Data denial and the downfall

Mid-sized organisations are looking to business intelligence in order to build resilience amidst the uncertain and complex business climate. It’s about having the capacity to change before the case for change becomes desperately obvious, but building resilience rarely happens in isolation. 

Having to reform an entrenched business model is a daunting task, particularly for the giant corporations among us. To build resilience is to develop the capacity to respond intelligently to changing circumstances. When we, as executives, notice a reason to change strategy, but choose to avoid what the data reveals, we're in data denial, and that could make the difference between a mid-sized organisation taking market share and the downfall of a behemoth.

Managing a Black Swan Event

When catastrophes strike, organisations may 'fall apart'. Managers may try to prevent the 'breakdown' and sustain operations, but in the aftermath of a disaster, no simple 'fix' may restore the previous order. A mechanistic-view of organisations leaves managers ill-equipped to handle the consequences of an unexpected event, yet it remains a common view in spite of Black Swan events.