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All material © GS Chandy unless specified otherwise

Some Missions of interest

In progress – likely to change considerably in due course

Some Missions of interest – introductionWe provide a brief explanation about

OPMS and articulate various Missions on issues of individual, organizational and

societal concern. Brief commentary provided (illustrating ‘elements’ and models in some cases) - specifically

indicating how the OPMS has been or could be used to ensure progress

on those Missions We show some ‘successful’ Missions;

some ‘failed’ Missions – and a number of ongoing and proposed Missions. These illustrative Missions relate to individual,

organizational and societal issues

Two types of formal models appear in the OPMS: Interpretive Structural Models (ISMs) and

Field Representation(s). Here we illustrate only ISMs (in brief), as FRs would demand more

explanation than readers would have patience for. However, in our workshops we treat both

types of models quite extensively CONTENTS

CONTENTS (including Missions)• The OPMS process (very briefly)

• Individual Missions• Organizational Missions• Societal Missions• ‘Trigger Question’ (for any Mission)• Failed Missions Vs. Successful Missions (in progress)

• Ongoing Missions (in progress) • Where OPMS comes from Work in progress – may change

considerably in due course

04/11/23 Bangalore Garbage + Traffic 4

The OPMS process, in general:

• Identify any appropriate ‘Mission’• Get hold of all available good ideas about the Mission (by asking stakeholders and others interested some appropriate ‘trigger questions’ - see next slide)• Construct models with those ideas, showing how the ideas generated may “CONTRIBUTE TO” or “HINDER” accomplishment of Mission• Continuingly develop the models constructed – the ISMs and FRs constructed will yield an effective Action Plan to accomplish the Mission• The lists of ideas generated and the models constructed form part of the ‘One Page Management System’ (OPMS) for the Mission.

The models are of two types: ‘Interpretive Structural Models (ISMs) and ‘Field Representations’ (FRs). Later in this presentation we illustrate several ISMs. We do not illustrate ‘first-order’ FRs here – though we

do treat them in detail in our live workshops on any Mission. We illustrate, without much explanation, a ‘higher-order’ FR right in this introductory section

Illustrated later in this section

Plenty of examples of Missions follow

Examples of ‘ideas’ (in the OPMS context) appear along with several of the Mission examples

Next: ‘Trigger Questions’

Our starting models will usually require considerable improvement before we can act on them

The ‘Trigger Questions’ (for any Mission!):

“What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO To accomplish your Mission?”Other trigger questions relate to:• DIFFICULTIES/BARRIERS/THREATS that may hinder or prevent accomplishment…• STRENGTHS that may help…• OPPORTUNITIES that may arise…• WEAKNESSES that may hinder…• EVENTS/MILESTONES that may be expected to occur…

First trigger question:

Comprehensively modeling the responses to such questions will lead, over time, to

the construction of a ‘One Page Management System’

(OPMS)(illustrated, next)

The OPMS user will soon get into the habit of continuingly modeling all ideas

related to the Mission under consideration OPMS

04/11/23

The OPMS is a practical means to enable anyone and everyone apply the

sophisticated insights of ‘systems science’ to issues of concern

So what is the ‘One Page Management System’

(OPMS)?The OPMS is a *representation*, on a

single page, of every issue that is relevant to the accomplishment of a

chosen ‘Mission’. (It is a ‘higher’-order Field Representation [FR])

A picture of the OPMS

7(c) GS Chandy

The OPMS picture, briefly outlined

Our OPMS workshops take you in some detail through initial parts of this quite complex model, which crystallises - onto this single page - ALL available ideas about any chosen Mission and

ALL work done to accomplish that Mission!

A major outcome of any OPMS workshop is the initiation of an effective Action Plan to accomplish the specific Mission chosen by

participant(s). [The Action Plan is a model appearing in the “THINGS TO DO Dimension” of

the OPMS]The OPMS and the models in it are

‘normative models’ (not just ‘descriptive models’). They are designed to enable users to accomplish their chosen Missions – but a

live workshop is required in order to demonstrate this claim

During a workshop, participants choose a Mission – any Mission - of interest and, from

their own available ideas, initiate Action Planning to accomplish that Mission…

In brief, the OPMS helps users construct models (of two different kinds Interpretive Structural Models

and Field Representations; theseappear in appropriate ‘system categories’ as illustrated in the

picture). Such models enable users to see clearly just how the various relevant factors of their system may impact each other in very specific ways

We provide each participant in our workshops with a copy of our prototype OPMS software, to enable continuing

development of Action Planning and all aspects of any Mission(s) of interest

The Action Planning model shows us how the things we can do today (and every day) “MAY CONTRIBUTE TO” what we wish to

accomplish over time

Continuing use of the OPMS will lead to the development (and implementation) of this comprehensive picture of the system

(and all its subsystems), specifically related to a chosen Mission

A picture of the OPMS:

CCNTCNTC (including ‘Missions’)

Things to Do

(with no explanation of how it was developed)

Our OPMS workshops take you in some detail through initial parts of this quite complex model, which crystallises - onto this single page - ALL available ideas about any chosen Mission and

ALL work done to accomplish that Mission!

Mission

Individual Missions•“To understand thoroughly all topics of my math syllabus, and THEREBY to improve, very significantly, my results in my math exams, tests, quizzes”

• “To get myself an excellent job”• “To write a letter” (useful startup exercise)• “To become significantly more effective at what I do”• “To improve my English-speaking skills”• “To become a first-rate s/w designer within 1/3/4/5/7 … years”

In general, an individual Mission requires in particular only the individual owner’s efforts to carry it forward – though often it could be complexly inter-twined with other individual,

organizational or societal Missions; Missions belonging to other individuals….

Individual Missions are Missions set by individuals for themselves to perform.

We keep strictly confidential the individual and organizational Missions to which we have helped

others apply OPMS. We discuss here only Missions that have been rendered anonymous –

or our own Missions

A special success story!

All reasonably successful –unless specified otherwise

Sometimes, in order to progress, it may be required to transform an ‘individual’ Mission into an ‘organisational’ Mission – or maybe even a societal Mission! (An instance is

presented later).

Click on any of the listed Missions (blue or brown and underlined) to go to a brief discussion about it

In certain cases, we may also need to handle some ‘other’ Mission before we can do the one that really interests us…

(instances of this are presented later)

04/11/23 8Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

In progress – may be modified

More

More

Some more Individual Missions:• “To learn to use PowerPoint effectively”• “To learn to conduct a presentation – effectively and persuasively”• “To design a workshop for a specific group”• “To overcome the difficulties of using OPMS systematically” • “To develop OPMS – and propagate and apply it in India and worldwide” (ongoing)

“To convince ---- (individual X) to apply OPMS to issues of concern”

I’ve had a sizable number of failures on this Mission – many individuals have failed to

be convinced!

(But a fair number of individuals have been convinced!) More04/11/23 9Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

CONTENTSIn progress – may be modified

Some more Individual Missions:

• “To manage my time effectively” (in progress)• “To understand the basis of time management” (‘prerequisite’ for above)• “To improve my ability to write effectively (English/other language)• “To improve my spelling” (English/ other language)• “To improve my truthfulness in what I say/write”• “To …” (suggestions invited)

“To get the IIMs to look at the OPMS”

This was a Mission that totally failed as an ‘individual’ Mission – therefore am now handling it as an ‘Organizational Mission’

More04/11/23 10Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

In progress – commentary to follow

Some more Individual Missions:

‘Organizational Missions’

• “To improve the scientific accuracy of what I write”• “To ensure that OPMS is developed in the right way, for maximum societal benefit”• “To learn whatever I need to function effectively in the modern world”• “To …”

04/11/23 11

In progress – may be modified later

Organizational Missions

• “To get to a turnover of Rs 2000 crores at ---- profitability within 3 years”• “To double our turnover within 1 year”• “To tackle the serious problem of attrition in our Company”• “To ‘handle’ the Railways, our biggest customer, effectively”• “To align our new entrants with Company Vision and Mission effectively”• “To …”

More

In general, an organizational Mission would demand the coordinated

performance of activities by several people in the organization to drive it to

successWe keep strictly confidential the individual and organizational Missions to which we

have helped others apply OPMS. We discuss here only Missions that: we have

permission to discuss; have been rendered anonymous; – or our own Missions

Examples, next


On this page are Missions handled in workshops for different clients and as such we keep them confidential. On

next page, we show our own organizational Mission and provide

some commentary about it

Some more organizational Missions

• “To develop, propagate and apply the OPMS concept – in India and worldwide!”• “To promote and develop open-source software” (Ubuntu; Linux; Arch Linux etc) • “To ….”

“To get the IIMs to look at the OPMS”This is a very important Mission for the growth of the OPMS…

It had completely failed as an ‘individual’ Mission. It has

therefore been put up here as an ‘organizational Mission’ (to be taken up again when there are

adequate organizational resources to promote OPMS to recalcitrant

subjects/objects like the IIMs)

Formal work has not yet started on this as an ‘organizational Mission’ as we don’t yet have the

needed organizational resources to take it up (but it’s always at the top of GSC’s mind!)

It is, in fact, a crucial ‘sub’-Mission to GSC’s main ‘individual’ Mission: “To

propagate and apply OPMS…”In progress – more in due course

List of ‘Societal Missions’04/11/23 Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

Considerably developed previously as an

‘individual’ Mission – further development

demands some organizational resources

Societal Missions (thus far, none yet properly undertaken using OPMS)

• “To ensure effective civil rights for all Indian citizens within ---- years” • “To develop effective education systems, at various levels, that will effectively meet the needs of the nation during the 21st century”

• “To ensure that we allocate sufficient resources to meet the needs of the primary education sector”• “To develop a truly effective system of technical education for the nation”• “To develop a truly effective system of management education for the nation”•

More

In general, a societal Mission would demand the coordinated performance of activities by

several organizations and individuals.

A societal Mission that totally failed, because it was taken up without an adequate base of support in the society that needed it.

(Please also feel free to bring to notice any other worthy societal Mission that you believe merits OPMS attention for better realization. We shall

always be happy to suggest how you might begin acting on it – and we may even be interested in collaborating with you on it)The individual working a ‘societal Mission’ will

require - one way or another - sizable societal backup to make headway on that Mission,

whatever it may be….04/11/23

(Click to go to any specific Mission in list – several are currently

described only as groups; in outline)(This does NOT mean that an ambitious societal Mission cannot be undertaken by an individual.

However, it is impossible that an individual - acting alone - will be able to accomplish an

ambitious societal Mission).

The Missions listed and described herewith are all issues that are begging for effective societal action. We would be happy to collaborate with any suitable individual or group interested in any of them. We would like to help people genuinely interested in any of the Missions

listed apply OPMS to achieve it…

A list of important societal Missions follows:

And even with all needed backup, the Mission may still fail! (For instance, Rajiv

Gandhi’s ambitious Mission [while he was Prime Minister] to reform the Indian educational system

failed – despite Mr Gandhi having had all the resources of the government to play with)

Below are various educational Missions, described as a group

“BUSHOUT!” (commentary to follow)

Some more Societal Missions (thus far, none yet properly undertaken using OPMS)

• “To ensure that we develop at least 10 educational institutions in India that are reckoned to be within the top 100 worldwide – within 5 years” • “To reach 90% real literacy in India within 5 years”• “To install a truly effective wildlife conservation programme in the country”• “To minimize corruption in government in India”• “To remove the shame of 42% malnutrition amongst Indian children – within 5 years”• “To become significantly more effective at what we do as a nation”• “To reduce corruption in India by 50% within 5 years” •

More04/11/23 15

And yet more Societal Missions (thus far, none yet properly undertaken using OPMS)

• “Within 5 years, to become one of the 10 least corrupt nations in the world – instead of being one of the 10 most corrupt nations!”• “To develop a practical “Vision on Biodiversity’ for the Nation – and ensure it is effectively implemented by way of sound projects in time-bound fashion”• “To remove the scourge of manual scavenging in India”• “To tackle the scourge of discrimination by caste in India” • “To …” More04/11/23 16Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

Some more Societal Missions (thus far , none yet properly undertaken using OPMS)• “To minimize corruption at the levels where it touches the ‘aam admi’” • “To minimize the large-scale ‘invisible’ corruption such as the 2G and ‘Coalgate’ scams”• “To ensure effective functioning of bodies such as the Lokayukta; the CAG; Parliament (Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha; state assemblies); Planning Commission; …• “To ensure effective functioning of bodies for local governance, e.g., bodies for city governance; village governing bodies (gram panchayats); etc…”• “To launch a truly effective political party serving worthy societal goals”

More

In progress – details in due course


Some more Societal Missions (thus far, none properly undertaken using OPMS)

• “To tie up with an existing political party in order to achieve worthy societal goals – e.g. act against corruption”• “To resolve, EFFECTIVELY and most ECONOMICALLY, the mess of the ‘garbage problem’ in Bangalore!”• “To resolve, EFFECTIVELY and economically, the traffic crisis in and around Bangalore!”• “To ensure effective and inspiring administration of sports in our country”• “To …”

Please feel free to bring to notice any specific societal Missions of interest to you – we could be very happy to collaborate on many Missions that would have impact on societal concerns

We need to see OPMS applied to the widest range of societal issues possible!

“To ensure that the laying of the Metro rail line does not destroy Bangalore’s beautiful MG Road boulevard!”

A failed societal Mission:

Why it failed

Specific ‘individual’ Missions

04/11/23 18

CONTENTS

Individual Mission“To understand thoroughly all topics of

my math syllabus, and THEREBY to improve, very significantly, my results

in my math exams, tests, quizzes”

A freshman college student wanted to know if OPMS could be applied to his problem, which was: he had never – right through his school career – ever gotten above 45% in any of his Math exams. Now, in college, he was faring MUCH worse!

In consultation with GSC, he decided on the above statement of his Mission. In this connection, GSC formulated the following Mission for himself: “To guide Paul to

apply OPMS to his math Mission”We illustrate, in the next few slides, some part of the process and some of the

models constructed that ultimately led to successful accomplishment of

Paul’s Mission

This was the very first Mission to which OPMS was ever applied! (Other than to GSC’s personal Missions and concept tests)

L st o Cn v ui f di id al C ss onsi i


Could OPMS help him do better?

CCNTCNTC

Paul’s Mission for his math

“To understand thoroughly all topics of my math syllabus, and THEREBY to improve, very significantly, my results in my math exams, tests, quizzes”

GSC’s associated Mission

“To guide Paul to apply OPMS for successful accomplishment of his Mission”


1st Trigger Question for Paul

“What, in my opinion, are the THINGS TO DO to accomplish my Mission, ‘To understand thoroughly all topics of my math syllabus, and THEREBY to improve, very significantly, my results in my math exams, tests, quizzes?’”1st Trigger Question for GSC

“What, in my opinion, are the THINGS TO DO ‘To guide Paul to apply OPMS for successful accomplishment of his Mission?’”


The Trigger Questions (for any Mission!):

“What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO To accomplish your Mission?”

Other trigger questions relate to:• DIFFICULTIES/BARRIERS/THREATS that may hinder or prevent accomplishment…• STRENGTHS that may help…• OPPORTUNITIES that may arise…• WEAKNESSES that may hinder…• EVENTS/MILESTONES that may be expected to occur…

First:

Back to CONTENTS

More on trigger questions


More on trigger questions

Prel. List of elements for Paul’s Mission

Under preparation

Some of Paul’s responses (for THINGS TO DO)

• To make/get hold of a list of all topics in my math syllabus• To find out where a good coverage of each topic is available• To find out the order in which each topic should be studied• To read up and understand each topic, including theorems, lemmas, …• To study each topic intensively• To do sufficient problems in each topic• To consult with my professors/lecturers• To get guidance from my classmates who are very good at math• To clearly understand the difficulties and barriers I am facing in math….

(I note that the following lists are GSC’s recap of some parts of the lists that Paul and GSC had made – and the models that follow are also GSC’s rendition of the models that Paul – and GSC - had then constructed).


Some more of Paul’s THINGS TO DO

• To clearly understand my weaknesses in math• To convince myself that math is not beyond my abilities• To convince myself that math could be interesting enough to work hard at it• To be utterly determined to do very well at math• To …

(Some parts of one of the models constructed will be illustrated later)

04/11/23 25Bangalore Garbage + Traffic GSC’s list

• To demonstrate convincingly that math can be beautiful and very interesting • To present the OPMS process to Paul in some detail• To convince Paul to try out the OPMS process for his Mission• To help Paul understand how to ask and respond to each of the OPMS questions• To help Paul form his responses correctly …• To help Paul construct his models correctly• To help Paul articulate the difficulties he is facing (a: in math and b: in OPMS)• To help Paul interpret his models• To show Paul “what to do next” at each stage of development of his OPMS•

Some of GSC’s responses (for THINGS TO DO)


Some more of GSC’s THINGS TO DO

• To convince Paul to work out sufficient problems covering specifically his difficulties, weaknesses • To convince Paul that he can overcome his difficulties, that his weaknesses are not fatal…• To

We now show a couple of models – excerpts from Paul’s and GSC’s respective ‘Action Planning’ structures

The respective models are shown developing stage by stage…


Paul: “A 2-element model to illustrate”

Mission: “To understand thoroughly all topics of my math syllabus, and THEREBY

to do excellently at math”

To be utterly determined to do well at math

“may contribute”

(Read bottom-upwards, substituting “MAY CONTRIBUTE” on encountering an arrow)

Prose: “To be utterly determined to do well at math MAY CONTRIBUTE (to accomplish my ‘Mission’”

Next slide: We add one more element…


Paul: One more element added:

To be utterly determined to do well at math


Mission: “To understand thoroughly all topics of my math syllabus, and THEREBY

to do excellently at math”

To do plenty of math problems covering all topics of syllabus

(Read bottom-upwards, substituting “MAY CONTRIBUTE” on encountering an arrow)

Prose: “To be utterly determined to do well at math MAY CONTRIBUTE to do plenty of math problems covering all topics of syllabus, which in turn MAY CONTRIBUTE …”

Next slide: Many more elements added04/11/23 29Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

To make/get hold of a list of all math topics in syllabus(1)

To find out and note where a good coverage of each topic is available (2)

l To study (carefully & intensively read up) each topic, including theorems, lemmas, examples, counterexamples, problems (4a)l To find out the order in which each topic should be studied (3)

To consult with my professors/lecturers about my study program (7a)

To make good notes to aid me study math (10)

Mission: “To understand all topics of my math syllabus, and THEREBY to improve, very significantly my results in my math exams, tests & quizzes

To get guidance from my classmates who are very good at math (7b)

To clearly understand the difficulties and barriers I am facing in math (8)

To get access to a good set of texts for various math topics (8)

To do sufficient problems in all topics, and particularly in topics where I am weak (11)


Paul – more elements (Model cropped at bottom):

As we keep adding elements from the list of THINGS TO DO, we start becoming clearer about just how each THING TO DO may contribute to other THINGS TO DO and to the Mission

Commentary:

As clarity increases about the various contributions of the whole ‘system of THINGS TO DO’ to accomplish

the Mission, we find that some of the MAY CONTRIBUTE relationships have become SHOULD

CONTRIBUTE or even DOES CONTRIBUTE !

At some stage, the structure will have THINGS TO DO that we know how to do at the bottom, linked up through other THINGS TO DO to the Mission...

If at this point a ‘sufficient’ number of the contributions are understood as being SHOULD CONTRIBUTE or DOES CONTRIBUTE, the structure is an Action Plan!

The whole ultimate success of the Mission is dependent on how successfully we perform the THINGS TO DO that contribute to the Mission!

In progress. Next: GSC’s model. Further commentary to follow


The Action Planning process simply consists of continuingly adding to the model more elements (from the thoughts that come to mind as one works on the Mission).

(Unfortunately, there is no real clear-cut rule to tell us exactly when we have a valid Action Plan. At a

certain stage in the process, the ‘owner’ of the structure begins to feel somewhat confident that this

could work – that is the Action Plan moment!)

In our Workshops, we demonstrate, in some detail, how such a model can always be

developed into an ‘ongoing Action Plan’ to accomplish the ‘Mission’ (which generally appears as the top-level element in the

Interpretive Structural Model).

It should be emphasized that the OPMS software did not exist while Paul was working on his

Mission.

He did ALL his modeling without benefit of software!

It takes a little longer to do; and it IS rather tiresome to keep all needed

records, etc (without computer) – but it is entirely possible for anyone to do

this successfully.

Don’t worry about reading this model: just

take an ‘overview’, which you will obtain by reading the comments that follow

GSC: A 2-element model to show how it starts…

To demonstrate convincingly that math can be beautiful and

very interesting

To convince Paul that he can overcome his difficulties, that his

weaknesses are not fatal… “may contribute

Prose Translation: To demonstrate convincingly that math can be beautiful and very interesting MAY CONTRIBUTE To convince Paul that he can overcome his difficulties, that his weaknesses are not fatal…

Next: one more element added More04/11/23 31Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

To demonstrate convincingly that math can be beautiful and very

interesting

To convince Paul that he can overcome his difficulties, that his

weaknesses are not fatal…

“may contribute

GSC: Three elements…“To guide Paul to apply OPMS

for successful accomplishment of his Mission”

“To demonstrate convincingly that math can be beautiful and very interesting MAY CONTRIBUTE to convince Paul that he can overcome his math difficulties WHICH IN TURN MAY CONTRIBUTE To guide Paul to apply OPMS …” More04/11/23 32Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

GSC: More elements added…

“may contribute


“may contribute

GSC: More elements added…



“Improving math performance”

More

Further commentary to follow

“Improving math performance”

More to follow – with commentary

“To get myself an excellent job”

Ct rt o a fC ul’s C ssa i ion L st o Cn v ui f di id al C ss onsi i04/11/23 36Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

Individual Mission


1st Trigger Question

Quite a number of individuals have successfully applied OPMS to such

a Mission.We provide a brief overview of how

one such individual went about doing it


1st Trigger Question:

“What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO that could help you get yourself an excellent job?”

As the construction of the OPMS progresses, the individual would probably have to define for himself/herself just what it is that he/she might want to mean by ‘excellent’.


The Trigger Questions (for any Mission!):

“What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO To accomplish your Mission?”

Prel. List of elements

Other trigger questions relate to:• DIFFICULTIES/BARRIERS/THREATS that may hinder or prevent accomplishment…• STRENGTHS that may help…• OPPORTUNITIES that may arise…• WEAKNESSES that may hinder…• EVENTS/MILESTONES that may be expected to occur…


“What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO To get yourself an excellent job?”

• To search for appropriate job openings• To study the ‘Jobs Available’ ads and advice columns of papers and mags• To prepare an excellent bio-sheet• To check out which kind of jobs my qualifications and interests qualify me for• To understand properly my qualifications, strengths, weaknesses and interests…• To seek the guidance of those who know me well (parents; teachers; friends)• To prepare effectively for interviews…• To…

More


To write a letter

Any one of several available models for this Mission to be inserted;

commentary to be written up



Individual Missions

“To write a letter”

Some ‘elements’ that may arise in “writing a letter” are listed on the next slide and a model constructed from those elements appears thereafter.

This process, if the model is developed as needed, can be shown to lead to

effective Action Planning

C C to Cn vac di

u l C ss oid a i in L sti

04/11/23 42Bangalore Garbage + Traffic List of elements

Here are some elements that may be perceived TO CONTRIBUTE TO “Writing a Letter”:1.To decide to whom I should write2. To write the salutation3.To begin text of letter4.To get hold of a pen or pencil5.To get hold of paper6.To sit at a table7.To start composing the letter in my mind8.To correct errors in what I have written

The above are some thoughts that may come to mind in connection with the Mission “To write a letter”

An Interpretive Structural Model (ISM) from the above elements appears at the next slide


8. To correct errors in what I have written

M: "To write a letter"

2. To write the salutation

4. To get hold of pen or pencil

5. To get hold of paper

6. To sit at a table

1. To decide to whom I should

write

7. To start composing the letter in my mind

"may contribute"

3. To begin text of letter

"Writing a Letter - structure of Mission as an ISM" (read bottom-upwards, substituting "should contribute" on encountering an arrow)8. To correct errors in what I

have written

M: "To write a letter"

2. To write the salutation

4. To get hold of pen or pencil

5. To get hold of paper

6. To sit at a table

1. To decide to whom I should write

7. To start composing the letter in my mind

"may contribute"

3. To begin text of letter

In our Workshops, we demonstrate, in some detail, how such a model can always be

developed into an ‘ongoing Action Plan’ to accomplish the ‘Mission’ (which generally appears as the top-level element in the

Interpretive Structural Model).

Such a model can always be ‘blown up’ at any desired point wherever it is unclear.

C C to Cn vac di iu l C ss on d a i i

L sti

04/11/23 Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

Enhancing personal effectiveness

“Enhancing my personal effectiveness at what I do”

Next slide: A realization at one time of a model I keep working on from time to time,

whenever I feel the inclination to do it (roughly once each month or so). I have

tried, in this version, to keep the elements as ‘general’ as possible, so that it could be of interest to others (and also so that I do not

give away too much about my personal weaknesses/deficiencies!)

Individual Mission


Enhancing personal effectiveness

To get the right advice from others who know me (5)

To ensure I do not get into position of farmer travelling with his son and his donkey (6)

To take effective action to overcome Weaknesses, Barriers, Difficulties,

Threats (10)

To get needed help in all weakness areas (8)

To understand my own strengths and weaknesses (7)

To understand clearly the Barriers, Difficulties and Threats I am facing (9)

To examine my daily activities carefully each day – or at least most days (1)

To develop, regularly, check-lists relating to all important jobs (2)

To examine critically the structures created (3)

To be aware of the enormous importance of this self examination process (4)

To create, regularly, ISMs and FRs describing my Intents, Strengths, Weaknesses, Barriers, etc (11)

“should contribute”



L sti

Improve English speaking

Individual Mission

“To improve my English-speaking skills”

In progress – to follow …

04/11/23 C C to C ss on ac i iL sti

Software designer

Individual Mission

“To become a first-rate software designer within 1/3/4/5/7… years”

On launching Interactive LogicWare (ILW) Pvt. Ltd., we engaged several young software developers

We had only very limited financial resources available – so we were unable to engage

top-flight, experienced software designers. We therefore took on s/w people having

very little or no experience at all.

C C to C ss on ac i iL sti

More

“To become a first-rate software designer within 1/3/4/ 5/7… years”

In just about a month’s time after start-up, I realized that we weren’t getting anywhere at all on our Mission of developing the OPMS

software – WE WERE SERIOUSLY STUCK!

I therefore called a ‘crisis’ meeting with the design team of about 5 young programmers,

and suggested that they should not tackle their Mission as a ‘computer programming’ issue, but as ‘general systems problem’

As usual, the 1st Trigger Question was: “What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO to become a first-rate software

designer within …. years?”

The underlying difficulty was the following: Not being a software expert myself, I was unable to provide the team with the software design assistance they

needed – I could only show them how OPMS worked!

I suggested they should put their computers aside (turn their monitors to face the wall, in fact), and use only their

minds and pen and paper to work out their models for the above-noted Mission.

So I had to convert the issue to ‘resolving an OPMS problem’ (which I could help them tackle) – rather than a

computer programming problem (which I could not help them tackle)!

(They were each free to choose any appropriate time-period to accomplish

the Mission).04/11/23 49Bangalore Garbage + Traffic


Now, they were tackling an OPMS problem – and I could help them

tackle any difficulty or doubt related to OPMS!

Over the next month or so, they worked it as an OPMS issue (NO

COMPUTERS!) I daily spent some time with each of them individually to help them with elements and models

related to their ‘individual Missions’ as outlined above…

Just about a month later, they came to me and told me: “Now we know how to do the OPMS software!”

The current version of the OPMS software is what was developed by that almost entirely inexperienced

team of s/w developers!

But the real success story is what happened AFTER the Company closed down …



ILW was about to go down – and all these s/w people needed to get new jobs.

But this was at the very bottom of the dot.com bust: NO ONE WAS HIRING!

And yet these young s/w people, right at the bottom of that dot.com bust, were able

to get themselves excellent jobs – because that Mission had in fact helped develop them into very

competent s/w designers!

Today, they are all heading s/w design departments and are, in fact, at the higher levels of their profession!

My ‘IIM Mission’


L sti

In progress – more to come!


See also: “Developing & propagating OPMS” for a sense of the context of this Mission

(None has yet become a ‘world leader’ in his/her field)

An Individual Mission that totally failed!

“To get the IIMs to look at the OPMS”This Mission has to be regarded as one of

the major OPMS ‘failures’ (or GSC’s failure with OPMS), dating right from

1984 when the late Rajiv Gandhi launched an ambitious National Education Mission as one of the first crucial initiatives of his

Prime Ministership.

The IIM-B launched a conference of all leading educators and educational institutions in the South. As is customary for the IIM, the conference was conducted at a leading 5-star

hotel in Bangalore. Somehow, GSC got invited to this prestigious conference.In the closing plenary session of the

conference, GSC drew attention to the fact (as he then perceived it) that it was entirely

inappropriate – in a poor country like India - to hold such a conference in a 5-star hotel…

END of story! After that, ALL the IIMs have steadfastly refused even to

look at the OPMS!

Mr Gandhi had handed over leadership of this ambitious project for the Indian education

system to the Indian Institutes of Management. (This was probably the most important of all Mr Gandhi’s many worthy

initiatives as Prime Minister). In South India, the leadership role naturally came to the IIM-B.

There has been zero progress with this ‘IIM Mission’ despite a number of approaches to

the IIMs (over several years!) The above Mission has therefore been removed from the list of GSC’s ‘individual’ Missions. Perhaps we could think of taking it up once again, later, as

an organizational Mission.

In progress – may be modified

L st o Cn v ui f di id al C ss onsi i

Propagating OPMS (ongoing)04/11/23 Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

In part, this failure must be ascribed to a failure in GSC’s understanding of the realities of the situation; in part, it is due to a failure of a major Indian educational institution, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

A

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CONTENTS

Individual/organizational Mission (ongoing)

“To develop OPMS – and to propagate and apply it in India and elsewhere”

The OPMS concept was invented in early 1983, and was tried out

successfully on a number of test Missions. In the early days, needed

modeling was done without software.

After a number of test Missions had been successfully tried out, the above ambitious Mission was articulated late

in 1983 – and since then it has become GSC’s entire focus.


Continued: “To develop OPMS – and to propagate and apply it in India and elsewhere”

As indicated in the sketch at the next slide, this Mission is linked to various other Missions – both

individual and organizational

At a particular stage of development of the OPMS, it became clear that not much

further progress was possible without a team (and, in fact,

without an organization) to carry it forward

A brief overview of parts of a few of the models developed is provided in the following slides

Individual/organizational Mission


Developing OPMS

Continued: “To develop OPMS – and to propagate and apply it in India and elsewhere”

04/11/23 55

Propagating OPMS

Marketing OPMS

Getting together a s/w team

Applying OPMS

Launching Company (ILW)

Training s/w team


Developing PresentationsConducting

WorkshopsUnderstand

OPMS

Etc, etc, etc… Etc, etc,

etc…

Etc, etc, etc…

More

Obtaining Finance

Operating Company

That is surely a horrendously complicated mess! How to handle it? Using OPMS, it’s

simple!! Check out the next slide:

Continued: “To develop OPMS – and to propagate and apply it in India and elsewhere” (MISSION)


“To develop OPMS software to aid construction of needed models”

“To get together a software team for needed s/w development”

“To launch a Company to do the needed s/w development”

“To obtain needed financing…”

“ CONTRIBUTES”

04/11/23 56Bangalore Garbage + TrafficBangalore Garbage + Traffic

C Cac

More

Next, we illustrate some parts of one of the many models created

in pursuit of above Mission

Over time, using OPMS on any Mission, you get a simple graphical representation of various important aspects of your Mission, showing

“CONTRIBUTIONS” (as seen in this picture)

Over time, you’ll also become certain that nothing significant

has been left out…

There are several aspects of this model that I’ve not shown here as I wanted to

fit the picture onto a single slide

…EVERYTHING that’s relevant to your Mission will be included in

your model!


“To develop OPMS – and propagate India and worldwide

Model continues

Model constructed using OPMS

software

Not to worry about reading the model – just take an

overview!

We show a sizable model in parts…OPMS Mission




software

OPMS Mission - continued

Model continues



software


Model continues

60

(This is now also an Organizational Mission)


software


A lot of stuff was done quite successfully. Where we failed as a team was in:

Operating the Company over the long term

When I get an organization going again for OPMS, I shall

certainly pay enough attention to this major part of

the Mission!

More

(It is only a small part of one of the many models made in

support of the OPMS Mission!

This is evidently a crucial part of the ‘complex’ of Missions

sketched earlier

What remains to be done

OPMS concept development: Ongoing – though considerable progress made

Bangalore Garbage + Traffic 61


Two individual Missions, linked

C Cac (to where we came from)

List of Individual Missions CONTENTS


What remains

to be done?

OPMS software development: Prototype software ready. Further development awaits funding.

OPMS marketing: At the moment, stuck. Awaits funding and organization

Organization to develop and propagate OPMS: Awaits funding

Tying up with consultants, developers, channel partners, etc: Awaits funding

Etc, etc, etc… various matters related to “Operating the system”!

More

Obtaining needed funds to convinue development, etc, of OPMS. (A lot of the OPMS future is

dependent on this!)

• “To learn to use PowerPoint effectively”• “To learn to conduct a presentation – effectively and persuasively”

C Cac

Earlier, it was suggested that Missions are sometimes (even often) interlinkedWe illustrate a strong linkage

between above two Missions – and shall point out linkages in several

other cases

More

Two Individual Missions – showing linkages


Two Individual Missions – showing linkages

“To learn to use PowerPoint effectively”

“To learn to conduct a presentation – effectively and persuasively”

The linkage:“To learn to use PowerPoint effectively STRONGLY CONTRIBUTES to learn to conduct a presentation – effectively and persuasively”

Specific Societal Missions C Cac

In fact, for something like OPMS, where multiple linkages need to be visually

illustrated, we might even say a tool like PowerPoint is essential for

any effective workshop or presentation!

04/11/23

(Dotted arrow denotes “weak contribution”)

Societal Missions: on education• “To develop education systems, at various levels, that could effectively meet the needs of the nation during the 21st century” (call it M1)• “To ensure that we allocate sufficient resources to meet the needs of the primary education sector” (M2)• “To develop a truly effective system of technical education for the nation” (M3)• “To develop a truly effective system of management education for the nation” (M4)• “To ensure that we develop at least 10 educational institutions that are reckoned to be within the top 100 institutions worldwide – within 5 years” (M5)• “To reach 90% real literacy in India – within 5 years” (M6)

In some sense, we shall have to tackle ALL our ‘education Missions’ to tackle any one of them. Every significant education Mission is

related to every other one, as we try to illustrate here. You will need to convince yourself that our

‘Vision for Education’ MUST in fact ‘encompass’ ALL these Missions - and

more - to enable success on any of them!

Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

…in particular: “To develop an educational tool that can enable each and every individual to learn whatever it is that he/she needs to function effectively

in the modern world!” (M7)

…many others, also…

Next, we illustrate some (NOT all!) of the possible inter-relationships between a couple of these

Missions, using ‘informal structural graphics’. CONTENTS

(We shall later provide models and commentary for each of these

‘educational Missions’ separately)

We have a number of ‘sketches’ of inter-relationships, like the following:

M1

M2

“probably contributes”

The picture means: “M2

probably contributes to M1 AND vice-versa”

We then find that M2 to M1 is a stronger contribution than M1 to M2. We set the weaker contribution to zero – then we have only M2 contributing to M1, thus: M2 M1

• “To develop education systems, at various levels, that could effectively meet the needs of the nation during the 21st century” (M1)• “To ensure that we allocate sufficient resources to meet the needs of the primary education sector” (M2)


We ‘resolve’ several such sketches and we obtain the structure, shown next:

Education Missions, continued:

M3 M4

M2

M1

M5“probably

contributes to”

M6

The structure illustrated reflects the perceptions of the person who made it

Read structure bottom-upwards, substituting “probably contributes to” whenever you encounter an arrow…

• “To develop education systems, at various levels, that could effectively meet the needs of the nation during the 21st century” (call it M1)• “To ensure that we allocate sufficient resources to meet the needs of the primary education sector” (M2)• “To develop a truly effective system of technical education for the nation” (M3)• “To develop a truly effective system of management education for the nation” (M4)• (M5 & M6 – see slide No.41)

04/11/23 66

And M7: Tool for individuals

M6

M5

M7

M4M3

M2

M1

• M5: 10 world top ed. inst.• M6: 90% literacy in 5 years

Important Note: M3 & M4 are actually perceived to lie in a ‘cycle’,

with each “contributing to” the other. However, each of these

types of education require rather different approaches and

mechanisms to accomplish – so we treat them as separate Missions.

(i.e., ‘Management’ and ‘technical’ education each require different

kinds of educational institutions – and the education system has rightly

done just this).

Our ‘Vision for Education’…

…should, in fact, ‘encompass’ (in some sense) ALL significant Missions relating to education

GSC’s perceptions on what should be the “National Vision for Education” are sketched at

the next slide


So: here’s a ‘Vision for Education’ (EV):

EV

M3 M4

M2

M1

M5“probably

contributes to”

M6

…and more!

“should encompass”

“are included in”

04/11/23 68

M6

M5

M7

M4M3

M2

M1

EVERY significant educational Mission should be ‘included’ in our ‘Vision for Education’ !!

More commentary to follow…

69

Education Missions (continued)

More commentary to follow…

Anti-Corruption Missions CONTENTS

Some Goals/Missions in tackling corruption

• “Minimizing corruption in government in India” (C1)• “Reducing corruption by 50% within 5 years” (C2)• “Within 5 years, to become one of the 10 least corrupt nations in the world - instead of being one of the 10 MOST corrupt nations” (C3)• “Minimizing corruption at the level where it touches the ‘aam aadmi’” (C4)• “Minimizing the large-scale corruption as seen in the 2G and Coalgate scams” (C5)• “Launching a truly effective political party serving worthy societal goals” (C6)• “Stimulating individual Indians to take a firm stand against corruption” (C7)• “To institute an effective Lokpal for India” (C8)

A possible structure relating these goals is shown in the next slide…

Much as for the ‘education Missions’ listed earlier, we shall have to tackle ALL the

following ‘anti-corruption Missions’ (in some sense) in order to tackle ANY of them!

In today’s circumstances, you may find it difficult to believe that it is possible to

accomplish ANY of these Missions!! We claim it’s not just possible to accomplish…

… you’ll find that ALL of them are, in fact, ESSENTIAL (to a greater or lesser extent)! - (if we really want to progress on ANY of them)

AND MORE: if we ever wish to be truly proud of being Indian citizens, we SHALL

HAVE TO SUCCEED to a sizable extent on ALL these ‘anti-corruption Missions’!


C7

C6

C5 C4

C1

C2

C3

“possibly contributes to”

Structure relating various ‘corruption aims” (previous slide)

C8

(See section on the ‘Education Missions’ – Slides 53-57 - for explanation of how the

structure shown next was developed)

• “Minimizing corruption in government in India” (C1)• “Reducing corruption by 50% within 5 years” (C2)• “Within 5 years, to become one of the 10 least corrupt nations in the world - instead of being one of the 10 most corrupt nations” (C3)• “Minimizing corruption at the level where it touches the ‘aam aadmi’”(C4)• (C5:Large scale – 2G, Coalgate) • C6: “Launching political party” • C7:“Stimulating individual Indians to take a firm stand against cor…”• C8: Lok Pal

The structure illustrated reflects the perceptions of the person who made it. (Click again to see text of some of these elements of list - complete list at Slide 42)…

Read bottom-upwards

We observe that the development of this structure involved a process

very similar to that used for the “Vision for Education” structure!

Important note:


C4 & C5 are actually perceived to lie in a ‘cycle’, with each “contributing

to” the other. However, each of these types of corruption require very different approaches and

mechanisms to tackle them – so we treat them as separate Missions, ignoring the interactions between

them…


Some Questions:

• What connections - if any - are there between ‘tackling corruption’ and ‘improving education’?• Is an educated person more/less likely to be corrupt than an uneducated one?• Does education provide any benefits to the corrupt – to the non-corrupt?• Does education help an individual resist corrupt practices by others? By himself/herself?• Does education in society provide any societal resistance to corrupt practices in society?• Is India more/less corrupt than, say, the USA? Than other countries (e.g., Finland; China; Pakistan)?

Education and Corruption (etc)

More

• Do educated people have a stake in maintaining corrupt systems in India? • Has the Anna Hazare movement against corruption lost steam? Why? Can anything be done to restore its vitality?• ??? (more questions/relevant insights)

See Word Document on this

Connections between “Our Vision for Education in India” and “Our Vision to

tackle ‘corruption issues’ in India”

Our ‘Vision for Education’……should, in fact, ‘encompass’ (in some sense) ALL significant Missions relating

to education

…and our ‘Vision to tackle Corruption’…

…should, in fact, ‘encompass’ ALL significant Missions that may help to eliminate or minimize corruption in

the country


Recall: Our ‘Vision for Education’ EV

EV

M3 M4

M2

M1

M5“probably

contributes to”

M6

(where every significant ‘Education Mission’ should be included in our

‘Vision for Education’) 04/11/23 74Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

Here’s our ‘Vision against Corruption’ VC:

VC

C7

C6

C5 C4

C1

C2

C3

C8

“probably contributes to”


We next display some sketches showing how these

visions may be related…

Linkages between ‘EV’ and ‘CV’

Metro Line04/11/23 76Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

VC

EV

Our ‘Vision for Education’ STRONGLY

CONTRIBUTES TO our ‘Vision against Corruption’

– AND vice-versa!

“strongly contributes to”

The relative strengths of the contributions would vary considerably at different

times…

For instance (in GSC’s perception): usually the dominant relationship would be: EV VC;

however, during the most intense phases of the Anna Hazare movement against corruption, the dominant

relationship was: VC EV

It’s another matter that IAC (the movement against corruption)

did not know how to make effective use of the dominant

relationship at the time when it was dominant in people’s minds!

In progress – more commentary to follow

“To ensure that the laying of the Metro rail line does not destroy Bangalore’s

beautiful MG Road boulevard!”

Link to photos of the boulevard before Metro work started

While the MG Road boulevard still looked like those photos (dates), I proposed to some friends that the above would be a

worthwhile project to take up.

Why it failed

We therefore never actually got down to the nitty-gritty of actually using the OPMS on the issue – and the project sank and

died, with barely a whimper…

Unfortunately, my friends’ initial enthusiasm did not extend to working in the kind of way demanded by the OPMS

approach

(At that time, a powerful societal movement might well have succeeded in stopping this

destructive and poorly conceived development of the Metro line)…

Today, Bangalore’s MG Road Boulevard is only history … (link to photos of MG Road today)

In progress – more to follow…

Back to list of Societal Missions

A

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04/11/23 77

Garbage + Traffic

“To resolve, effectively and most economically, the mess of the ‘garbage’/ ‘waste disposal’ problem’ in Bangalore”

In modern times, Bangalore has never had an adequate

‘garbage/waste-disposal system’

With the huge influx of people to Bangalore to work and live - a consequence of the ‘IT boom’ that led to Bangalore becoming India’s ‘Silicon

Valley’ (so to speak) – both the garbage disposal system and our traffic system have

spun into a crisis and are now barely functioning Back to list of Societal Missions

[Once upon a time – not too long ago, we did have an excellent water storage and supply system (which we have polluted

and abused beyond measure)]

Societal Mission(s)

04/11/23 78 More

Garbage + Traffic

Only recently, when the ‘system’ failed, did it become clear to all of us that what had been

done in the past was just to dump Bangalore’s garbage out in villages whose inhabitants did not have the power or inclination to protest!

“To resolve, effectively and most economically, the mess of the ‘garbage’/ ‘waste disposal’ problem in Bangalore”

Societal Mission(s) (continued)

On carefully examining the above Mission (in its entire context), we are able to understand

that this problem cannot be treated in isolation, but HAS to be tackled

along with another major Bangalore problem, namely:

“To resolve, satisfactorily, Bangalore’s traffic problem/crisis”


If both issues are taken up to be tackled together, we may resolve them satisfactorily…

…if both are NOT taken up together, neither of these issues will be tackled effectively!

(These are only GSC’s perceptions – NO special validity is claimed [yet])

Garbage + Traffic


Societal Mission[s] (continued)

Tackling Bangalore’s twin ‘messes’: garbage-disposal and traffic

A ‘sketch’ and a preliminary model is shown, in parts, over the next few slides. The model reflects the perceptions of the person(s) who constructed it

– and no claim is made that it is ‘valid’.

We must emphasize that any such model serves primarily as a means to communicate on

complex inter-relationships perceived between factors AND as a potentially useful

‘guide to action’The validity of such a model will develop from

the better understanding stakeholders may gain about the system under consideration Back to list of Societal Missions More

04/11/23 81

Societal Mission[s] (continued)


More

Garbage-disposal mess

Traffic crisis

“Resolving --- should provide

ideas to resolve ---”

Equal strength

both ways

An Interpretive Structural model is displayed at next slides

04/11/23 Bangalore Garbage + Traffic 82 More


(Model needs considerable improvement)

“may contribute

Model constructed using OPMS s/w

04/11/23 Bangalore Garbage + Traffic 83 More

“may contribute

Model constructed using OPMS s/w

Garbage + Traffic

Bangalore Garbage + Traffic

In progress – more

commentary to follow

“may contributeModel constructed using OPMS s/w

Garbage + Traffic


Individual Missions: Time Management

• “To manage my time effectively” (T1, say)• “To understand the basis of time management” (T2)

T1

T2

T2 contributes strongly to T1;

T1 also contributes to T2 - but less strongly; (Because, as we manage our time more effectively, the better we would understand the basis of time management).`We set the weaker contribution to zero – and obtain T2 T1

Back to where we came from For more info about OPMS CONTENTS

More to follow

(c) GS Chandy86

For more information about OPMS please contact:G.S. Chandy email: [email protected] (that’s gs_chandy….)Bangalore:Terrapin Station (near Delhi Public School)Sathanur Village,Bagalur P.O., PIN: 562149Bangalore, INDIATel.: +91-80-2279 2756Mobile (not mine; for SMS only!): +91-98458 48711

86 CONTENTS

I do not access my e-mail daily! If you need an urgent response to any message,

please give me a ‘heads-up’ at the telephone number indicated (or SMS the

mobile shown), and I shall then respond to any e-mail within 24 hours

Where OPMS comes from

OPMS 'Elevator' Presentation 2012 87

Information about John Warfield’s books, papers, etc:

http://www.jnwarfield.com and see also the ‘John Warfield

Collection’ maintained at the library of George Mason University

http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/gmu/vifgm00008.tp

The OPMS is based on seminal contributions to systems science from

the late Professor John N. Warfield

87 More about OPMS

Warfield’s view of systems lays emphasis as we demonstrate in our

workshops on the ‘inter-relationships between factors (elements) in the

system under consideration’We claim this is essential to enable us to develop a ‘usable understanding’

of systems

CONTENTS

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