Effective ‘action planning’ on complex issues …through the One Page Management System Work in progress!

(c) GS ChandyFundas2 Contents Basics of OPMS for the Mission: “To succeed in my ambitious building project”Basics of OPMS for the Mission: “To succeed in my ambitious building project” Realized and potential projects for OPMSRealized and potential projects for OPMS Structural graphics for understanding complex systems (to follow)

(c) GS ChandyFundas3 Based on Warfield’s approach to complexity in systems, there has developed over several years a uniquely powerful generic aid to problem solving and decision making which can enable significant enhancement to the way we tackle issues of all kinds: ● Individual issues (of most kinds) ; ● Organizational issues (of all kinds) ; and ● Societal issues (of most kinds). The One Page Management System… Scarcely any limitations of any kind! …for any kind of Missions: individual, organizational, societal John N. Warfield, in the course of his investigations of ‘complexity in systems’, has developed tools that could help individuals and groups organize and integrate their understanding of the complex systems in which they must work – these tools can significantly enhance the application of available scientific knowledge effectively to tackle global issues

(c) GS ChandyFundas4 To use this tool effectively, we need to explain a small enhancement to the language we conventionally use: we call this enhancement ‘prose + structural graphics’ The structural graphics clarify and detail the relationships between the elements in a complex system that are generally left ambiguous in conventional prose.

(c) GS ChandyFundas5 A ‘Language’ to discuss complex issues: ‘prose + structural graphics’ (p+sg) Idea 1 Idea 2 relationship …the ideas - and the relationship between the ideas, shown as a meaningful arrow… “Idea 1 leads to Idea 2” So what is/are ‘structural graphics’? ‘prose + structural graphics’ The picture and its translation (along with any other explanation required) constitute ‘prose + structural graphics’ (p+sg) Here’s a simple structural graphic: = We repeat: the structural graphics clarify and detail the relationships between the elements in a complex system that are generally left ambiguous in conventional prose. Structural Graphic Prose Equivalent leads to The arrow stands for a specific relationship, e.g.:“leads to” (in this case) And it is this simple idea that can be built on to enable us to tackle the most complex of problems and issues much more effectively than can be done when we think and discuss in the conventional way, through ‘prose’ And the ideas that people get while they consider issues in the system are precisely those that should go into the ‘design of the desired system’!

(c) GS ChandyFundas6 One specific form of structural graphics is John N. Warfield’s powerful modeling tool, ‘Interpretive Structural Modeling’ (ISM): it enables us to clarify our understanding of the structure of the systems under consideration…

(c) GS ChandyFundas7 …conventionally, we make a sizable number of such statements and we generally do not explore the relationships between those statements. ‘Prose + structural graphics’ enables us to go into this deep logic as intensively and extensively as we desire/need to. To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India “should contribute” Here’s a simple two-element Interpretive Structural Model, articulating the implicit linkage between two statements we had made earlier in this presentation: Prose transation: “To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India SHOULD CONTRIBUTE To get hold of needed capital”. (In conventional circumstances, such relationships are left entirely ambiguous.) To get hold of needed capital The claim contained in the arrow of the above ‘structural graphic’ is one individual’s perception – which of course must be properly validated to be used in society. The tools we recommend enable such claims to be explored effectively and validated through a process of effective debate and consensus decision-making. By ‘INTER-RELATING’ those two ‘elements’, we are starting to explore the ‘deep logic’ hidden behind the two ‘independent’ prose statements made earlier…

(c) GS ChandyFundas8 Let’s start exploring the ‘deep logic’ of the structure… “should contribute” To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India To get hold of needed capital To understand the market availability of suitable land We shall now develop that starter model by adding various ‘elements’ to it… all these are also ‘perceptions’ to be validated. Now, let’s add one more element: “To create a database of potential sites” We add one element…

(c) GS ChandyFundas9 “should contribute” To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India To get hold of needed capital To create a database of potential sites To understand the market availability of suitable land Click to see a couple more elements to be added to this structure… To get hold of good partners To understand clearly the risks of the business Will be added in next slide

(c) GS ChandyFundas10 “should contribute” To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India To get hold of needed capital ● To create a database of potential sites To study the market availability of suitable land To get hold of good partners To understand clearly the risks of the business

(c) GS ChandyFundas11 “should contribute” To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India To get hold of needed capital ● To create a database of potential sites To study the market availability of suitable land To get hold of good partners To understand clearly the risks of the business Focus on any element in the structure: WHY? HOW?

(c) GS ChandyFundas12 Logically, we are able to justify adding elements as we’ve done in the past few slides to our starting two-element graphical structure because the relationship “CONTRIBUTES TO” is transitive, which means the following: If ‘A’ ‘B’, and if ‘B’ ‘C’, then ‘A’ MUST ‘C’ (where ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ are elements and stands for the specific transitive relationship under consideration) This simple idea has huge impact – in regard to construction of these models as well as to their interpretation. Models constructed using the above rule would be logically consistent AND, further, the construction of even very large models would also be quite efficient because of the transitivity of the single relationship used in each such structure. The process helps the people easily perceive the logical inconsistencies that may be embedded in their thought processes! Mistaken ideas are easily corrected through regular use of this process (assuming, of course, there is a basic desire to correct one’s own mistaken ideas) Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is based on a single transitive relationship running right through the model.

(c) GS ChandyFundas13 Some elements involved in setting up building project To study as much as possible about building development conditions in India To get hold of needed capital To study the market availability of suitable land To create a database of potential sites To get hold of good partners To understand clearly the risks of the business To study the building development laws and rules in various locations To choose some specific area of focus, e.g., agent, builder, frontman for builder, project-finder, etc To develop an adequate support team To create a database of potential partners To list the characteristics wanted of my partners To set aside enough monthly living expenses for myself

(c) GS ChandyFundas14 Here, for example, is a structure created using the OPMS software, using the elements of the original list… WHY? HOW?

(c) GS ChandyFundas15 Any number of ideas can be easily added, if they’re relevant to the Mission: “To succeed in my building project”

(c) GS ChandyFundas16 Some features of ISM ANY transitive relationship may be modeled through ISM (a single relationship per model) – An ISM based on on “contributes to” clarifies the “HOWs?” and the “WHYs?” of things done or to be done! ISM enables individuals and groups to explore the relationships between factors in their systems to any depth and degree of detail as required ISM is a powerful tool to enable individuals and groups to become clear in their minds about their systems ISM is one of the powerful modeling techniques created by Warfield that help individuals and groups to explore complexity in systems. The relationship “contributes to” is probably the single most important of all relationships that can help us arrive at a working understanding from scratch of the systems under consideration Some important transitive relationships in systems: “enhances” “supports” Is more/less important than “contributes to” Aggravates (in case or problems/ difficulties encountered) precedes (PERT and Gantt Charts) and a whole lot of others…

(c) GS ChandyFundas17 John Warfield’s ‘Interactive Management’ comprises a whole set of methodologies to: i)enable problem solvers to generate & clarify ideas along with ii)two powerful modeling tools to enable them to ‘structure’, or organise ideas generated. You’ve just seen ISM, one of the modeling tools.

(c) GS ChandyFundas18 Apart from ISM, Warfield has created another powerful modeling tool, ‘Field Representation and Profiling Method’ (FR) designed to help us put elements in a system into appropriate ‘similarity classes’ or ‘categories’ – which then help us explore the relationships (transitive and other) between elements and categories. We illustrate the Field Representation Method with two examples – one example being a general structure of the utmost simplicity; the second is pretty complex

(c) GS ChandyFundas19 Here’s a list of some diverse Missions To become a top level software designer To double organizational turnover within one year “Garibi hatao!” – (The ‘anti-poverty’ slogan of Indira Gandhi’s government – the slogan was excellent, but the initiative as a whole failed rather miserably) To master my math syllabus and thereby get excellent results in my math exams To get myself a satisfying and well-paying job “To create an effective system of governance to meet India’s needs” To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals To qualify myself for the best job opportunities available To launch a new product in the US market in 2008 To set up my own consulting business To become a global leader in software services by 2015 “To ensure 90% true literacy in India within 10 years” To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals Our first example of FR follows… We shall now use the Field Representation process on this confusing list to clarify things a bit…

(c) GS ChandyFundas20 In your opinion, is “ ” (element 1) similar to (/in the same category as) “ ” (element 2) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be needed to accomplish the specific Mission] ? The first step of the FR process involves inserting the ‘elements’ into categories/’similarity classes’ A: Dimension 1 ● To become a top-level software designer We start by inserting the first element into a blank ‘Dimension’, as illustrated below… …and then we ask ‘modeling questions’, as shown, next … General ‘modeling question’, for creating Field Representations… First element inserted in Dimension 1

(c) GS ChandyFundas21 In your opinion, is “To double organizational turnover within 1 year” (element ‘2’) similar to (/in the same category as) “to become a top-level software designer” (element ‘1’) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be needed to accomplish the specific Mission] ? More specifically (in this case): Response Is “NO”, so this element goes into a different category as shown, next slide…

(c) GS ChandyFundas22 Here’s how the Field Representation develops: A: Dimension 1B: Dimension 2 ● to become a top-level ● To double organizational software designer turnover within 1 year In your opinion, is “Garibi Hatao!” (element ‘3’) similar to (/in the same category as) “to become a top-level software designer” (element ‘1’) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be needed to accomplish the specific Mission] ? Response: “NO”, so new question asked… In your opinion, is “Garibi Hatao!” (element ‘3’) similar to (/in the same category as) “To double org. turnover within 1 year?” (element ‘2’) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be needed to accomplish the specific Mission] ? Next trigger question: Response again: “NO”, so a new dimension is created… A: Dimension 1B: Dimension 2 ● to become a top-level ● To double org. software designer turnover within 1 year C: Dimension 3 ● Garibi Hatao! and so on… A: Dimension 1 ● To become a top-level software designer Next trigger question: If the response to a modeling question is “NO”, the question is asked again w.r.t. another element, or a new Dimension is created and the question-element is inserted there. If the response is “YES”, then the question-element is inserted in the same Dimension… Second element in Dimension 2

(c) GS ChandyFundas23 FR: “ System of ‘Types of Missions’ ” A: Dimension 1 To become a top-level… To master my math syllabus To get myself a satisfying and well-paid job … B: Dimension 2 To double organizational turnover… To get over the ‘attrition problem’ To align individuals in organization… To launch a new product in US market C: Dimension 3 O “Garibi Hatao!” O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs” O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……” Important! The titles of the categories are arrived at only after all elements are appropriately inserted into blank categories (see next…) System Tie-Line

(c) GS ChandyFundas24 FR: “ System of ‘Types of Missions’ ” A: Individual Missions To become a top-level… To master my math syllabus To get myself a satisfying and well-paid job … B: Organizational Missions To double organizational turnover… To get over the ‘attrition problem’ To align individuals in organization… To launch a new product in US market C: Societal Missions O “Garibi Hatao!” O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs” O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……” System Tie-Line

(c) GS ChandyFundas25 Individual Missions Organizational Missions Societal Missions IMPORTANT: The appropriate titles of the Dimensions of this Field Representation came to light only AFTER all elements were inserted into those Dimensions via an appropriate ‘modeling question’!

(c) GS ChandyFundas26 A: Individual Missions To become a top level software designer To master my math syllabus and thereby get excellent results in my math exams To get myself a satisfying and well-paying job To qualify myself for the best job opportunities that become available To set up my own consulting business To become more effective at what I do To learn to use PowerPoint effectively

(c) GS ChandyFundas27 All the Missions in the ‘Individual Missions’ category (and many others besides) have been successfully worked on by various persons Many have successfully worked on their Missions after the prototype software was created – a few were able to do this even before the software was developed!

(c) GS ChandyFundas28 B: Organizational Missions To obtain needed financing for a major project To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals To double organizational turnover within one year To get over the ‘attrition problem’ To launch a new product in the US market in 2008 To become a global leader in software services by 2015 To obtain needed financing to market globally

(c) GS ChandyFundas29 A few of the Missions in the ‘Organizational Missions’ category have been successfully worked on at different levels. We have been conducting OPMS workshops for organizations only after the prototype OPMS software had become available.

(c) GS ChandyFundas30 C: Societal Missions “Garibi hatao!” (Indira Gandhi’s famous slogan, which has alas never been effectively worked on) “To create an effective system of governance to meet India’s needs” “To develop an effective educational system for India’s needs” “To ensure 90% true literacy in India within 10 years” “To become one of the ‘least corrupt’ nations in the world within 10 years (instead of being one of the ‘more corrupt’ nations)”

(c) GS ChandyFundas31 Thus far, I’ve not managed to get any group, government or NGO, to take up any of the many potential ‘societal Missions’ that OPMS could be used for. I have identified a huge number of potential projects – even a quick glance through any day’s news will fetch at least 10 potential projects that are crying out for the OPMS treatment!

(c) GS ChandyFundas32 FR: “ System of ‘Types of Missions’ ” A: Individual Missions To become a top-level… To master my math syllabus To get myself a satisfying and well-paid job … B: Organizational Missions To double organizational turnover… To get over the ‘attrition problem’ To align individuals in organization… To launch a new product in US market C: Societal Missions O “Garibi Hatao!” O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs” O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……” System Tie-Line The ‘SYSTEM TIE-LINE’ stands for any of the relationships that may be inherent in the system under consideration On examining the ‘system’ with just the three dimensions that have developed here, we are now able to perceive that a couple more dimensions are required to render this into a truly useful and usable ‘system’…

(c) GS ChandyFundas33 FR: “ System of ‘Types of Missions’ ” A: Individual Missions To become a top-level… To master my math syllabus To get myself a satisfying and well-paid job … B: Organizational Missions To double organizational turnover… To get over the ‘attrition problem’ To align individuals in organization… To launch a new product in US market C: Societal Missions O “Garibi Hatao!” O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs” O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……” System Tie-Line T D: Type of organizationE: Resources reqd. Required O Self- organization O Incorporated Company O Government or non-governmental organisation Two more dimensions needed to create a useful ‘system’ Check out ‘understandability’ of the system as it appears now - after addition of these two extra dimensions - against the original list of objects (reviewed, next slide).

(c) GS ChandyFundas34 Some diverse Missions To become a top level software designer To double organizational turnover within one year “Garibi hatao!” To master my math syllabus and thereby get excellent results in my math exams To get myself a satisfying and well-paying job “To create an effective system of governance to meet India’s needs” To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals To qualify myself for the best job opportunities available To launch a new product in the US market in 2008 To set up my own consulting business To become a global leader in software services by 2015 “To ensure 90% true literacy in India within 10 years” To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals We claim that a significant enhancement in understanding develops through FR categorization – just review that Field Representation! (Reviewed, next slide)

(c) GS ChandyFundas35 FR: “ Systems required to handle different kinds of Missions” A: Individual Missions To become a top-level… To master my math syllabus To get myself a satisfying and well-paid job … B: Organizational Missions To double organizational turnover… To get over the ‘attrition problem’ To align individuals in organization… To launch a new product in US market C: Societal Missions O “Garibi Hatao!” O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs” O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……” System Tie-Line T D: Type of organizationE: Resources reqd. Required O Self- organization O Incorporated Company O Government or non-governmental organisation

(c) GS ChandyFundas36 So, let’s recap Why we do this ‘categorization’ The mind is able to get a better ‘overview’ picture of the whole by looking at a few categories rather than looking at a large number of disparate elements We can start understanding the relationships between the factors in the system when we look at those categories rather than the disparate elements in the list By creating such a Field Representation of ‘Missions’, we are enabled to understand the ‘structures’ of the kind of systems needed to accomplish each type of Mission Most importantly, such representations, when effectively done, are models that satisfy the fundamental “Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety”

(c) GS ChandyFundas37 Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety: (‘Simple Simon’ version) “The dimensions of a proposed solution to any problem should match the dimensions of the problem itself” A great many of our individual, organizational and societal systems are designed without the designers having kept this fundamental law in mind – which explains why so many of our systems do not perform optimally or even may fail catastrophically

(c) GS ChandyFundas38 ‘model of models’ OPMS). We illustrate Field Representation (FR) method once again – now with a quite complex ‘second-order’ model -- a ‘model of models’: the ‘One Page Management System’ (OPMS). The OPMS powerfully ‘enables’ people to accomplish the Missions of current interest to them, by enabling them to see their systems with clarity, in an ‘actionable’ way...

(c) GS ChandyFundas39 The ‘SYSTEM TIE-LINE’ provides us a practical means to show how elements in various Dimensions may impact on the Mission and on the THINGS TO DO in our Action Planning’ – e.g. how do the various BARRIERS impact on the activities to be performed to accomplish the Mission?, etc, etc… all All aspects of ANY ‘Mission’ – no matter how large or ambitious, can be captured on a single page, with linkages to all details! This is a ‘generic’ model, applicable to any Mission! This is a ‘2 nd order’ Field Representation: a ‘MODEL OF MODELS’ – it comprises of ALL the elements and ALL the models arising during the course of any Mission into appropriate classes that have been found useful through years of people working on Missions. This Dimensions contains: THINGS TO DO to accomplish the Mission and all the action models constructed using the elements in the THINGS TO DO list All the BARRIERS/ etc that may hinder or prevent accomplishment of Mission – AND all the models with BARRIERS, etc. All the BARRIERS, etc, that may hinder or prevent accomplishment of Mission AND all the action models constructed using those elements Linkages should be developed between elements in the various dimensions of our OPMS in order to clarify our minds about our systems and how to develop effective action in them! On exploring such linkages, we find that we’re naturally begin to ‘understand the system better’ – and enabled to develop all needed sub-systems for our ‘System to accomplish the chosen Mission’. The whole system we create will be highly effective because we have understood the relationships between the factors in the system! Linkage across Dimensions: How do the BARRIERS, etc, hinder or prevent accomplishment of THINGS TO DO (and the Mission)? Linkage across Dimensions: How to develop appropriate THINGS TO DO that would help us to overcome the BARRIERS, etc??? That important question becomes entirely clear to us! Use of ‘System Tie-Line

(c) GS ChandyFundas40 THINGS TO DO BARRIERS More THINGS TO DO Hinder specific to overcome We get a series of models like the following, which would help clarify how to accomplish desired objectives We get a whole series of such models linking up specific elements in the various dimensions of the OPMS to specific elements in other dimensions The model means: “BARRIERS hinder specific THINGS TO DO – and we are enabled to identify more THINGS TO DO to overcome those BARRIERS” Enable us to identify Action Plans to develop the strengths required (but not currently available) to accomplish Mission How to prepare to avail the OPPORTUNITIES within the ‘window of opportunity’! How to overcome weaknesses that may hinder or prevent accomplishment of our Mission!

(c) GS ChandyFundas41 It’s called the One Page Management System because: All the information related to the ‘Mission’ is crystallized onto a single page – and any part of it can be accessed because of the linkages in the model From this one page, linkages would develop to show you how: THINGS TO DO would contribute to each other and to the Mission; BARRIERS/DIFFICULTIES and THREATS might hinder or prevent accomplishment of THINGS TO DO – and you can find out other THINGS TO DO to overcome those BARRIERS, etc. What STRENGTHS are required to accomplish the Mission (and how to acquire them); What OPPORTUNITIES are available to accomplish the Mission – and how to prepare to avail of them; How existing WEAKNESSES might hinder or prevent accomplishment, and how to overcome those WEAKNESSES; And a whole lot else! It really is an ‘Operating System for the Human Mind’! This huge claim can be justified in detail in a live workshop session

(c) GS ChandyFundas42 Linkages developing through OPMS: How to overcome BARRIERS, WEAKNESSES, etc ? How to develop needed STRENGTHS? How to use available STRENGTHS to overcome WEAKNESSES? How to prepare to avail OPPORTUNITIES that may arise? Which EVENTS/ACTIVITIES should come first? What is most important to do for accomplishment of Mission?? Etc, etc, etc, etc …

(c) GS ChandyFundas43 It’s all based on the following ‘Fundamental Model’

(c) GS ChandyFundas44 Mental Models Real World Trigger Questions Elements Representations of Mental Models ACTIONACTION Bold arrows mean “lead(s) to” Means “applied to” Comparison We claim that OPMS is by far THE most effective means available to create needed changes in our mental models, and to guide appropriate action on the real world! Feedback OPMS Process This fundamental model, through the OPMS, enables a powerful ‘problem-solving loop’ to develop in the individual/group mind

(c) GS ChandyFundas45 Fundamental Model Interpret Action Monitor Capture Crystallize Model Our powerful ‘Model For Applying Science to Global Issues’ develops by systematically building on this loop “Problem-solving loop “leads to” “enables”

(c) GS ChandyFundas46 Enabling Process Effective Application of General Principles of Problem Solving in Complex Systems Specific application to various areas – human behaviour; political functions; governance, etc. “enable(s)” Integrated approach to problem solving for global issues The OPMS approach fits in very well with all the major ‘Theories and Principles of Science and Integrated Systems – including human behaviour’ – leads to the most effective possible consensus problem solving on complex issues

(c) GS ChandyFundas47 The Business Process Model – a macro picture Enables The ‘type’ of enablement is somewhat different at each level

(c) GS ChandyFundas48 Various applications of the OPMS (some realized; others are only potential) Applications of OPMS (successful in various degrees) To enhance personal effectiveness at … (several successes) To understand thoroughly the topics in my math syllabus and THEREBY to improve my results in my math exams (one success, long before the OPMS software was created) To become a top-level software designer (several successes) To get myself a good and satisfying job (several successes) To create the OPMS software (prototype software ready) To launch an organization to create and market the OPMS software (success; through organization created folded ahead of full success) To teach myself how to use PowerPoint effectively To learn how to speak; read; and write English (/other languages) effectively for various purposes (business/ academics/…) To learn subject XYZ…. To double organizational turnover within 1 year (under way) To develop a first-class chartering division for shipping agency (under say) Planning to purchase vessel – ship-owning and operating (under way) …(and a great many others) To become a top level consultant in my field (one of my associates has actually been very successful at this Mission).

(c) GS ChandyFundas49 “Garibi hatao!” (Indira Gandhi’s stirring slogan to vanquish poverty in India - largely unsuccessful to date) To make India one of the ‘least-corrupt nations of the world’ (currently one of the more corrupt) To develop and install educational systems truly suited to our needs To tackle the issue of ‘global warming’ more effectively than has been done to date To ensure that science is more effectively used to tackle major societal issues than is the case presently… To develop an effective understanding of science amongst policy makers of various nations (US; India; others…) To bring about effective public discussion on societal issues To bring about 90% true literacy in India “A Vision for Mumbai” (HT article series) To ensure compliance to the ‘Rights To Information’ legislation in India To ….(etc, etc, etc) Some potential applications of the OPMS

(c) GS ChandyFundas50 Any kind of Mission, problem or issue that has not been yielding to the conventional means can beneficially be tackled much more effectively through the OPMS!

(c) GS ChandyFundas51 Information about John Warfield’s books, papers, etc: and see also the ‘John Warfield Collection’ maintained at the library of George Mason University The OPMS is based on the seminal contributions to systems science by Professor John N. Warfield.

(c) GS ChandyFundas52 For more information about OPMS and/or free access to the prototype OPMS software, contact: G.S. Chandy Bangalore: Terrapin Station (near Delhi Public School) Sathanur Village, Bagalur P.O., PIN: Bangalore, India Tel.: Currently camped at Mumbai: c/o Sahi Oretrans Pvt Ltd Western India House, 3 rd Floor Sir P.M. Road, Fort Mumbai , India Telephone: (Personal line) (Board line)

(c) GS ChandyFundas53 Thank you!