Comments on: 2.0 Adoption Warfare – can military tactics help?

By: David Terrar

David Terrar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:24:36 +0000

@Adriana You seem to see it in terms of revolutionary change, almost in terms of throwing over the old order – I don’t see that as a productive approach from most businesses. I think we’ll be more succcessful bringing enterprise on board if we make the new tools fit in, work with, and adapt the existing processes, so that we get evloutionary change. I’m sure we’ll bring more people along with us that way. There’s already too much fear and uncertainty surounding the 2.0 adoption topic.

By: Adriana Lukas

Adriana Lukas — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:00:33 +0000

Actually, I don’t believe social media can work as a bottom up guerrilla approach without air-cover, mandate, suppoert etc from a high level executive. What I am saying is that you cannot implement social media using existing processes.

The top down and bottom up have to join forces to beat the dysfunctional and outdated organisational structures that businesses have become. Right now, social media and enterprise (in its current evolutionary stage) are incompatible.

By: David Terrar

David Terrar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:08:27 +0000

Hi Mark,
Good to hear it works for you in practice, and agree completely with “they will collaborate with each other, devise better solutions”. Thanks!

By: Mark Gibson

Mark Gibson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:50:17 +0000

I agree. As a retired Naval officer and Program Manager, I use the Navy version of the Army Field Manual all the time on my programs and projects. The concept of vision and communication of that vision is critical and then provide the technicians bounds within to operate. In other words, there are guidelines to running to program or project and translates to military strategy,then leave the details to the sailors, soldiers, or technicians on the ground. The strategy translates to implementation or development methodology, and the various other high level plans required to run the program or project.

With this empowerment, they will collaborate with each other, devise better solutions than if dictated from above, and find creative ways to work through problems. At the end of the day, they are more motivated, happier in their jobs and assignments, and the “mission” or project is more successful.

At the next level up in military strategy is to work ahead of the team. The military strategist will coordinate the resupply of fuel for ships or tanks, ammunition for soldiers. The PM will identify and clear program risks so the path ahead of the technicians is smooth and clear. Or to adjust staffing levels when issues begin to arise or coordinate and negotiate with external groups that have an impact on the program.