Guest Post by Malcolm Peart (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

Structures are all around us, even chaos has structure albeit fractal.  We humans too involved in structures; not only do we construct physical structures, but we form organisational structures and create civilizations using the social, economic and cultural structures that rule our lives.

Some of these structures collapse due to human error, natural forces outside of our control, and man’s destructive and violent nature.  The reasons for such collapses may not be understood but, being inquisitive we strive to find out.  But these endeavours are not only earthbound as we also seek to work out the structure of the universe and its workings.  An early example of such work is from the astronomer Kepler who developed his model of our solar system.  Although geometrically fascinating it’s a far cry from our modern-day perceptions

Guest Post by Daniel Burrus (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

Question for all who read this: to succeed at any business venture, you merely need to have huge resources, dedicated personnel, and a quality product or service, right? From there, it’s just collecting money and living a good life.

This presumption is more common than you realize, and could not be more wrong and misguided. In a world where exponential change and digital disruptions abound, you simply cannot rest on your laurels and merely rely on what you’ve already built. Because of the rapidly accelerating rate of change, your business is only ever as strong as its next innovation.

Guest Post by John Mason (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

A classic question for all CEOs and floor sweepers alike.  What the heck do we do and what do we want to do?  In big business there is visioning, missioning, goal setting, target measuring, market analysis, focus groups, policy and much much more, more and more.  In small business, we offer far more than we would like to do, but in order to make ends meet, we take on more and more until we finally burn out or are lucky enough to realise a cash flow that will enable us to niche or focus on what we do and what we want to do.