| id="body"> | | | | are successful once, their chances of continuing to |
| "Bozo" - A clown with a forlorn look, always finding | | | | hurt your innovation efforts will increase. |
| negative implications in every activity or event. A | | | | Bozos only serve the purpose of dragging down an |
| person who tries to find a way to prevent you from | | | | organization through endless complaints, justifications |
| moving ahead, giving excuses such as "we've always | | | | for refusing change, and comments about the "old |
| done it this way, or this is not our culture" when | | | | days" when "things were better." We have to limit |
| presented a new opportunity or challenge. Normally | | | | the Bozo-factor in our planning, while ensuring |
| associated with people who are uncomfortable with | | | | adequate due diligence is maintained. In a worst case |
| learning new techniques, processes, or relationships. | | | | bozos will simply refuse to perform tasks associated |
| Guy Kawasaki from - a venture capital company, | | | | with new product development and rollout - |
| used to have a segment in his presentations called | | | | sabotaging your efforts to move the company |
| "Don't Let the Bozos Grind You Down." This segment | | | | ahead. |
| discussed how every organization will have a corps | | | | Look for the Signs of Bozos in Your Office |
| of people who simply try everything in their power | | | | Bozos are fairly easy to identify. They are the people |
| to stop innovation, new product and service | | | | who generally use phrases like:o "Its not my job"o "I |
| development, and introduction of anything new into | | | | haven't been trained"o "We've always done it this |
| the daily job function. These people are "bozos." If | | | | way"o "Why should we change?"o "It won't work"o |
| you want to avoid the pain of dealing with bozos in | | | | "It is impossible"o "Nobody else is doing it"o "I haven't |
| your business planning, you need to develop | | | | enough time to learn a new job or technique"o and |
| techniques in identifying and preventing bozos from | | | | many other similar phrases |
| interfering with potential future activities of your | | | | The bozo is dangerous in other ways. While you are |
| organization or company. | | | | trying to innovate and move your company ahead in |
| Due diligence on any innovation or change in direction | | | | the market, Bozos are diligently trying to "rally" the |
| of an organization is a clear requirement - nobody | | | | other employees around their justification for not |
| wants to manage a company like a small dog playing | | | | supporting change. Most employees fully understand |
| with toys - chasing everything that looks fun without | | | | if they are not always learning and trying to improve |
| following through on any action. A manager must rely | | | | themselves, eventually somebody will replace them - |
| on staff to provide a good system of checks and | | | | but the bozo wants to contribute to their potential |
| balances to manage risk associated with any change. | | | | unemployment situation by dragging them along into |
| However, none of us are immune to the effects of | | | | a condition where management must either decide to |
| a global economy accelerated by use of global | | | | go around them, over them, or in the worst case |
| telecommunications networks and business process | | | | "through them" to accomplish company or |
| innovations. With very few exceptions, our | | | | organizational objectives. |
| organizations must move ahead - offering products | | | | If in your business planning you bypass bozos, use |
| and services demanded by a "savvy" consumer | | | | good due diligence, study your market conditions, |
| market, or run the risk of another company replacing | | | | trends, and futures - you can avoid the bozo factor |
| us. Competitive companies are always taking | | | | in business planning. To paraphrase the creed of the |
| managed risk to innovate and pass your company or | | | | French Foreign Legion (March or Die), to survive in |
| organization, offering a better, faster, cheaper, and | | | | the global economy and market place all companies |
| more modern product. If you lose your place as a | | | | must constantly plan for innovation, providing a |
| market leader due to internal struggles in your | | | | product that is better than the competition - where |
| attempt to innovate, you will ensure the bozo has | | | | ever that competition may be. Innovate or die - |
| successfully accomplished his objectives. If the bozos | | | | through managed risk. |