Earlier this month I attended the two days International Master Class in Strategic Intelligence executed by Rodenberg Tillman & Associates. Rodenberg Tillman & Associates (RT&A) is a Dutch company founded in 1985, specializing in strategy and strategic intelligence. Since 2000, the company has published six books on this subject and numerous whitepapers. RT&A’s Master Class is considered to be one of the most comprehensive trainings in strategy and strategic intelligence in Europe, the USA, and the Far East.
If you’re really determined to move beyond simply gathering data and truly understand its strategic impact, this Master Class is designed for you. RT&A offers a unique “Six-Phases-Model of Making Intelligence Work” designed to effectively implement strategic intelligence within organizations. The Master Class is built around these Six Building Blocks™, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the critical aspects of Strategic Management and Intelligence. It’s perfect for business professionals who aim to excel by integrating Strategic Intelligence into their everyday practices, gaining the insights necessary to not only anticipate, but also shape the future.
The Tragic Downfall Of Nokia
One of my first mobile phones was a Nokia. They were market leader at that time. It seems like decades ago. No everybody is using a smartphone. No one can do without anymore. Read more about the downfall of Nokia. Why didn’t they see this coming?
The Five Slides of Jack Welch
Continuing on the smartphone, but this time a smartphone on wheels; the Tesla. Over the past 15 years, Elon Musk has skillfully positioned Tesla to outmaneuver established giants like Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW. He might be inspired by the Five Slide Methodology of Jack Welch, who has five questions that make strategy real. Why didn’t they see this coming?
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future” – John F. Kennedy
Black Swan Events
Coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his 2007 book The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable, a black swan event refers to a rare and unpredictable occurrence that has a significant impact. These events are characterized by their extreme rarity, severe consequences, and the tendency for people to rationalize them in hindsight as if they were predictable. Examples include the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gray Rhino Events
Introduced by Michele Wucker in her 2016 book The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore, a gray rhino represents a highly probable, high-impact threat that is often neglected. Unlike black swans, gray rhinos are not random surprises but occur after a series of warnings and visible evidence. They are akin to the “elephant in the room”—obvious yet ignored. An example is the climate change crisis, which has been foreseen for decades but often inadequately addressed.
Strategic Implications
Understanding these concepts is crucial for organizations aiming to anticipate and mitigate risks:
• Black Swans: Due to their unpredictability, organizations should build resilience and flexibility into their strategies to absorb shocks from unforeseen events.
• Gray Rhinos: Since these are foreseeable, organizations have the opportunity—and responsibility—to recognize and act upon them proactively, thereby preventing or mitigating potential crises.
By identifying both gray rhinos and black swans, organizations can better predict and shape their futures, effectively serving as a “canary in a coal mine” to detect and respond to potential threats.
The Bravinci Code
I am a Consulting Partner at Bravinci. Since earlier this year Bravinci entered into a strategic partnership with Rodenberg Tillman & Associates. Bravinci is a company specializing in data management and intelligence. The collaboration between RT&A and Bravinci led to the development of an intelligent strategic compass for organizations, called ‘The Bravinci Code’ This approach links strategic intelligence to a structured method that identifies weak and emerging signals, enabling organizations to enhance their competitiveness, growth, and risk management.
Why this Master Class was a valuable experience?
If you never want to say; ’Why didn’t we see this coming’, you must be prepared for the future. This Master Class is both informational as well as inspirational. It offers practical tools, frameworks, and techniques to collect and interpret the world’s available and relevant data. A must attend Master Class for those who want to stay ahead of the competition and don’t like to be surprised.
These Top 5 elements Made the Master Class a valuable experience:
1. Practical Tools and Frameworks: The course provides actionable tools and frameworks that participants can directly apply to enhance their strategic intelligence efforts.
2. Diverse Participant Perspectives: The inclusion of professionals from various industries fosters rich discussions and broadens understanding of strategic intelligence applications.
3. Experienced Instruction: Joséph Rodenberg has around 40 years of experience. The Master Class benefits from his extensive expertise, offering deep insights into strategic intelligence.
4. Real-World Case Studies: The program incorporates numerous case studies, illustrating best and worst practices, which help putting theoretical concepts into perspective.
5. Comprehensive Curriculum: Covering topics from intelligence concepts to organizational perspectives and information management, the course equips participants with a holistic understanding of strategic intelligence.
Till next time.
Consulting Partner at Bravinci. Online also known as; DaAnalytics.
