Creating a Company Vision

Scott Dawson (ScottD@sbamail.sba.pdx.edu)
Mon, 02 Jan 95 21:22:00 PST

While visioning used to be an endeavor I was quite comfortable with (a good
sign of trouble!), I have developed angst about articulating vision after
reading in the chaos literature. Ralph Stacey in "Managing the Unknowable"
makes a compelling case against trying to define a destination in a future
which is unknowable. Seems to me the problem arises over the quality of
seeing a desired destination. The examples of such vision which have been
successful seem far and few inbetween (we did put someone on the moon).
However, visions which do not include a specific destination, such as
Disney seeking to be the best entertainment company in the world, are far
more robust in dealing with the quantumness of our universe. I'm under the
impression that much of the vision piece in the 5th D. comes from Fritz. I
can see the creative tension caused by comparing a blank canvass with an
envisioned landscape painting. However, is this fully analogous with the
environment faced by companies in our increasingly unpredictable world? The

only thing certain about the future is increased complexity (the innate
tendency of quantum systems - Zohar has blown my mind here). In such a
world is articulating vision like trying to see the pattern of a strange
attractor?

Scott Dawson - spinning out of control!
Portland,OR

ScottD@sbamail.sba.pdx.edu