John Salter’s Blog

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  • Old wine – New bottles

    So on a reflective Friday morning over coffee, I have browsed through some of my early writing – partly for fun, and partly to see how well it still “stands up”.

    It may depend on how you measure it 😂

    From my point of view – and context at the time – they were written as “doctrine developers”. Probes and stimuli, as we explored how to best move from a focus on hazards to a focus on vulnerability. From managing extreme events to managing the conditions and circumstances which give rise to risk.

    I can see at least five heuristic devices I have woven into this chart.
    How many can you see?
  • A reminder – vulnerability is variable

    A wet day at Hazel’s cafe this morning reminded me of one of my free apps – vulnerability is variable!

  • Reputation Risk

    This week gave us a classic story of “ambush by a reputation risk”.

    Newspaper Article
    Compounded by social media

    … for want of a horseshoe nail.

    Map your vulnerability
    Supporting tool FlyingFish Business Continuity App – used here to illustrate business continuity management processes.
    Before Impact
    After Impact
    Plan – Communicate
    Available on Apple and Android
    For those looking for support using our Software as a Service
    We acknowledge and respect Aboriginal people as Australia’s first people and nations, and recognize Aboriginal people as traditional owners and occupants of Australian land and waters.
  • How prepared are you? How prepared ought you be?

    A short story …

    A clever overlay from last year.

    Once upon a time, in the bustling city of New York, there was a small family-owned business named “Lighthouse Marketing”. The business was doing exceptionally well and was generating substantial profits for the family. However, the owner, Mr. James, was always concerned about the future of his business. He knew that life is unpredictable, and anything could happen at any time.

    One fine day, as he was sitting in his office, reading the news, he came across a story about a major hurricane that had hit the east coast of the United States.

    The story talked about how the hurricane had caused widespread damage, and many businesses were struggling to recover from the losses. This story left James feeling uneasy and worried about the fate of his business, should something similar occur.

    How are you at risk? Try our free Disaster Risk Assessor app.

    Determined to avoid such a scenario, James began researching business continuity planning. He spent hours studying and exploring different strategies and scenarios for protecting his business. He started by assessing the potential risks and vulnerabilities that his business could face, including natural disasters, cybersecurity threats, and economic upheavals.

    Free

    Disaster Management Decision Maker is a free tailored version of our Decision Making app. This version is structured as a support tool applying straightforward and methodical steps to help make significant decisions about the best disaster management software solutions for you. Nimbly using criteria-based processes to better evaluate options.

    Free
    Free
    Criteria used in our free Disaster Management Decision Maker App
    Criteria used in our free Disaster Management Decision Maker App

    Based on his research, Mr. James developed a comprehensive business continuity plan that covered all aspects of his business. He used AgileBCP to identify critical business operations that needed to be protected at all costs, such as customer data and accounting records. He also ensured that his employees were well-trained and prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster.

    His hard work and dedication paid off when one day a major power outage hit the city. Most businesses were forced to shut down, but Lighthouse Marketing was still up and running. Thanks to Mr. James’ foresight and planning, his business was able to continue operating even during the crisis. He had put in place the necessary measures to keep the business running smoothly, such as backup generators, cloud-based technology and remote working options.

    From that day on, Mr. James never worried about the future of his business again. He knew that, no matter what the circumstances, his business would be able to weather any storm. His experience inspired other business owners in the city to take similar steps to protect their businesses, and the entire community was better prepared for any potential risks or threats that might arise.

    The end.

  • How prepared are you? How prepared ought you be?

    A short story …

    A clever overlay from last year.

    Once upon a time, in the bustling city of New York, there was a small family-owned business named “Lighthouse Marketing”. The business was doing exceptionally well and was generating substantial profits for the family. However, the owner, Mr. James, was always concerned about the future of his business. He knew that life is unpredictable, and anything could happen at any time.

    One fine day, as he was sitting in his office, reading the news, he came across a story about a major hurricane that had hit the east coast of the United States.

    The story talked about how the hurricane had caused widespread damage, and many businesses were struggling to recover from the losses. This story left James feeling uneasy and worried about the fate of his business, should something similar occur.

    How are you at risk? Try our free Disaster Risk Assessor app.

    Determined to avoid such a scenario, James began researching business continuity planning. He spent hours studying and exploring different strategies and scenarios for protecting his business. He started by assessing the potential risks and vulnerabilities that his business could face, including natural disasters, cybersecurity threats, and economic upheavals.

    Free

    Disaster Management Decision Maker is a free tailored version of our Decision Making app. This version is structured as a support tool applying straightforward and methodical steps to help make significant decisions about the best disaster management software solutions for you. Nimbly using criteria-based processes to better evaluate options.

    Free
    Free
    Criteria used in our free Disaster Management Decision Maker App
    Criteria used in our free Disaster Management Decision Maker App

    Based on his research, Mr. James developed a comprehensive business continuity plan that covered all aspects of his business. He used AgileBCP to identify critical business operations that needed to be protected at all costs, such as customer data and accounting records. He also ensured that his employees were well-trained and prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster.

    His hard work and dedication paid off when one day a major power outage hit the city. Most businesses were forced to shut down, but Lighthouse Marketing was still up and running. Thanks to Mr. James’ foresight and planning, his business was able to continue operating even during the crisis. He had put in place the necessary measures to keep the business running smoothly, such as backup generators, cloud-based technology and remote working options.

    From that day on, Mr. James never worried about the future of his business again. He knew that, no matter what the circumstances, his business would be able to weather any storm. His experience inspired other business owners in the city to take similar steps to protect their businesses, and the entire community was better prepared for any potential risks or threats that might arise.

    The end.

  • Heart, Head, and Gut

    How do you make tricky decisions?

    Liana Finck is one of my favorite artists because she shares her vulnerability.

    Duke it out” immediately focuses on the importance of tensions between different things – in this context, between different decision criteria. For each of us, a key question is “which rules” – or, in this decision making context, what weighting is given to each criterion?

  • “Good” Decision

    How might you make a “good” decision?

    NO
    YES

    Elements of General Approach

    Focus on the things you care about.
    Engage those with a stake in the approach
    Illustrative example of potential decision criteria
    Invite input and reflection
    Cluster like with like to avoid duplication
    Encourage filtering to validate
    Compare criteria to establish the most important – for weighting
    Back of envelope tool (Michigan State University)

    A decision matrix is just one of many tools currently considered “best practice” for good decision-making. It uses a systematic approach to narrow down options, comparing choices by using a combination of weighted voting and ranking.

    A criteria matrix is especially helpful when:

    • Options for a solution are many (10-20 choices)
    • There are a significant number of criteria (6-15 items)
    • Quick consensus is needed to proceed
    Illustrative example of weighted criteria
    (app screen)

    1. Quality Decision Making Apps

    From our FREE OughtWe Lite – to our VALUE OughtWe Pro

    2. Quality Decision Making Support

    Three key steps – with validation

    3. Your Tailored Decision Making App

    1. <Your> Name (Text) in Decision Maker Logo – Client name (or acronym) nested in the Decision Maker app Logo.

    2. Reference (Text) – a description of your context – to be inserted under the edited “Reference” Header of the Criteria & Weight Screen.

    3. Your Criteria

    You can populate Your Decision Maker with up to nine of your specified criteria.

    Specifics of each criterion.

    For each of the (up to nine) specified criteria, please provide:

    (i) Criteria Name (Text) – example “Alignment with Values”.

    (ii) Criteria Description (Text) – example “To what extent is this option aligned with our supported values?”.

    (iii) Rationale for Criteria (Text) – example “Reference: Corporate Ethics Policy (2021)”.

    (iv) Criteria Weightings – your agreed default settings (positive or negative – from minus nine to plus nine).

    Note: When being used “in the field” individual users will still be able to add criteria to reflect and support the context of any specific decision being addressed by them.

    Customized DecisionMaking App

    NB Development of the above specifications is best done with others. Especially those who need to develop and sign off on “what they value – and how much they care about those things they value”.


  • Storms and Sandwich Boards
    Context – last week there were many trees down.

    The clean up uses parking areas as a sound strategy to store debris before removal. Sound, but with some unintended consequences.

    Losing your “Premises”

    Google Store
    Our “in your pocket” solution is available on Google and Apple stores.
    In this case, the loss of parking denies customers and a preferred setup site
    Car park being used as a holding area for debris
    Workaround. Improvise. Innovative use of nearby space.
    Based on our Software as a Service AgileBCP
  • Risk @ Interfaces

    On the edge. On the boundary. At the interface.

    Between the land and the sea.
    Between the burbs and the bush.
    Our “interface” this morning.
    Between the hills and the houses

    Available NOW!
    Opening Screen
    Context input – assets and hazards
    Hazard Profile
    Impact Analysis
    Planning for Operability
    Scenario Analysis will be available as a Tier 1 app for less than $1
  • When should you invest in disaster management?

    Purists … say you ought to have already set it up “yesterday”.

    Pragmatists … say you ought to do it “whenever you’re ready”.

    Whenever you decide, there are some things to consider.

    1. How are you at risk – How are you vulnerable?
    2. Start with – and focus on – what you care about

    3. Consider using a criteria-based decision making approach when determining the most appropriate planning solution for you.

    Use our free Disaster Management Decision Maker App to compare AgileBCP to any of your other options.
    Criteria applied in our free Disaster Management Decision Maker app
    Jump onto AgileBCP as early as you want – or as late as you need to!
    Underpinned by an approach which has been effective for decades.
    Bottom line: Start building your capabilities for less than A$100

Software as a Service Startup – naming competition

Coming out of a board meeting yesterday afternoon I’m excited to share news of a new joint venture startup and invite you to enter our “naming competition” for a case of wine delivered to your door. To help fire up your synapses, some key aspects of the Business Continuity, Risk Management, and Innovative Improvement context:… Read More

What might coming out the other side look like?

Beyond the jargon of “petri dish and pivot” there are opportunities in ‘the risk’. Wherever we start from, I think it is useful to – stealing a Steve Covey line of “end in mind” – be clear about our preferred Outcomes and necessary and sufficient Outputs. The models and frameworks sketched out below use a… Read More

Coronavirus advice …

I’m taking the liberty of reposting what I think is a useful set of considerations – from an expert – that go beyond just washing your hands. “American pathologist James Robb was one of the first molecular virologists to study coronaviruses in the 1970s. He sent this email to family and friends about how he’s… Read More

Disaster management capability

I’ve had several interesting “pandemic preparedness” projects this last few weeks. A few in “crisis mode” but the most interesting has been facilitating a quick snapshot review of how well a particularly vulnerable hospital was prepared for a “surge” – especially coronavirus. To give an independent view we used a straightforward gap assessment approach. The… Read More

Move over “resilience”

Move over “resilience” – make room in the disaster management lexicon for “uninsurable enclaves”. It has been recognised for nearly five decades that disaster risk is a function of hazard and vulnerability.  Our efforts have focused on supporting those at risk to be more resilient – more prepared. This focus – I suggest – has… Read More

It’s not rocket science

How often have you heard someone say that in a conversation? It may not be “rocket science” (that is to say “requiring the application of expertise”) to them, but it is just rude to be dismissive. It alienates and it isolates. It erodes respect. Things which are “not rocket science” are often just not very… Read More

How can “dry” subjects be communicated?

Effective communication is characterised by enthusiasm and focus – on the part of all involved. Too often this is not the case. Putting aside environmental influences (such as cold rooms and uncomfortable seats) I think there are three key variables: the “presenter” may be too distant, academic, or didactic. the “message or subject” may be… Read More

Can you manage uncertainty in three straightforward steps?

Management processes should always be as simple as possible – yet as complex as is necessary. First, clear, understandable, straightforward risk statements come out of mindful conversations about context. Second, we assess risks – not as an academic exercise – but in order to determine whether we need to do anything about those risks. So… Read More

Plans are nothing …

Emergency Planning for facilities is not straightforward. The “bog standard” linear, risk-based approach is a good start but context often brings complexities which require nuance. Layer over that the social and political dimensions (internal and external) and you start to explore the mire. Difficult questions arise – from the commitment of organisations to adequately resource… Read More

Standards are fine – unless they “bind”

The international standard for risk management, ISO 31000, provides principles and guidelines. When this standard is used as a heuristic device it can aid creative thinking. Heuristic devices can open up problems and opportunities however they are “double-edged swords” – something that can have both favourable or unfavourable consequences. The Standard is not a checklist.… Read More

A tale of fiascos and dilemmas – lessons from Bangladesh garment factories

Where there is inadequate management of risk during the implementation of a project the very outcome being sought is often compromised. That is now the case with the Accord on Fire and Building Safety which was a welcome initiative following the tragic deaths of five years ago. The Government has “found itself” short on factories… Read More

Are Templates Procrustean Beds?

The story of the “generous” Procrustes is an illustrative one. After offering hospitality to those in need, Procrustes either stretched the limbs of the short to fit his bed – or hacked those of the long, again, to fit his bed. Too often we see “guides” and “standards” parading as flexible tools – but with… Read More