Category Archives: Relationships

HR and Big Data; Jumping the Gun?

Big Data is unlikely to lead to the breakthroughs in understanding of what makes success unless organisations start to take into account the key intangibles such as relationships and culture. To understand performance or lack thereof, we need to look far beyond the capabilities, characteristics or behaviour of individuals. Instead, relationships, culture, other intangibles and contextual factors play a larger role in understanding performance. Continue reading

Posted in 4G, Culture, General, Intangibles, Leadership, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rethinking the War for Talent

Despite advances in technology, selection methods and years of cumulative experience; organisations continue to struggle squaring the recruitment and talent puzzle. Arguably, with all the tools currently available to them, businesses are no better at recruiting than they were 20 years ago. Whilst new technologies and social media have widened the net, there is little evidence to suggest that decision making is improving or that organisations are better at understanding what makes a successful hire. Maybe it is time that we re-frame the talent question and look at recruitment decisions through a different set of filters? Continue reading

Posted in Teams, Relationships, 4G, Culture, Intangibles, Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can You Predict Team Performance?

Predicting team performance is important and psychological factors are one approach that show promise. Using 4G and the Visual Team Builder, it’s possible to predict how specific Social Relationships between two people will unfold and in turn, aggregate this data to look at team relationships, complex group dynamics and to see their impact on team performance. Continue reading

Posted in 4G, Psychology, Relationships, Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Complex Drivers of Performance

A recent post by Om Malik (here) sets about dissecting the recent departure of JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson after only two years in the job. Formerly the head of retail for Apple; clearly it was expected that he would … Continue reading

Posted in Relationships, Culture, Teams | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Actionable and Predictive Team Analytics

The significance of actionable and predictive team analytics cannot be understated. Tools that offer decision makers simple, actionable, valuable and consistent advice is key. Additionally, these capabilities have arguably been missing from the practice of anyone wanting to improve the engagement, well-being and performance of their staff or team members. Continue reading

Posted in Relationships, Tools, Intangibles, Psychology, Teams, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Physics of People and The 5 Criteria to Transform Business

The idea of a Physics of People is both valuable and represents something potentially unique. Given that the idea has the potential to transform business, the following sets out the five criteria that a ‘Physics of People’ would need to have in order to have the best chance at achieving such a transformation. Continue reading

Posted in 4G, Culture, Intangibles, Psychology, Relationships, Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peopleware and Social Business – A Missing Piece?

Despite the fact that the term ‘peopleware’ was first coined in 1977 and a book by the same name was published in 1987, there is little contemporary mention of peopleware today in social business circles. It’s going to be interesting to watch the changing role of peopleware in social business, not least the idea of what peopleware is and how it can help social business realise it’s full, transformative potential. Continue reading

Posted in Relationships, Tools, Intangibles, Psychology, Teams, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thinking about a ‘Physics of People’

Further to Stowe’s piece Socialogy and a Scientifically-Grounded Understanding of People and his Physics of People tag, I’ve been thinking about other people’s thoughts and ideas on the subject. What does the idea of a ‘Physics of People’ consist of and how it might take shape? The following extracts and quotes chart the thinking and writing on the subject over the past ten years or so. Continue reading

Posted in Technology, Relationships, Tools, Intangibles, Psychology, Strategy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Socialogy and a Scientifically-Grounded Understanding of People

A scientifically-grounded understanding of people, such as 4G, has the potential to change business in hugely profound ways, perhaps on a scale comparable to the industrial revolution, the introduction of the PC or the rise of the internet. Such a statement is naturally loaded with many assumptions and implications, so it’s worth exploring both in further detail… Continue reading

Posted in Intangibles, Strategy, Technology, Relationships, Tools, Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Team Deficiency Accounts for Startup Failure 33% of the Time

Team deficiency accounts for startup failure almost 33% of the time. Whilst is it commonplace to speak in terms of mechanical, manufacturing, medical or construction related deficiency, there are precious few online articles dealing with team deficiency. If teams are said to be deficient in something, then this raises a whole series of other interesting questions, not least of which is ‘what is a team’? Continue reading

Posted in Intangibles, Psychology, Teams, Relationships, Venture Capital, Tools | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments