1)

For Monday, September 5^th, 2011: Business Advocate Blog: Unknown Unknowns (1).

Summary

In this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/GiPe1OiKQuk, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld eloquently presents three levels of knowledge and awareness that are often times never thought about until a problem arises. By remembering a concept central to human understanding, we give focus to the holistic question of… Where are you now? ...and …Where do you want to be?

Breakdown

·         Known Knowns

Come feast or famine, you are aware of what works for you organization and what doesn’t. At this primary level of knowledge and awareness you know what can be done to improve a process and how to execute it, but you may not have the resources or time to devote to the project. Here one finds that having reviews planned every so often helps to address what is controllable and what is not.

·         Known Unknowns

Within one’s sphere of influence, actions result from the choices we make with the best knowledge we have access to at that time. With missing information, the proper choice not only becomes harder to see and make, but can have unforeseen consequences for future decisions. With a planned approach towards optimizing what you think and want to work on, you will start to utilize the value and benefits gained from the pursuit of perfection.

·         Unknown Unknowns

The worst of these three levels of knowledge and awareness, Unknown Unknowns are what consistently subdues any process or approach. If being lucky happens at the corner of preparation road and opportunity place, not addressing ones Unknown Unknowns is a car on a downward steeping dead end street without breaks. By the time you figure what is happening to you and your organization, the damage is done and rebuilding, if you can, begins.

Closing Comments

In understanding how each level of knowledge and awareness plays a role in your business, together we can create a Business Optimization Plan that addresses these three levels and how you can manage their risks and rewards?

Community Response Question

How well do you accept help when offered, and under what circumstance would you not accept help?

Click this link to answer with Survey Monkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VTHW7ZZ

Comments

I look forward to your comments and will address and specific questions as well.