Knowns, known unknowns, unknown unknowns

Donald Rumsfeld was hammered for botching his handling of the situation in Iraq. He was also laughed at for his comments about how he and his staff considered information. The press made him out to be a loon. Maybe he is a loon, and laying the "known knowns" commentary out there didn't help. The quote was an odd thing for the public to digest. It seemed to suggest that he was dizzy or something.

I remember hearing it and thinking that it made perfect sense. I thought he was stating the obvious, and that maybe that was why people made faces. Here's what he said.

"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."

Okay. What's the problem here? Not only are the three positions stated clearly, they are also described for those of you who need a little more of the picture. In any situation, particularly in business - you have to be aware of what you know and what you don't know. If you aren't considering this, you'll need to be lucky to win. These three categories represent the universe of information. You should not be confused or amused by the concept. Think about it a little more. It's accurate and correct. Donald Rumsfeld may have botched his assignment. Maybe his cheese has slipped a little off his cracker, but his description of information awareness (knowns) is fine.

No way - No say! The big reveal

See Article

Sales of compact SUVs and compact passenger cars are up while larger vehicles and trucks are down.

No kidding? Really? No say? Who would have predicted that? Wow - the big reveal!

Job Remix

In any work situation people will have things they like to do and things they don't like to do. Over time, and left unchecked - the job will change shape to minimize its less pleasant aspects. After a while - your employee having decided what he doesn't like to do, will have fit his efforts comfortably into the new shape. The original recipe and quite possibly a key ingredient will get tossed aside. I'm not talking about improving a process by reviewing it and making an intentional change. I'm talking about wild weeds taking over our garden. Eventually, it's a mess.

It's management's fault if the employee's naturally occurring task remix erodes the effectiveness of the business. We have to be aware of what's going on, understand what pieces of the process develop resistance, and take steps to keep the original plan intact.

It doesn't mean the reshaping, or remixing of the job description and your business process were done maliciously, or even intentionally. This just happens to be the way it is with us humans. As management, if one of the things you avoid is tending to this issue, you'll end up with everyone performing their own customized (remixed) version of their job. Yes - you are human too. This is often the reason why people fail as managers. How ironic.

How I lost 10 Pounds in 53 Years

It might not be a great book, but I love the title.

Sales of Popecorn are down. Maybe it's the hat.

I must say - I'm a little disappointed with the Pope's hat. Given the tour, the entourage, the hullabaloo, the pomp, the whole Yankee Stadium thing, one would think they could come with something a little more swanky. Maybe go for a big statement look and add a feather. Whoever made the call on this one is in big trouble.

I guess he switches to this red number at some point during his gig. Perhaps it's just for the encore and the "final wave of the day" thing.

Frantically Constructing Another World

There's a good chance I've tossed this up before. Well, I've done it again.

"It is almost as if you were frantically constructing another world while the world that you live in dissolves beneath your feet, and that your survival depends on completing this construction at least one second before the old habitation collapses."

Tennessee Williams

Ted Williams

I've found that you don't need to wear a necktie if you can hit.
Ted Williams

Sounds good - let's do it!

Hey - that's good. Yes! I'm in. Wow, this will be fun. It's really a great thing, isn't it? I'm not concerned that I might lose money. I'm confident I probably won't.

The Towel Toss

I apologize for the downer attitude, but we need to give some other people a shot at this stuff if you're not going to do what it takes.

Now is a good time to toss in the towel. Some businesses shouldn't wait until they leave the planet with piles of debt. Fold. Do it now. Punt! Check please! No Mas!

Why be irrational? Your business is sliding quickly since you started to "cut back". You're smaller, less effective and you don't have a plan. This is lousy huh?

Go ahead and toss that thing in. Give it a huck. Fling it.

Or not.

If you stay - get busy. Find a partner with a fresh bundle of enthusiasm. Close for a week and open up as something new and hopeful. Give something a solid effort. You're not going to shrink yourself into profitability.

There now. Wasn't that helpful?

Hey V... Process or Execution?

S: What's more important; the plan, or the execution?

V: You need both.

S: That's not what I asked you. I asked, what is more important. Are you saying that it's exactly 50/50?

V: No, I would say that it is not 50/50, but that one without the other will not carry the load.

S: You're going to end up pissing me off.

V: Sorry. I would phrase the question differently. I see where you're headed, but it's not as if these two elements are completely detached.

S: Okay - how about this; Would you rather have a well designed plan and struggle to execute it, or would you prefer a weak plan and good execution?

V: Your going to be mad when I tell you.

S: Why is that?

V: Because I'm going to say that the truth is still buried in the fact that these two legs can't stand on their own. It's really not an either or thing, but I think I understand how I can answer you and make my point.

S: Can't you just make the call? Process or Execution; which is the most important - even if it's 51/49?

V: I'll go with Process. Let's start there.

S: Thank you. Now - briefly tell us why.

V: Okay, but don't cut me off you vomity bastard.

S: Fine

V: If we accept that by process we mean "the system". The system design has to work with the participant's skill level, include ways to monitor and react to deficiencies. A good system must be executable. You burn a lot of energy trying to execute a poorly designed system. It is a circle of inefficiency that will eventually crash as you burn through people. Bad process also frustrates participants. A good system has to be trainable and changeable. To be really good, you have to build these attributes into the plan. We look to find the optimal performance path that we can deliver. Therefore, when we say that a good process is more important than good execution, we make a call about the chicken and the egg, because the system - to be good enough - has to adapt and repair itself. Do you see what I mean?

S: I do.

V: May I go now?

S: Yes, thank you.

They have cravings you know.

They have cravings you know - ones they can't ignore. It's part of the way they live. It would be nice if they were more discrete in front of the ladies. There was a time when that sort of thing would be brought to the attention of the authorities. No more. Now it's part of the way they live. It's part of the way they live, and no one says a word.

iObject

"I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It appears to be made of something quite heavy. It could be something used to club small fierce animals who attack without warnings in the dark of night. Then again, perhaps it is a trophy for an unknown sport played only by the rich."

Awesomer than imagined?

Phineas J. makes a comeback

http://www.misterwhoopee.com/

Pot Pie Recall ... ha!

Very good - yes good.

Hungry FDA Official Orders Massive Pot Pie Recall