Puzzle, Problem, Mess

Why do media organisations, filled with smart people who spot early the visible warning signs of coming disruption, nearly always seem to end up reacting too late, or too slow?

This episode explores that question through the OODA loop — John Boyd’s influential model of observation, orientation, decision and action. My guest is Chet Richards, a long-time associate of Boyd and one of the key interpreters of his work for business.

The conversation with Chet homes in on the concepts of time as a strategic instrument, orientation as the engine room of adaptation, and why the ability to recover initiative is ultimately cultural: built on trust, intuitive feel, focus, mission, and learning speed.

For media companies facing constant disruption, seeing the coming change is evidently not enough. The key seems to be finding a way – organisationally, culturally - to move at the tempo of the ‘outside world’.

Links:

 

Chet Richards’ book – Certain to Win

 

Chet Richards’ page:

Chet on Boyd’s OODA loop:
 https://slightlyeastofnew.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/boydsoodaloopnecesse-1.pdf

Jocko Willink podcast discussing the OODA loop:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwSBOnXrRrM

Details on John Boyd:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boyd_(military_strategist)