Leadership and Crisis

The Competence Hedge: Mastering the Game When the Odds are Rigged

6 February 2024·1349 words·7 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Competence Expertise Systemic Risk Mastery Leadership and Crisis Decision-Making and Bias Design and Innovation Systems Thinking

Exploring how unrivaled expertise serves as a hedge against systemic failures and crises.

The Unseen Architecture of Survival- Part 5: The Ethos of Optionality

24 January 2022·456 words·3 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Antifragility Optionality Barbell Strategy Skin in the Game Social Dynamics Decision-Making and Bias Systems Thinking Leadership and Crisis

Embracing antifragility through optionality and the barbell strategy for survival in uncertainty.

The Unseen Architecture of Survival- Part 4: Mindful Organizing Against Normalization

23 January 2022·342 words·2 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Mindful Organizing High Reliability Organizations Preoccupation With Failure Sensitivity to Operations Social Dynamics Decision-Making and Bias Systems Thinking Leadership and Crisis

How high-reliability organizations maintain vigilance against hidden threats.

The Unseen Architecture of Survival- Part 3: Rites of Terror as Social Superglue

22 January 2022·340 words·2 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Rituals Costly Signals Collective Effervescence Identity Fusion Social Dynamics Decision-Making and Bias Systems Thinking Leadership and Crisis

How extreme rituals create unbreakable social bonds through shared suffering.

The Unseen Architecture of Survival- Part 2: The Genius of the "Dumb" Collective

21 January 2022·391 words·2 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Collective Brain Cumulative Culture Causal Opacity Overimitation Social Dynamics Decision-Making and Bias Systems Thinking Leadership and Crisis

How collective intelligence through cultural evolution surpasses individual genius.

Unseen Architecture of Survival: Hidden Forces Determining Human Survival

20 January 2022·256 words·2 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Social Dynamics Decision-Making and Bias Systems Thinking Leadership and Crisis

Exploring the hidden forces that determine human survival - from collective intelligence and ritual bonding to antifragile systems and mindful organizing.

The Unseen Architecture of Survival- Part 1: Why Predictable Systems Collapse

20 January 2022·367 words·2 mins

Human Systems and Behavior Fragility Black Swans Turkey Problem Nonlinearity Social Dynamics Decision-Making and Bias Systems Thinking Leadership and Crisis

The hidden fragility of modern systems that appear stable but collapse under unexpected shocks.

The Fractured Jade: The Collapse of Northern Wei – The Fractured Jade – Part 6: The Final Gambit

6 March 2021·595 words·3 mins

History and Critical Analysis Regicide Heyin Massacre Military Dictatorship Six Garrisons Dynastic Fragmentation Leadership and Crisis Military and Logistics Social Dynamics Policy and Critique Systems Thinking

The Fractured Jade: The Collapse of Northern Wei – The Fractured Jade – Part 5: The Iron Cavalry

5 March 2021·575 words·3 mins

History and Critical Analysis Regicide Heyin Massacre Military Dictatorship Six Garrisons Dynastic Fragmentation Leadership and Crisis Military and Logistics Social Dynamics Policy and Critique Systems Thinking

The Fractured Jade: The Collapse of Northern Wei – The Fractured Jade – Part 4: The River of Souls

4 March 2021·563 words·3 mins

History and Critical Analysis Regicide Heyin Massacre Military Dictatorship Six Garrisons Dynastic Fragmentation Leadership and Crisis Military and Logistics Social Dynamics Policy and Critique Systems Thinking