The document discusses the concept of strategic visualization as a means to simplify complex issues in business by utilizing visual tools to enhance understanding and communication. It emphasizes the integration of big picture thinking and collaboration across disciplines to address today's increasingly intricate problems. Moreover, it argues for the necessity of shifting from traditional, detail-oriented approaches to more holistic, visual practices that map complexity effectively.

1. Strategic
Visualization in a
business world
How to cut through
complexity without ever
losing overview

2. Strategic Visualization
”This
presenta9on
takes
you
through
why
and
how
strategic
”Please
keep
in
mind
visualiza9on
works
in
a
that
these
slides
can
business
context”
only
serve
as
a
teaser
for
the
rich
tool
that
strategic
visualiza9on
is”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 2
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

3. Let us start with the basics
”Here
you
see
a
fairly
accurate
image
of
the
brain.
We
have
a
right
and
a
leA
brain
hemisphere”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 3
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

4. Cross section of the brain
”Neuroscience
has
found
out
that
the
two
hemispheres
take
care
of
different
stuff.
(We
use
both
sides
all
the
9me).”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 4
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

5. Cross section of the brain
”What
brain
hemisphere
do
you
seem
to
have
a
preference
for
using
when
learning
new
things?”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 5
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

6. But what many brains really look like…
”Unfortunately
this
is
what
most
brains
look
like.
S9nky
right
brain
hemispheres
and
normal
leAs”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 6
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

7. But what many brains really look like…
”WHY??!”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 7
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

8. Back in the day (when Greece ruled the world)
”Let
us
take
a
look
at
why
the
right
brain
hemisphere
has
been
neglected
for
so
long.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 8
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

9. Pythagoras said:
”Pythagoras
no9ced
a
devine
order
when
he
gazed
at
the
stars.
They
were
completely
predictable…”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 9
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

10. Pythagoras said:
”…
not
at
all
like
the
the
irra9onal
humans
that
perceived
things
differently.
Sigh!”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 10
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

11. Evidence!
”All
this
talk
about
irra9onal
humans
versus
ra9onal
universal
order
founded
the
scien9fic
tradi9on
that
is
s9ll
King
today.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 11
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

12. Objective, evidential reporting
”And
all
the
way
up
to
now
we
seem
to
prefer
”objec9ve”
and
evidence
based
meassures
to
imagined
inter-­‐
preta9ons.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 12
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

13. Left brain measurable stuff
”And
the
leA
part
of
the
brain
likes
measurable
details
and
certainty.
Anything
that
is
objec9ve
and
true”.
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 13
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

14. Wicked problems: Financial crisis
”But
today
we
are
facing
more
and
more
complex
problems
that
can
not
be
explained
nor
fixed…”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 14
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

15. Wicked problems: Financial crisis
”…using
a
ra9onal
and
logically
1+1
=
2
mind
set.
We
simply
need
new
tools.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 15
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

16. Complex or wicked problems
”The
more
complex
the
problems
the
more
trouble
we
have
under-­‐
standing
the
true
effects
–
and
solu9ons
”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 16
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
Source:
Andrea
Saveri

17. Complex or wicked problems
”…
We
simply
can
not
see
the
connec9ons
and
big
picture
from
our
detail
oriented
perspec9ve.
”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 17
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
Source:
Andrea
Saveri

18. Problem solving today
”When
we
dive
deep
into
difficult
challenges
we
have
a
tendency
to
narrow
the
perspec9ve
in
order
to
understand.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 18
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

19. Problem solving today
”Thus
crea9ng
silo
thinking
and
solu9ons
detached
from
the
complex
context
they
are
to
be
implemented
in.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 19
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

20. Cross-disciplinary collaboration
”We
need
a
cross-­‐
disciplinary
and
big
picture
thinking
approach
to
solving
these
challenges”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 20
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

21. What we need:
”We
need
a
new,
visual
prac9se*”
*Which
is
not
at
all
new
but
that
is
a
different
story
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 21
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

22. WE ARE ALL VISUAL!!
”We
are
all
visual
thinkers.
Some
of
you
might
say
”No,
that
is
not
true.”
Let
me
prove
you
wrong!”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 22
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

23. Close your eyes
”Close
your
eyes
and
imagine
your
bed-­‐
room.
Where
is
your
bed,
your
closet,
your
clothes?
”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 23
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

24. Close your eyes
”Piece
of
cake,
right?!
We
dream
and
remem-­‐
ber
in
images.
Complex
informa9on
is
and
can
be
stored
in
images.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 24
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

25. Close your eyes
”Even
when
it
comes
to
strategies,
plans,
programs,
projects
and
other
business
related
things.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 25
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

26. Flowchart
”We
already
use
visual
aids
in
our
business
world
today
to
try
to
get
a
hold
of
complexity.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 26
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

27. Column chart
”Charts,
diagrams
and
other
visual
structures
help
us
see
informa9on
in
rela9on
to
categories.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 27
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
Source:
graphjam.com

28. Venn diagram
”But
there
is
a
thing
that
all
these
aids
are
missing.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 28
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

29. Pie chart
”And
that
is
the
context
in
which
these
projects,
programs
and
plans
are
to
be
executed
in”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 29
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

30. Tony Buzan: Mindmap
”Even
the
Mindmap
which
have
a
broader
perspec9ve
lack
the
con-­‐
text.
There
is
simply
no
narra9ve
to
s9ck
to.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 30
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

31. Strategic Visualization
”And
this
is
where
strategic
visualiza9on
comes
in
to
the
picture.
So
to
speak.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 31
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

32. Strategic Visualization
”Strategic
visualiza9on
combines
unique
visualiza9ons,
big
picture
thinking,
strong
facili-­‐
ta9on
and
business
understanding.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 32
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

33. Custom made strategic visualizations
”Here
you
see
some
examples
strategic
visualiza9on.
They
are
results
of
thorough
of
the
clients’
needs,
inves9ga9ons..
wishes,
communica9on,
challenges,
stakeholder
management,
objec9ves
and
goals.
”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 33
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

34. Custom made strategic visualizations
”As
you
clearly
can
see,
strategic
visualiza9on
has
nothing
to
do
with
making
things
simple...
But
it
has
everything
to
do
with
mapping
complexity
so
that
we
can
navigate
in
it.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 34
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

35. With endless posibilities and purposes…
”The
example
you
see
here
was
used
in
the
Na9onal
Tax
Tribunal
The
strategic
as
proceeding
visualiza9on
helped
the
material..
judges
understand
the
technicali9es
in
the
case
that
was
otherwise
too
complex
to
grasp.
”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 35
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

36. But where do I start???
”Even
though
strategic
visualiza9on
is,
well,
visual,
the
drawing
part
of
the
tool
only
plays
a
very
small
role”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 36
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

37. But where do I start???
”Being
able
to
truely
engage
people
into
having
honest
dialogues
about
their
strategic
challenges
is
crucial.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 37
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

38. But where do I start???
”Besides
that,
strategic
visualiza9on
is
about
transforming
abstract
challenges
to
concrete
ac9ons
steps
–
using
a
visual
language.”
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent 38
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

39. ”All
these
slides
were
made
uniquely
for
this
presenta9on.
If
you
would
like
to
use
some
of
Contact the
pictures
please
do
not
hesitate
to
contact
me.”
Stine Arensbach
Head of Strategic Visualisation
sarensbach@kpmg.dk
www.kpmg.dk

40. This presentation gives only a general outline of a topic which may be
the object of KPMG's advice. Although we have tried to avoid errors and
omissions in the presentation, KPMG shall not assume any liability for
any transactions not covered by our prior advice.
© 2012 KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, a Danish
limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of
independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International
Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered
trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.