Author: John Salter & Associates Consulting Services

John Salter - specialising in the facilitation of risk-based capability reviews; needs-based training; business continuity planning; crisis management exercises; and organisational debriefing. Recognised for “preventing disasters, or where that is not possible, reducing the potential for harm” Ref: Barrister H Selby, Inquest Handbook, 1998. Distracted by golf, camping, fishing, reading, red wine, movies and theatre.

How is AI useful?

“History offers a clear warning that authoritarianism often advances gradually through the subversion of democratic institutions, but it also provides a well-documented playbook for successful opposition, centered on unified pro-democracy coalitions, strategic nonviolent action, and the vigilant defense of institutional norms . Below summarizes the common tactics identified by researchers as part of the modern… Read More

Supporting “good” decisions

Good decision-making is a topic of discussion which ranks as a perennial favorite – across board and dinner tables. Managers, CEOs and Boards frequently reflect “did we get that right”? This begs the question of what does “right” mean? What do “good” decisions look like? The key to good decisions is good decision-making processes. Supporting… Read More

We could … but should we?

In contexts characterized by uncertainty, I am not convinced that AI provides sound solutions. Equally, I’m pretty sure that those dusty plans on your shelf (or in your cupboard) won’t measure up either. A reflection in the International Crisis Management Standard notes that “crises through a combination of their novelty, inherent uncertainty and potential scale… Read More

The heat is on …

No, not the 1980s soundtrack … though that was fun. As we move into summer, we are reminded of a chilling fact. Heat kills more people than other extreme events. The second point worth reflection here is that “natural disasters” are not natural. The extreme event might (or might not) be caused by “nature”, for… Read More

How do you “see“ your organization?

Each lens is useful for different purposes. Our clients find the “systems and processes” lens particularly useful when checking for “bloat” or “waste”. This is worth doing occasionally as organizations can become misshaped or bigger than they need to be. The two most useful approaches which our clients use to address this need are:

Believe it or not – systems, frameworks and capability assessments are still popular.

“Continuous improvement” is a clique – bordering on rhetoric … unless it is embraced within a culture as a worthy assumption. As something worth building on … and with. Management Systems – whether they are about quality, risk or business continuity – all benefit from occassional review to provide assurance that ‘the ship is on… Read More

Exceeding expectations

I don’t like the smugness of “exceeding expectations”. “Adequate” is a wonderful term. It is about focusing on a target. It rides on the shoulders of two other great terms, “necessary” and “sufficient”. Anything more is bluster and waste. To address what is necessary and sufficient to be adequate for you, consider our UpWork offerings.

◦ Sharing some of Munger’s famous quotes

◦ If Warren Buffett is the king of the investment wisecrack, then his long-time business partner Charlie Munger, who died on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) aged 99, was the perfect straight man. ◦ The two held court at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting for decades as chairman and vice chairman. Munger could be taciturn – he could… Read More

Mind the Gap

Mind the Gap, is not just for London railway platforms 😀 We help clients identify gaps between current and desired performance. By determining, the difference between business requirements and current capabilities, gap analysis builds on benchmarking and other assessments. This comparison (between where you are and where you need to be) becomes the gap –… Read More