[All] Fwd: Farsight Group - Strategic Renewal and Innovation

[Robert Milligan]

FYI
R

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Robert Milligan <mill at continuum.org>
> Date: July 23, 2010 1:30:10 AM GMT-04:00
> To: * Global Neuro-Net * <gnn at continuum.org>
> Subject: Farsight Group - Strategic Renewal and Innovation
>
> All,
>
> I met George Land at the annual Creative Education Foundation  
> conference ('74) in Buffalo and have his book, "Grow or Die".  I  
> intend to re-visit his work especially in regard to his  
> Transformation Theory. Also, in these Earth-destroying times caused  
> by excessive growth, a more organic conception of growth such as  
> formulated by George Land (plus the thoughts of Edward Hess on "a  
> good way to grow" in his "Smart Growth" book below, ...) can help us  
> in developing requisite efforts towards a more rapid Green  
> Transformation.
>
> R (is a very strong supporter of appropriately shifting scientific  
> (& World) paradigms much more quickly so that we can both better  
> invent/innovate and also better see the actual/potential effects of  
> our technologies.)
>
>
> ABOUT US
> Our Company | Partners: Dr. George Land | Dr. Beth Jarman | Kim  
> Kressaty | Othon Canales | James J. Ransco | Angel Sanchez
> Associate Partners: Chuck Anders | Ray Biegun | Sean Brady | Robert  
> Elmore | Frank Joseph | Robert Keim | Jerry Marlar | Mike Mazaika
> Gary Merrill | William Quigg | Doug Reid | Ken Rhodes | Brenda  
> Vander Meulen | Greg Zlevor
> George Land
> Co-Founder, Leadership 2000
> George Land is an author, speaker, consultant, and general systems  
> scientist. In 1965 he founded a research and consulting institute to  
> study the enhancement of creative performance. This research  
> ultimately led to the formulation of Transformation Theory-a theory  
> of natural processes that integrates principles of creativity,  
> growth, and change. From these principles Dr. Land developed unique  
> strategic thinking and innovation processes for organizations. He  
> invented the first computer-interactive approaches to group  
> innovation, decision-making and strategic thinking. His exceptional  
> processes are now licensed by over 400 major corporations worldwide.  
> Dr. Land has also taught interdisciplinary science and creative/ 
> innovative process to the faculties of some three dozen universities.
>
> Among his articles and books is his seminal work Grow or Die: the  
> Unifying Principle of Transformation.
>
> http://www.farsightgroup.com/bio_georgeland.cfm
>
>
>
>
>
>
> A reviewer said, "In this immensely creative synthesis, George T.  
> Lock Land presents a set of laws through which mankind can not only  
> control its destiny but also extend its freedom. Grow or Die - that  
> is Nature's single mandate - and that is the basis of this new  
> theory of human behavior and evolution. "Transformation Theory" is a  
> re-definition of the process of growth to which every life and pre- 
> life form is subject. Impelled by the most basic and universal drive  
> - the drive to grow - all biological, physical, chemical,  
> psychological and cultural processes are intrinsically equivalent.  
> Cell biology, says Mr. Land, is the template for man's psychological  
> drives, and the key to understanding individual and social behavior  
> is to be found in the behavior of atoms, molecules, and cells.  
> Creativity, mental illness, urban decay, self-sacrifice,  
> colonialism, revolution, sadism, beauty, and human love all thus  
> obey Nature's command to grow or perish".
> (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231150504?ie=UTF8&tag=wastchsh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231150504 
> )
>
> Another reviewer said,
>
> " ... This book changed how I look at and understand the world.
> This book's most important thread of wisdom is in its underlying  
> systems theory. For Land, all living systems are either growing or  
> dying, there is no sustainable stasis. Further, Land brilliantly  
> explains how there are only three fundamental patterns of growth  
> which apply in all cases.
>
> There is accretive, replicative and transformational growth.  
> Accretive growth is merely "getting bigger", which is the underlying  
> model for virtually all business organizations, at least those prior  
> to the nanocorp (http://sohodojo.com/index.html). Sure, companies  
> spin off (replicate) subsidiaries and new ventures; but  
> fundamentally our shared world of business is about accretive  
> growth; which, incidentally is also the Achilles Heel of Business.
>
> A nanocorp, since its founders are its only employees, is committed  
> to non-accretive growth. And since all organizations are either  
> growing or dying, this means that nanocorps use replicative and  
> transformative growth to sustain our existence. If you truly intend  
> to be a nanocorp, you must read and understand this book."
> (http://sohodojo.com/ribs/growdie.html)
>
> In Googling "Grow or Die", I can across this book, "Smart Growth:  
> Building an Enduring Business by Managing the Risks of Growth" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231150504?ie=UTF8&tag=wastchsh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231150504 
> ) Although the author, Edward Hess, appears to lack the depth and  
> breadth of thought that George has about the concept of growth, he  
> talks about a "good way to grow" according to the product  
> description, (http://www.amazon.ca/Smart-Growth-Building-Enduring-Business/dp/0231150504 
> ).
>
> A reviewer on Amazon.com said, "Hess takes dead aim at one of the  
> sacred shibboleths of business;the notion that companies must 'grow  
> or die';and scores a bull's-eye. He makes a devastating case and  
> demonstrates how destructive the blind pursuit of growth can be, and  
> has been, to businesses of all types, especially publicly-owned  
> ones. Along the way, Hess maps an alternative approach to managing  
> business growth that focuses on the long-term health of the  
> enterprise. It's a powerful argument and one that should be taken to  
> heart by corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and policymakers  
> alike." -- Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large of Inc. magazine and  
> author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of  
> Big
> (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231150504?ie=UTF8&tag=wastchsh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231150504 
> )
>
>

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