A Pragmatic Solution

Regarding to the Tucson tragedy, some of the politicians and the talk show hosts were wasting their time and their energy. playing the "blame" game, instead of developing a pragmatic solution. We assessed some of their proposed solutions as idealistic and non-practical. Whenever there is rhetoric, the original problem is rarely solved.

In uncertain times, the demand of protection and justice happens. The question is: can the public receive a solution that works for the majority of the masses?

We at Compass360 Consulting prefer to build and launch pragmatic strategic solutions that meet the needs of the client and the confines of the "Big Tangible Picture." Sometimes the projected clients do not understand the benefits of strategic pragmatism. That is another story.

What is a Pragmatic Solution

These days, a pragmatic solution is based on the outcome of a strategic process that combines one or more of the following influences: political influences; economic influences; social influences; technological influences; and a few other strategic influences. The attributes of a pragmatic solution usually are: tangible, attainable and relevant. Whether someone can afford to implement this type of solution is a different story.

A Pragmatic Solution for Worst Case Scenario

Here is an interesting solution from Dr. Bill Wattenberg of KGO AM 810 Radio fame that could be used as a possible safeguard for public celebrities against emotionally-challenged people with excessive motives and extreme measures. The distinctiveness of his solution is the cost effectiveness.

Bulletproof Clipboard Offers Safety for College Students in these Crazy Times

Here is an email sent to KGO management following the discussion about bullet proof clipboards on the Ronn Owens show KGO radio on 4-17-07:

Below are two pictures of the simple bullet proof transparent clipboard that I designed at the request of the former CHP commissioner Spike Helmick. It was tested at the CHP Academy in about 2002 as I remember. At the end of to this email is a link to the official 2002 report to CHP Commissioner Helmick.

CHP Officers shot at this clipboard at 10 ft. with all big handguns. The 40 S&W is one of the most powerful in use today -- muzzle energy like a 357 Magnum. Only a small portion of the bullet penetrated the 1/4 inch clipboard, as you can see. The part that passed through would not normally be lethal. The 9mm and 38 were stopped completely. I thought it would take at least 1/2 inch to do this. That was one pleasant surprise.

You will note that the bullets all dug a crater in the plastic and then bounced back. This was the other pleasant surprise. At close range, the shooter can be sprayed by the bullets he shots at the clipboard. I develop another layered form of plastic clipboard that enhances this "bounce back" feature to confuse the shooter. It is much more expensive and is confidential at the present time.

Anyone can buy one of these at Tap Plastics. Make sure it is Polycarbonate, not normal Lucite used in most so-called bullet proof glass barriers. The best thickness is 3/8 inch if you can get it. The 3/8 will stop that 40S&W. What you see here is only 1/4 inch thick. It does the job. 1/2 inch is nice and super safe, but heavy. the 3/8 feels good in the hand and on the lap as a general purpose clipboard. that is what I carry with me on planes ( and so do many others). It is a great writing board on my lap. It fits nicely in the laptop computer case or in a backpack. It looks perfectly innocent. It is a real close quarters weapon if used in the right way, as well as a bullet shield.

All police officers should be using one of these every time they approach a driver or suspect at close quarters. It protects their head and neck that are not protected by their body armor. but it that's time for something to be accepted. They did not accept body armor for over fifteen years. A young CHP Lt. whom I worked with on the terrorist truck stopping experiments in 2001 to 2003 was shot in the face and killed two years ago when he made a routine traffic stop near Sacramento. The killer shot him in the face when he approached the car. The Lt. would be alive if he had been holding this simple bullet proof clipboard between his face and the driver. The bullet impact would have slammed the clipboard back in his face, but he would not have been seriously injured.

As bizarre as it sounds today, if a group of students had these in hand, they would have a much better chance of surviving a random shooter at close range, and they could even charge the shooter with some safety.

The news media around the country that covered our many anti-terrorism experiments at the CHP academy after 9/11 has suddenly remembered this bullet proof clipboard. Many heard me describe it on the Ronn Owens show on KGO Radio yesterday. It is a shame that it takes something like the Virginia massacre to bring attention to a simple solution for some of the violence today. At the very least, our police officers should have these. A lot of worried parents might want the same. ---Bill Wattenburg

Is the Solution Pragmatic and Practical?
Building this solution is simple. Our research tells us that a 10 by 15 inch clipboard with a quarter inch thickness, made from clear Polycarbonate plastic, costs somewhere between the $20-$30 range. It fits into any briefcase or any reasonably-sized backpack and the weight is minimum.

We believed that it is possible to carry this implement as a defensive shield against some of the various lower caliber projectiles. Whether prominent public celebrities are willing to carry this clipboard, every hour of the day, is a different story

Summary

Our experience tells us that the connection between projected outcome and the price of a pragmatic solution usually vary. The past performance of a solution does not guarantee the same results. In some instances, the situation could be different.

The Compass Rule for Executing a Strategic Solution:

The execution of any solution (with the right strategic process) is the first step toward strategic success.

In uncertain times, the smart decision makers usually focus their time and their effort on building a pragmatic strategic solution that meets the requirements of their current challenge. He or she knows that it must be relevant, attainable and tangible. They are realized that it is a stop gap solution not a long term answer.

Could your current understanding of the "Big Tangible Picture" of your grand setting enables you to strategizes and execute a pragmatic solution that is effective for your competitive terrain?

Idealistically, a pragmatic solution creates a limited state of strategic effectiveness.

In a later post, we will focus on the topic of defining the criteria of a pragmatic solution.