RURAL HOUSING RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 2008OCTOBER 2008

JOHN AITKENJOHN AITKEN

Good, Fast, CheapGood, Fast, Cheap

SCENARIOSSCENARIOS If we are very hungry and want to eat as If we are very hungry and want to eat as

soon as possible clearly number 2 is the soon as possible clearly number 2 is the answer? The key uncertainty is the cost.answer? The key uncertainty is the cost.

Number 3 would resolve the hunger Number 3 would resolve the hunger problem. The key uncertainty is “wont be problem. The key uncertainty is “wont be good”good”

If we choose number 1 we will get good If we choose number 1 we will get good service at a cheap price. The key service at a cheap price. The key uncertainty is won’t be fast.uncertainty is won’t be fast.

Scenario Planning Scenario Planning If we look at the above we can see we If we look at the above we can see we

have some of the information we need to have some of the information we need to make a decision but to be able to make make a decision but to be able to make the correct decision we need to establish a the correct decision we need to establish a few more facts.few more facts.

The first two considerations are.The first two considerations are. We are hungryWe are hungry We have limited cash in our pocket.We have limited cash in our pocket.

What do we need to find out?What do we need to find out? How long is “wont be fast” How long is “wont be fast”

15 min 25 min 35 min15 min 25 min 35 min How much is “wont be cheap” How much is “wont be cheap”

R25 R40 R55R25 R40 R55 What does “wont be good” mean clearly What does “wont be good” mean clearly

risky. risky.

We establish the following:We establish the following: Number 1 will take a minimum of Number 1 will take a minimum of

25 minutes and cost R4025 minutes and cost R40 Number 2 will take Number 2 will take

10 minutes and cost R5010 minutes and cost R50 Number 3 will take Number 3 will take

5 minutes and cost R30.5 minutes and cost R30.

Number 3 would be ruled out because we Number 3 would be ruled out because we cannot risk the total unknown on wont be cannot risk the total unknown on wont be good to much uncertainty.good to much uncertainty.

We have R50 therefore the question we We have R50 therefore the question we pose, do we have time constraint which pose, do we have time constraint which will make number 2 our decision or if we will make number 2 our decision or if we can wait the additional 15 minutes we can can wait the additional 15 minutes we can save R10.save R10.

This process we do each and every day of This process we do each and every day of our lives mentally, but in a business our lives mentally, but in a business environment we need to make sure we environment we need to make sure we follow the process. follow the process.

To reflect and... Act.

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age

of the country.

This can be shown by countries like India & Egypt,

that are more than 2000 years old and are poor.

On the other hand, Canada, Australia & New Zealand, that

150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries and are rich.

The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the available

natural resources.

Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate

for agriculture & cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is

like an immense floating factory, importing  raw material from the whole

world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best

chocolate of the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year.

Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality.

It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order & labor, which made it

the world’s strong safe.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts

in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.

Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich

European countries.

What is the difference then?

The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education &

the culture.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries, we find that the

great majority follow the following principles in their lives:

1. Ethics, as a basic principle.2. Integrity.3. Responsibility.4. Respect to the laws & rules.5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.6. Work loving.7. Strive for saving & investment.8. Will of super action.9. Punctuality.

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.

We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was

cruel to us.

We are poor because we lack attitude.

We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of

rich & developed societies.