Approach

There is no one way to go about solving problems. The alchemy is in seeing and understanding how to start from the right questions and deploy the best approaches to get the work done.  That is what I do. I insist on making sure we start from the right questions and incorporate methods from from the social sciences through innovation and business practices to get the job done. And done right.

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research thinking

Good decisions are not made in a vacuum; they incorporate a deep understanding of people, processes, and systems affected, along with a clear vision of how a decision will impact each piece. That deep understanding cannot normally be obtained through anything other than research. Research Thinking, places research as central to decision making. At its core it is about learning strategically, and considering what information is needed to inform a particular decision or decisions, and determines how to gather that data well. 

Framing and visioning

Where are you trying to go? What do you need to know in order to get there? This may include business sponsors, people assigned to the team, and anyone with an interest in the outcome of the project.  

  • What are the goals?

  • Why are those the goals?

  • What are the challenges and constraints?

  • How is the problem framed?

I ask questions and listen to help articulate the problem space in a way that allows the end goal to emerge clearly so that the path to get there can be broken down.  Framing the pathway to the solution is about understanding what is missing and identifying where to find it, as well as inspiring creativity around future possibilities. 

managing people

Creating an innovative, dynamic organization goes beyond organizational charts and new processes—it is understanding how people work together and creating an environment that rewards collaboration, trust, and transparency across groups and hierarchies.  I believe in transparent communication that explains the reasons behind decisions in ways that people will both understand them and trust what they are being told. I help people create objectives that both match project and organizational goals and help them advance in their own growth, while also understanding the needs around being adaptable and flexible.