Canary in the coal mine (the importance of diversity for the health of any system)

I will start with the danger of biases and assumptions and move on to the core topic. 

Allow me the liberty of starting with a bit of history – have you ever wondered about the origin of the word blacksmith? It is simple – black was the ethnic group of the individual and smith was the profession – thus the word blacksmith. Later the ethnic connotation was removed and it simply denoted a person who worked with metal. 

An example of systemic biases often overlooked. One of my favorite shows is NCIS. While I enjoy the show I had a problem.  If you noticed the boys were called by their last name or addressed more formally even in terms of their nick names. The girls were called often by their first names denoting a less formal stance and possibly implied bias regarding their skills. Here is the question – pay attention – have you ever had an instance were you addressed an associate of your ethnic group by mr, mrs or miss and their surname and then in the same breath introduced a member of another ethnic group by their first name only. Sure no disrespect may have been intended but do you see the implied disrespect? 

Remember when miners would take a canary into the mind shaft with the miners. When the canary died the miner could stay in the mine but he knew doing so would mean he would die in fact he is dieing but being a larger more complex organism he is doing so at a slower rate than the smaller less complex. 

So consider this a major corporation moves into a community. Soon the smaller businesses fail. The only jobs available are with the larger concerns or the few able to employ people that have survived. And yet here is the question – if the larger businesses are the miners and the smaller the canary – what is the lesson? Along those lines if you send a large person and a small animal into a confined area with a limited air supply – sufficient for the smaller but not enough to support both the large and small, what well happen to both over time? 

Lets move on to computers. In the early days of computer viruses were a rare thing. Did they exist – yes. Why were they not a big deal – diverse operating systems. Now that a majority of people have standardized on a singular platform of operating system what has happened is that a virus in the past that may have only affected a hand full of systems now is capable of doing damage to a vast majority of users especially with the advent of the internet. Here is another way to look at it – a cell phone today is common place. No one stops to think about what makes a cell phone work or even thinks about the fact that each cell phone is in and of itself a micro computer with an operating system (albeit some more versatile than others). Tat said each manufacture tends to have their own unique operating system (granted there is more standardization than in the past). Some of the more prominent well known mobile (phone) operating systems include

• Java
• Android
• Symbian
• Blackberry
• Windows mobile
• Linux
• Palm
• MXI 

Despite this and many other variant operating system when you make a cell phone call the phone on one end does not care what the platform used on the other is, nor do they care with you use them to browse the internet. An yet is is because of this operating system diversity that you do not hear stories of massive cell phone operating system viruses propagating through the network. 

What lessons can we learn from this regarding the importance of :

• Ethnic diversity for the help of a species?
• Business diversity for the health of a community or nation? 

Fact is no business based on size alone is no better than another nor any more entitle than its smaller peers. Each serve a unique purpose and each have their place. 

• Would you place a blackberry operating system on a old analogue flip phone? 
  
• Would you go into a grocery store and look for a business suit?
  
• Would you put a cow in a field with a panther
  
• Would you expect a company not based in your community to have the same attachment as one that is?
  

Consider this

• Why would you want to live in a community that lacked business diversity
• What sort of opportunities for growth development or advancement exist in a homogenous business environment
• How is that community affected when that singular business or type of business goes out of business
• Why do politicians cater to the larger complex mega industrial business concerns 

Still not seeing how all of this fits together – I could use banks but let me use an example most people can identify with – US auto manufactures 

2009 US Automobile Companies

• Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, ENVI, Jeep, Mopar)
• Ford (Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Premier Automotive Group, Mazda)
• GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, Wuling)
  

Guess how many existed prior to the big three:

• 10
• 20
• 30 

List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers 

Here are the questions:

• Were you shocked by the shear number (hundreds)?
  
• Do you see how all of this fits together?
• What do you think is the solution? 
  

How to sabotage your business

I have not been feeling well the past few days – between my allergies, weather, and other issues have not been myself and have not been resting well. While recovering this topic has whirled around in my head.

As many of you know ethics and morals are my thing – just because something is legal does not make it moral or ethical and I believe because so many have lost sight of this. Without trust no business can be conducted. In fact trust is the basis on which all business is built at all levels and when it no longer is present business cannot and will not exist.

• What is the quickest way to build your sustainable business – establish trust and credibility
  
• What is the most effective way to decimate your business – erode trust
  

This post begins a series on exploring the various ways to destroy trust and credibility thus any hopes of your running or growing a profitable and successful business

• Childlike immature unprofessional behavior
  
• Betrayal and failing to keep your promises
  
• Lack of respect
  
• Dishonesty (lying) this includes misdirection
  
• Avoidance
  
• Stealing/theft
  
• Being defensive, critical and/or argumentative
  
• Being self-absorbed and/or self-centered
  
• Not accepting responsibility for your behaviors
  
• Control/power struggles
  
• Over estimating yourself (having to high an opinion of your value)
  
• Poor listening skills
  
• Not listening to the needs of your clients, suppliers, or employers
  

These topics may be organized slightly differently as each are explored – however it is important to understand regardless of your ability – if your business or services are views as a detriment to anyone you are doing business with – client, supplier, employee, employer due to their negative impact then those relationships will be terminated. Do not worry I will continue to scatter tech updates, reviews and related posts.

Before I begin I have a question – do you think this series will be helpful to you as a business owner?

Business Lessons - A few thoughts on making quality decisions

This post begins my arc to business lessons. With that said though lets deal with a basic truth which applies to everyone and everything and yet many people work so hard to ignore it. Balance is important – knowing the difference between a need vs want – sure it is fine to get some wants but if you focus only on wants and never address the needs then there would be no point. 

Example – you need clothing, water, food, electricity, transportation and a few other things but suppose you spent your money on lottery tickets – soon you would not have even your basic needs for survival – unless of course you won the lottery! With respect to business if you spent all of your money on advertising and none on manufacturing, quality improvement, staffing, etc same difference. While the balance is ever changing and dynamic there must be a balance – advertising does not good if there is not a product or service just as having a product or service is not good if there is no one willing to pay for it. 

So let’s talk about the core issues or characteristics of importance: 

• Reliability – you know almost without thinking that you can depend on it to be there when you need it. Be it car, PC, Security system, sound system, it works!
• Quality/Integrity – you know that the construction is sound, the specifications are clear, the materials used will stand up to normal none abusive use
• Durability – knowing that this device will last for a reasonable period of time
• Predictability – knowing the device will perform as advertised
• Consistency – knowing that that manufacturer used a process that ensured each item was made the same not using one method on Monday and another on Tuesday. Further knowing green is green, blue is blue and a keyboard is not being sold as a mouse
• Price – Having a reasonable cost associated with the perceived benefit and the feeling I am not being taken advantage of
• Warranty – does the business that made this have confidence enough in their ability to make things right by me in a reasonable amount of time
• Customer Service – this should actually be first – it is the value add and lets the customer know they are important and servicing them (not making money) is the focus of the business
• References/Reviews – what do other reliable sources have to say about the item or service you are about to purchase? 

Here is a simple truth many ignore – people buy things and as soon as they stop working or do not perform as advertised they either return the item, are disappointed, or they put it away and stop using it. The only devices, items, and services that people use day after day and come to depend on are those that meet the criteria set out above. 

Also important is how the business makes that person feel - are they important - is their business, time and money respected or are they treated as an inconvenience that as soon as or even before the money is received is at best an annoyance? 

Here is the twist if you will some food for thought – has anyone thought or considered this applies to the following (business and personal):

• Consultant
• Friend
• Computer
• Family member
• Store (grocery, fast food or convenience)
• Security System
• Politician
• Car
• Waiters, cashers, clerks….
• A/V systems
• Etc 

Google search on what to look for when you buy 

What are your thoughts? 

In subsequent posts will deal with the respective individual points of quality, customer service, etc as they relate to the success of any business.