Assessing the Big Tangible Picture: Connect the Dots!

Playing the Risk Game
In our competitive information economy, the height of the goal usually determines the scope of the risk and the quality of the competition. Concurrently, the quantity of unknown variables increases the quantity of risks.

Understanding the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) enables one to comprehend the risks, connect the dots and reap the rewards

Yahoo Misplayed the Risk Game
Assessing the Big Tangible Picture means one must also go through a slew of what-if situations. In this case, Yahoo did not properly perform that objective before making a deal with Alibaba.

Yahoo did not understand the risk, the uncertainty and the volatility of the situation. They did not weighted the possibility of changes within the various PESTO factors.. Since, the dots were not connected, Yahoo dd not reaped the rewards.

Compass Practice

Most unpleasant business news are usually broadcasted on Friday. The after-effects become obvious on the following Monday.

We might touch on the specifics of the Yahoo and Alibaba situation in a future post. .

The Abstract Behind The Process
Before dotting the i's and crossing the t''s, the successful strategists frequently tested their view of the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) with various "what-if" situations. They studied the causes and the effects from the various PESTO influences before making any strategic decisions.

By focusing on the "non-obvious" relevant points that are embedded within the PESTO influences, the successful strategists are able to integrated them into one Big Tangible Picture. During the strategic assessment review, they also determined whether if the rewards can be reaped.

Compass Rules:

• The scope of any risk benefits is sometimes proportionally to the scope of the risk consequences.
• In an extreme competitive situation, the risk benefits are rarely greater than the risk consequences.
• Never pursue a risk where the impact of the consequences is greater than the impact of the rewards.

{This post has been updated on 08/01/11.}