Introducing a new approach to strategy to a rural Indiana county
Last week, I was in Morgan County, IN to introduce a group of civic leaders to the disciplines of strategic doing. Jon Speer, my host along with Home Bank, took some notes and video of the session.
Morgan County is one of the counties surrounding Indianapolis, to the southeast. For the geologically inclined, Morgan County marks the boundary where the glaciers stopped advancing during the Ice Age.
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John's notes:
- Old economic development model, which is primarily recruiting, no longer works in a global economy. Rural communities are suffering because of this.
- Children are the guides to the “new world”. Focus is on connections and networks.
- Our grandfather’s economy was centered on moving stuff (e.g. coal, grain, steel)
- Our grandkid’s economy is knowledge-based--knowledge of networks. The challenge is to connect our grandfather’s resources with grandkid’s knowledge.
- Brainpower creates a competitive advantage. Converting brainpower to innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship leads to wealth creation.
- Strategic Planning invented by our grandfathers. It’s dead (or at least dieing).
- Strategic Doing created by grandkids. Set a direction and move towards it.
- Strategic Doing cycle: 1) What could we do? 2) What should we do? 3) What will we do? 4) How will we learn?
- Strategic Doing has no hierarchy--no permission necessary, no gatekeepers, no veto power within the network.
- Strategic Doing priorities: 1) Generating brainpower / talent; 2) Support innovation / technology; 3) Create healthy environment; 4) Establish new networks; 5) Personal improvements from collaboration.
Jon's videos:
