How our VOE approach helps us to unlearn old reality truths & learn new reality(Per AG's Think Again book) to solve problems from 15+ disciplines?
Introduction
As I reflected on the "aha moment" behind Prof Adam Grant's new book (that is released today, titled Think Again ), it just dawned on me that there exist a synergy, in the sense, we as a firm have been inspired by a similar (and yet distinctive) "aha- moment" as well. It appears as if, we both have been inspired from two different vantage?points, as I come from a business/science/tech background and Prof Adam Grant from psychology background.
For example, if I may summarize the "aha-moment" behind Adam Grant's book, released today?(as quoted by his senior faculty)
“Just because something is written in a textbook, it is not necessarily true. It is just a model of the author’s version of the truth"
Similarly, if I may summarize the "aha moment" behind our firm's Virtual Ocean of Everything (VOE )?approach?--?as further explained in detail in 100+ of our articles, published as early as 2010 (through our?Google blogs ?including?MIX blogs ?and?LinkedIn blogs ?-- and I paraphrase
Everything ever imagined (or written) by an author is just a version of reality, as perceived by that author?using their multi-reality imagination capability only!??
While there are some similarities between both of our aha-moments, there exists a key difference, in the sense, we call it REALITY, as TRUTH describes just one dimension of reality only?(Note: Other?two dimensions of reality being BEAUTY and GOODNESS).
In other words, in a much larger sense,?
Everything ever imagined or written by all of us combined, is still a sub-reality (or nested reality) within the much larger multi-reality feature of the universe only.
Similarly, everything ever imagined or written by all of us combined, is still a sub-reality (or nested reality) within the much larger "imaginative multi-reality" capability of humans as well.?
Put otherwise, the underlying "vernacular virtualization capability of human consciousness/soul" (which in-turn enables this imaginative multi-reality collaboration ability) is the one helps us to imagine multiple or nested realities".?
(Note:?Turns out, Prof Yuval Harari has proposed a similar idea as well, however, our idea is still a super set node zero idea,?as I had explained in one of my most recent??articles )
This is where, I am being?inspired to write this article today, to highlight, how we have applied this "aha-moment" (plus?few other ideas)??to develop one?such flexible multi-disciplinary integrated framework called Virtual Ocean of Everything (VOE, which dates back to 2010), to help humans to unlearn their old reality based assumptions/beliefs/truths easily and then learn the new reality based situational appropriate beliefs/truths (as suggested by Adam Grant in his book today) -- and then?solve problems from 15+ disciplines, in an integrated manner.
More specifically,?we have also?advanced another 5 Nobel winning/nominated ideas within each of the five problem solving steps of our approach,?as explained in detail in this?(VOE ) article, including another??article as well (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/how-our-firms-big-ideahumans-imaginative-ynhararis-charles-prabakar/ ). For example,?
1. Within the?“Expert diagnosis step”, we have amplified Maslow's hierarchy of needs?model as a complementary?holacracy?of needs based model?-- and institutionalized it using our firm’s market segmentation model called Experience Pool Portfolio (EPP)?framework.?
2. Within?“Effective prescription of choices step”, we have amplified?Nobel Laureate Milton?Friedman's "free to choose" theory as "conscious to choose" theory -- and?institutionalized it?using our firm’s virtual ocean strategy/innovation framework templates.??
3. Within?“Exponential productivity/resource allocation step”, we have amplified Nobel Laureate Robert Solow’s factor of productivity growth?theory,?as?our firm’s virtual reality portfolio of productivity growth theory -- and?institutionalized it?using our firm’s?VRE ?portfolio driven capital allocation templates/tools.
4. Within the?“Efficient Execution step”, we have amplified Friedman/Adam Smith’s invisible hand theory (“cooperation without coercion”) as “collaboration without coercion” theory?and institutionalized it using?our?firm’s??power?through collaboration (PTC )?tools.
5. Within?“Effortless?scaling with a conscious flow culture step”, we have amplified Friedman's?“Plucking theory”?as our firm’s “conscious breathing flow (aka Pranya) theory” -- and institutionalized it, by reimagining economy as a breathing cycle?within a musical instrument called human consciousness of pluckable senses.
Sure enough, ?Prof Clay Christensen said it best -- our firm's VOE/VizPlanet work is a Nobel Prize quality work -- and I leave it for you to decide!
That said, and coming back to my earlier point --?let me explain, how we have implemented it within our Virtual Ocean of Everything(VOE) approach, in three parts below.
Part A: How our master model, that models?this?multi-reality imagination capability of humans(by reframing Maslow's hierarchy as holacracy), so that humans can unlearn their old reality based assumptions/beliefs/truths and then relearn the new reality based situational appropriate beliefs/truths to?solve problems from 15+ disciplines, in an integrated manner?
First, as suggested by Adam Grant, if I may start with a scientific hypothesis of reality?-- and more specifically, by synthesizing Einstein's relativity theory in one line --
Celestial bodies make the space/time to curve(or morph), while space/time makes the celestial bodies to move.
While reflecting on this statement, it dawned on me that our "body-soul-spirit" complex works exactly the same way only.?In other words, --
?Our conscious body makes our soul/spirit to curve(as cycle), while soul/spirit makes the body to act
And if I may express this philosophy in Einstein's field equation format
Wisdom/beauty from Spirit + Goodness from Soul >= Truth from Body
Similarly, if I may describe the essence of this philosophy in Plato/Aristotle style language (Note: We have made it circular/cyclical, to better represent the multi-reality design of universe and humans)
To BE is To DO -- repeating in CIRCULAR/CYCLICAL fashion
(i.e. "to be is to do", followed by, "to do is to be" -- and the cycle repeats)
This is where we asked?--?can't we develop a simple master model to integrate all of these models -- and more specifically, these science/psychology/philosophy/theology/math models of the reality --?and then casually/correlationally link it to all other discipline specific?models??
There born was our worldview neutral master model, as summarized earlier and explained in detail below
?M (EQ lever) + B?(IQ lever) + G >= A (expressed in action words via our five senses), that is expressed in Aristotle's five rhetorical devices as below -- where
(Note: This model can also be expressed in integral form similar to Einstein's field equation as well, however, for now, let us keep it simple for the purpose of this discussion ,?as explained in this article .
When we look at this model carefully, it is the same model we also use?subconsciously?while making day to day decisions?
And if I need to express the same in a linear equation (LE) format?—
Minimize pain by optimizing motivation + Maximize pleasure by optimizing belief??>= Bidirectional Action performed via body’s five senses
And further expressed using LE notation below?
M?= motivation energy unit per person?
B?= belief energy unit per person
A?= Action energy unit per person?
a?= lifetime in hours per person?
b?= productive capacity in hours per person?
x??= productive people?expressed in # of persons
And so, the optimized linear equation is
Max Mx + Bx >= Ax
s.t.?
ax <= b
x?>=0
(Note: We can add many more organizational constraints around resources, capitals, skills, health etc as well. In a real world situation, we could end up creating hundreds of constraints depending upon how big and complex a business is. Once we quantify all the constraints, this linear model will give the accurate situation appropriate motivation energy and belief energy that needs to be exhibited to every problem/decision situation. Put otherwise, depending upon the constraints , this model will help us to quantify the number of motivational energy units and belief/mindset energy needs that will be needed to handle any business situation)
Stated otherwise, once we figure out a way to fulfill the needs and wants of the pain/pleasure spectrum within this model effectively/efficiently/effortlessly, this equation will automatically get balanced. Put otherwise, this is the foundational linear equation we use in our subconscious mind, to meet our needs and wants, especially while solving problems within an organization.
Speaking of meeting the needs and wants of our pain/pleasure spectrum, as you know as well as I do, Maslow's hierarchy is the needs model, used by almost all problem solving frameworks today. As we analyzed this Maslow model —
While?its needs classification sounds accurate, its hierarchical organization, in our mind, does not reflect the reality of?the needs fulfillment journey of humans.?In other words, our needs journey, in reality, follows a simultaneous holacracy of needs model within one's pain/pleasure spectrum (with a situational pain avoiding needs being aspired on one side of the spectrum, to pleasure/happiness seeking needs being aspired at the other end of the spectrum with situational weight for each need).?
What do I mean by that?
As you know as well as I do, according?to?Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,?every?human grows through a hierarchy of needs, in the sense, once the lower level needs are sufficiently met,?they move onto the next level, and so on so forth. Those needs start with?physiological needs?, then moving up?to safety needs, belongingness needs, and esteem needs —?and finally to the?“being needs”.
Rightfully?so, we decided to develop a complementary holacracy based needs model, with a hypothesis that all of our needs are aspired simultaneously (as depicted in the exhibit above as?a?holacracical cluster of five concentric need cycles, with the being/consciousness cycle at the center),?with each cycle operating with different?weight factors, as depicted in the attached one page exhibit.?
In other words,??under our holacracy based needs model, the outer cycle happens to be the pain avoiding?physiological needs cycle, followed by?safety cycle, belongingness cycle , esteem cycle —?and finally the pleasure seeking?“being needs”?being the inner root cycle.?Depending?upon where one is in their needs journey,?each of these need cycles are aspired with different weight factors, as per the need demands within the pain/pleasure spectrum.
This is where we decided to keep this holacracy model as another foundation of?our approach, with the following?hypothesis, which is very relevant within the context of this post pandemic world.
Unless and until we redesign all organization and business models?(that are currently developed using Maslow's hierarchy) -- i.e. redesign them using our firm's holacracy model, we will not be able to maximize the fullest potential of humans, the #1 productivity driver behind top and bottom lines.
Think about it -- and more specifically, think about its implications to the business world, as almost all of the organization and business models today (including market segmentation models developed by problem solving frameworks like red/blue oceans) are all being developed using the assumptions from Maslow's hierarchy only. A key implication here is -- we not only need to rethink?our market segmentation approaches, but also redesign all of our products and services development approaches, so that we can develop integrated products and services solutions, that?cater to the needs of the respective need categories (say physiological) and "being/conscious?needs" simultaneously. This is where, our VOE approach?has a discipline neutral way, to redesign all of these models using our firm's much more "reality accurate holacracy" model (and by using the following discipline neutral value metaphor definitions)
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1. What do we mean by value and how do we maximize it?
Value starts by mixing human consciousness of the human capital with physical resources capital (to produce product & services capital), before being transacted by financial capital -to meet the needs of customer capital - and then the value cycle repeats, when financial capital is reinvested. This virtuous cycle can be maximized only when human consciousness is increased and/or traded, as it is the foundational source of all other capital values in this world. Not to mention, even this value as expressed by the?the so called "Zen of corporate finance formula", in our mind, itself is a causal variation of our master model only?(Profit * (1 - g / ROIC)) / (WACC - g) >= Value (A), where , g is causally mapped to M energy , ROIC is causally mapped to B energy , Profit after paying all debts is metaphorically mapped to Grace and Weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is metaphorically mapped to debt threshold.
2. What do we mean by problems and how do we define them?in a discipline neutral way?
Problem is a CURRENT deviation from an optimal virtuous value cycle, that is caused by violation of nature's first principles including?human consciousness principles
3. What do we mean by risk?and how do we define them?in a discipline neutral way?
Risk is a FUTURE deviation from an optimal virtuous value cycle, that is caused by violation of nature's first principles including?human consciousness principles
4. What do we mean by credit, options and leverage?
In first principles/human consciousness?language, concepts like credit, options and leverage are forms of insurance only. Not to mention, insurance in turn is a form of GRACE only
5. What is the root cause of all risks, problems and dilemmas faced by the world (and better yet by our planet/universe at large)??
?The consciousness imbalance?of the planet, at both individual and collective/cumulative level is the root cause of all risks, problems and dilemmas within organizations (including economic inequality at the macro level), as they all stem from the imbalance of this master model only. Not to mention, this root cause is the one that manifests as sub-problems and dilemmas in all disciplines as well.
And when we analyze this root cause carefully, one of the main reasons behind this imbalance is the misapplication of a process called?vernacular virtualization (which humans use to develop/speak languages, including all mental models to solve problems), as explained in this?article .?And that precisely is yet another reason, we have kept this very same vernacular virtualization process as the foundation of our approach, so that we can solve problems both at the symptom and toot cause level simultaneously.
That said, within the context of this vernacular virtualization process (including the above discipline?neutral definitions),?if I may?give an overview of the causal/correlation linkage of these discipline neutral levers to the levers within the 15+ discipline specific models/equations, as summarized below and in this?article .
Leadership/Culture disciplines, with more focus on the G and A levers
M + B + G >= A from five senses (The original master equation)
Psychology discipline, with more focus on M and B levers)
M + B + G >= A from five senses (The original master equation)
Theology discipline
Spirit (M) + Soul (B) + Grace (G) >= Body (A from five senses)
Philosophy discipline
Beauty (M) + Goodness (B) + Grace (G) >= Truth (A from five senses)
Strategy with more focus on M, B and A levers
M + B + G >= A from five senses (The original master equation)
Economics discipline
Income (M) + wealth (B) + credit (G) >= spending (A)
Finance discipline
(Profit * (1 - g / ROIC)) / (WACC - g) >= Value (A), where , g is causally mapped to M energy , ROIC is causally mapped to B energy , Profit is metaphorically mapped to Grace and Weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is metaphorically mapped to law threshold
Marketing/Sales disciplines
Place (M) + Product (B) + Promotion (G) = Price (A)
Political science discipline
Freedom (M) + liberty (B) + Grace (G) = pursuit of happiness (A)
Neuroscience discipline
Alpha, Delta and Theta energies (M) + Beta and Gamma (B) + gravity (G) >= Action energy (A)
Physiology discipline
Serotonin, Endorphins and Cortisol (M) + Dopamine, Serotonin and Oxytocin (B) + balanced mindfulness (G) >= Adrenaline (A)
Linguistics/Speech discipline
Phonetic sound frequency (M) + Rhythmic stress timing (B) + pedal point pull (G) >= Harmonious speech (A)
Music discipline
Melodious sound frequency (M) + Rhythmic timing (B) + pedal point pull (G) >= Harmonious music (A)
Digital/Data/AI
Application (M) + run-time OS/model (B) + metadata pull (G) >= Output (A)
In other words, this equation/model awareness (including few other metaphors like Grace=Trust= Gravity and ST coordinate based virtuous/vicious cycles) is absolutely essential for every employee, not only to be self-aware/mindful of these EQ/IQ traits, but also be solving problems using their skills/talents/gifts?in perfect alignment within company's larger purpose.?
Part B: Implications of our VOE approach, as it relates to resetting the organization and?business models of our planet?in the post pandemic world, so that we not only can handle this crisis effectively/efficiently/effortlessly, but also can handle another upcoming resource constraint crisis???
That said, assuming you are all with me thus far, how about I also highlight some?pragmatic implications of our approach as well?
Again, as?you know as well as I do, this global pandemic, in a way,?has accelerated the business case to experiment the "virtual way of living" in all walks of our lives. Not to mention, we as a firm, had predicted?the same 5+ years ago --?and accordingly had developed a comprehensive approach?to?handle very exact crises like this (including an upcoming resource constraint crisis).?
Sure enough, there are many indicators that these virtual business models are going to?transform many aspects of life forever , as correctly predicted by our firm 5+ years ago.
This is yet another reason, we have been advising few of our clients to collect?experimentation data (as much as possible), so that we can sustain these virtual business models, once we come out of it (as?humans tend to continue the crisis lifestyles, even after the crisis ends, as it happened during WWII)
Speaking of sustaining these virtual business and organization models post the crisis,?our firm’s scripture/first/consciousness principles driven virtual ocean of everything approach ( along with its purple platform of everything called VizPlanet platform by balancing both blue and red ideologies as purple)?has one compelling answer to handle this crisis effectively.??
And if I may drive home this point little more, we have instantiated the framework part into a platform of everything called VizPlanet as well by envisioning 25+ sub platforms (one for every LOB/industry) within our VizPlanet platform, to?handle very exact crises like this (including an upcoming resource constraint crisis),?as summarized in this?3 minute?audio summary ?including this?article .?In that sense, ours is not just a theoretical?approach, rather it is a full blown platform approach as well -- and the first sub platform within VizPlanet (called VizCafe+ aka Robot Barista) is currently?being market tested in partnership with Euro Cafe , as we speak, as well.?
Part C: Implications of our VOE approach, as it relates to?institutionalizing these organization and business model transformations, using our firm's 5 dimensional mastery courses, including a real time, multi-disciplinary, integrated corporate performance management?system (CPM)??
Similarly, when it comes to the institutionalization of this approach, our experience suggests that it takes a dedicated transformation program to?institutionalize?these virtual mindset cultures among all stakeholders, in an integrated manner as well.
A?pragmatic first step is to train everyone with our firm's five VOE mastery courses, as summarized in one of my most recent*****?VOE Mastery overview video training sessions . This is a Judaic Christian worldview neutral self mastery overview session delivered to some of our worldview neutral participants. To learn more, check out some of my scripture principles driven bible study sessions in my FB page (https://www.facebook.com/charles.prabakar )?as well. Similarly,??I had explained the very same approach using the "EASTERN/GITA PHILOSOPHY?PRINCIPLES DRIVEN LEADERSHIP LENS" in one of my FB comments, which might be of interest here as well. Check it out in this link, as?time permitting (https://www.facebook.com/1239733139/posts/10218412763690635/?d=n )?
And coming back to our firm's VOE mastery courses, they include?
?That said, if I may also highlight some of its practical implications of our approach within the context of these uncommon economic uncertainties --?
While leading economists are widely divided on the nature of recovery (e.g. V-shaped vs. U-shaped vs. W-shaped vs. L shaped etc.), we believe that it will be an U-recovery (with a slight risk of it turning into L or W recovery, should we be hit by a second wave, which is still unknown at this time). This is where, we advice companies to execute these top strategies using?a?real time corporate performance management system(CPM), wherein, we can implement?these ideas using a BSC style dashboard?quickly?(i.e. dynamic scenario planning, template based capital reallocation by expressing?risk as a probability distribution and holacracy needs state model).?
Conclusion
While there exist some similarities between both of our "aha-moments", there exist an?unique difference?as well, in the sense, our inspiration comes from a super set idea called REALITY (in three dimensions) compared to TRUTH (that describes just one dimension of reality and the other dimensions being BEAUTY and GOODNESS). Yet another difference is that the underlying?"vernacular virtualization capability of human consciousness" is the one that helps humans to imagine multiple (or nested) realities.
Sure enough, we have made this idea as one of the primary foundations of our firm's value creation/problem solving approach called Virtual Ocean of Everything((VOE ). Similarly we have also amplified five other Nobel winning/nominated ideas within each of its five problem solving steps of our approach, as explained in detail in this?(VOE )?summary article, including another??article? as well. For example,?
1. Within the?“Expert diagnosis step”, we have amplified Maslow's hierarchy of needs?model as a complementary?holacracy?of needs based model?-- and institutionalized it using our firm’s market segmentation model called Experience Pool Portfolio (EPP)?framework.?
2. Within?the?“Effective prescription of choices step”, we have amplified?Nobel Laureate Milton?Friedman's "free to choose" theory as "conscious to choose" theory -- and?institutionalized it?using our firm’s virtual ocean strategy/innovation framework templates.??
3. Within?the?“Exponential productivity/resource allocation step”, we have amplified Nobel Laureate Robert Solow’s factor of productivity growth?theory,?as?our firm’s virtual reality portfolio of productivity growth theory -- and?institutionalized it?using our firm’s?VRE ?portfolio driven capital allocation templates/tools.
4. Within the?“Efficient Execution step”, we have amplified Friedman/Adam Smith’s invisible hand theory (“cooperation without coercion”) as “collaboration without coercion” theory?and institutionalized it using?our?firm’s??power?through collaboration (PTC )?tools.
5. Within?the?“Effortless?scaling with a conscious flow culture step”, we have amplified Friedman's?“Plucking theory”?as our firm’s “conscious breathing flow (aka Conscious Pranya flow) theory” -- and institutionalized it, by reimagining economy as a?breathing cycle?within a musical instrument called human consciousness of pluckable senses.?
Sure enough,?Prof Clay Christensen said it best -- our firm's VOE/VizPlanet work is a Nobel Prize quality work -- and I leave it for you to decide!