The document advocates for new approaches to strategic thinking in business that utilize both logical structure and visualization. It introduces the philosophy of Structured Visual ThinkingTM and the 4DTM methodology. 4DTM includes four frameworks - Discovery, Development, Decision, and Deployment - that are applied using principles of structured visualization to solve complex business issues. The document argues that traditional strategic thinking methods are outdated and not working for clients, and that the new approaches enable improved thinking, engagement, creativity, and outcomes.

1. THINKING OUT LOUD

2. LISTEN UP! Traditional methods and techniques for thinking through IMPORTANTbusiness issues are out of date. They are NOT working. Our clients tell us that they have tried these classical methods and that they have failed. THEY NEED NEW SOLUTIONS AND FAST.

3. OUR CLIENTS! They tell us that they no longer have the confidence in traditional strategy development – typified by those large transformation programs that were handed off to others to figure out. And since they commissioned this work - the world has significantly moved on. Nobody in the business was listening anyway. THESE HAVE OFTEN BEEN HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND HIGHLY FRUSTRATING EXERCISES

5. WELL. THE BEGINNING ACTUALLY!

6. Left Brain?Right Brain? Errr…? Shouldn't we USE both? We HAVE both!

7. WELL WE SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN SOME REAL BASICS… TRY THESE…

8. CREATIVITY

10. SIMPLICITY

11. “THINGS SHOULD BE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE BUT NOT SIMPLER…”The entertaining Albert Einstein said that. He meant that if you have a ‘problem’ with too simple a solution - that leaves parts of the problem unsolved. Then you clearly AIN’T solved the problem

12. THERE IS A CHINESE SAYING - THERE ALWAYS IS “Complex problems DO NOT HAVE simple solutions".

13. NOT ROCKET SCIENCE SO FAR - RIGHT?

14. PEOPLE

15. That would be all of us…!

16. TALKING...

17. Now that we are all connected…!

18. SO. OUR AIM IS VERY SIMPLE…

19. “CHANGE THE WAY BUSINESS THINKS AND WORKS. ENABLING THE 21ST CENTURY ORGANIZATION TO OUTPERFORM.”

20. NO SMALL THING…

21. “AND AS WITH EVERYTHING IN LIFE - THAT MEANS BEING ALIVE TO EVERYTHING.” EVERYTHING. INCLUDES THE NEW GENERATIONS WHO THINK WE ARE USELESS + HAVE SCREWED THE WHOLE PLACE UP!

22. “IN TIMES OF DRASTIC CHANGE, THE LEARNERS WILL INHERIT THE EARTH, WHILE THE LEARNED WILL FIND THEMSELVES BEAUTIFULLY EQUIPPED TO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.” ERIC HOFFER

23. SO. THE 21st CENTURY NEEDS TOOLS THAT ACTUALLY SOLVE THE 21ST CENTURIES PROBLEMS.

24. WE ‘PACKAGED’ UP THESE NEW TOOLS & WE CALLED THEM… & Structured Visual Thinking™ - Our Philosophy. And 4D™ - Our Methodology.

25. Structured Visual Thinking™ It states that ‘THINKING’ is vastly improved by applying logical ‘STRUCTURE’ and ‘VISUAL’ techniques - that are co-created by those with the responsibility for the outcomes. Structure enables the left brain, and visualization the right brain, to deliver better thinking.

26. 4D™ 4D™ - stands simply for the 4 Frameworks of DISCOVERY,DEVELOPMENT, DECISION & DEPLOYMENT. These are applied using the principles ofStructured Visual Thinking™and will solve any complex business issue. Indeed they will help teams create value and innovation right across their enterprise.

27. IT CAN BE HARD TO EXPLAIN SOMETIMES. SO WE USE PICTURES. BECAUSE WE CAN.

29. PICTURES CAN DESCRIBE ABSTRACT CONCEPTS…

30. PICTURES CAN TELL SIMPLE STORIES

31. IT WORKS The approach is a very powerful way of quickly compressing a teams thinking into a sequence of energetic RIGOROUS and decisive frameworks.

32. AND…

33. WE GET TO MAKE IT ALL SING AND DANCE…! IN EVERY MEDIA YOU CAN IMAGINE

34. AND FINALLY…

35. “WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE: THOSE WHO LET IT HAPPEN, THOSE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND THOSE WHO WONDER WHAT HAPPENED.” – JOHN M. RICHARDSON JR

36. SO FROM HERE ON YOU GET TO COUNT HOW MANY OF THE FOLLOWING THINGS YOU WILL NOT NEED IN THE 21ST CENTURY…

37. NUMBER 1. THINKING: Many businesses allow nowhere near enough time for the business to actually think. If we can improve thinking then we can add enormous value.

38. NUMBER TWO. IMAGINING: Considering the future, reflecting on deeper details, getting to grips with how things will be different - that’s what inspires and causes breakthrough ideas. USING YOUR IMAGINATION. “Leaps of imagination not jumps to conclusion.”

39. NUMBER THREE. ACCELERATING: Today’s business hasn’t got the luxury of time…Rapid development is required

40. NUMBER FOUR. ENGAGING: Engaging teams to solve problems and create opportunities seems a simple enough idea. We have proven that it is the key to success.

41. NUMBER FIVE. OWNING: Techniques that ensure that the teams own and sustain the outcomes of their work. Being objective, reflective and thoughtful in the widest possible context mitigates risk. Visually structured approaches enable teams to feel totally connected to the decisions they make. They can share the future they wish to create. Because they created it.

42. NUMBER SIX. CO-CREATING: Co-creating means just that. Teams working together. Proven and logical models generating high energy building rewarding outcomes together as a team

43. NUMBER SEVEN. DECIDING: Decisions are the ultimate outcome of any thinking process. Strategy is about making quality decisions. Each step leading to another adding value until the right choices are made.

44. NUMBER EIGHT. CREATING: The 21st Century needs new ideas. BUSINESS needs innovation, fresh thinking; CHALLENGES to the systems that confound us. Systemic Change. Differentiation. Think!

45. NUMBER NINE. DISCERNING: Spotting patterns in complex things is the new ART AND SCIENCE required if we are to survive the turmoil of being in the business world today.

46. NUMBER TEN. STRUCTURING: The brain functions because of structure – importantly it causes clarity, focus and shared meaning to occur. Neat huh?

47. NUMBER ELEVEN. FACILITATING: To ACCELERATE OUTCOMES and avoid solving the wrong problems - expert FACILITATION causes correct conversations. Important therefore to have no interest in the outcome except the right answer.

48. OK? HOW MANY DON’T YOU NEED…? (How many MORE would you add?)

49. E-mail me on john@grouppartners.netor call me on +447920759250

50. THE A TO Z OF GROUP PARTNERS | http://bit.ly/br7MWQRAMBLING ON STUFF |http://bit.ly/6TWpsmWHAT WE DO - IN 1 MINUTE | http://bit.ly/cDbkQzWHAT WE DO - IN 5 MINUTES | http://bit.ly/by4q7TEASY GUIDES - HOW IT ALL WORKS | http://bit.ly/byzr32WHAT’S ON OUR MINDS? | http://johncaswell.posterous.com/FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | http://twitter.com/johncaswellFOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK | http://www.facebook.com/GroupPartnersTHINKING: There’s an App for that! - 4D™ GROUP PARTNERS | WEBSITE: http://www.grouppartners.netquot;Helping our clients avoid solving the wrong problem really well"_______________________________________________________________