Session 6 Flashcards
What is the sigmoid curve?
It sums up the story of life itself. We start slowly, experimentally, and falteringly; we wax and then we wane
What is curvilinear logic?
It is the idea that everything can be represented by a sigmoid curve
What are the 4 points of the sigmoid curve?
Inception at the start
Growth halfway up the incline
Maturity at the almost peak
Decline after the peak
What is the secret to constant growth as told by Handy’s version of the sigmoid curve?
The secret to constant growth is to start a new sigmoid curve before the first one peters out
Where does the new sigmoid curve start and the old one end?
At Growth (point A), which is a point between Inception and Maturity
When is it too late to change sigmoid curves?
At Decline (point B), which is when resources are depleted to the point where it is too late to make these changes and continue to grow
What is the secret to balance in the time paradox according to Handy?
It is to allow the past and the future to co-exist in the present
What does the shaded area (the area between the old and new sigmoid curves) represent?
It is a time of great confusion. Two, or more, groups of people and two sets of ideas are competing for the future
What is the discipline of the second curve?
You should never assume that you are near the peak of the first curve, at point A, and should therefore be starting to prepare for the second
How does the change from one Sigmoid curve to another occur?
It can occur by making small decisions that lead to larger ones, which would be when the change occurs
What should organizations assume?
That their present strategies will need to be replaced within two or three years and that their product life cycles are shorter than they were
Why are life cycles shorter than they were?
They are shorter than they were because change is occurring at a faster rate due to technology. Technological innovation leads to new forms of production, and can therefore lead to these shorter life cycles as efficiency and quality becomes more achievable
