Soon Christmas!! Can you believe it?
Time runs....it does not walk, and I try to run with it. Doing my things. Like you. Preparing for the big feast. Enjoying, struggeling, having fun, being late, listening to Christmas music, running getting the last things done....
Then - sometimes you receive something that makes you stop, read, think, enjoy, want to copy. It is contagious, and it belongs to this time of the year.
Just read this and be a copycat!
http://www.keylearning.no/dokumenter/give_its%20contagious.pdf
Merry Christmas in particular to our friends in Key Learning for giving, and a colorful and most enjoyable new year to you taking the time to read this.
All the best from us in Sim Optima
12/21/10
12/4/10
How to make a movement...?
Last week I had the opportunity to work with a client who wants to make a movement inside the organisation. The organisation is caught in a crisis and change is required. Easy wish - hard to do.
So what do they do?
Working with processes like this is like putting a puzzle together; you have to work with many parts and elements at the same time. And so the client does. One of the things he does is to hire internal brand managers. They are internal resources with a high internal standing that will be the change makers.
If you have read the book "Living the brand" by Nicholas Ind you know what I am talking about. If you do not know the book and do not have the time to read it, here is a quick course in what it is....
Have fun!
11/24/10
Where are you heading....?
When you turn 50 you realize life is not easy and how much people around you make a difference. (Yes, I know it took me a while!:-)).
Have a look at this film - it's a favourite! Why? Because when you struggle, you need people like this guy. We have clients walking difficult paths and I admire them for how thy do it. And I always find someone like this guy who knows that it is all about hard work and attitude and willingness to put your team first. I am heading this directon....are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_iKg7nutNY
11/15/10
On dialogue.......
Last week I had a fantastic experience! I was doing a dialogue session with a client - how to communcate through preparing to listen and not to talk!?!
Possible? Yes!
I learned this from The Performance Group who are true experts in this (Thank you to you!) and I fell in love with the format.
Bohm Dialogue or Bohmian Dialogue is a form of free association conducted in groups, with no predefined purpose in mind besides mutual understanding and exploration of human thought. It aims to allow participants to examine their preconceptions, prejudices and patterns of thought. The group sits in a single circle, for a few hours during regular meetings or for a few days in a workshop environment. Participants "suspend" their thoughts, motives, impulses and judgments - exploring and attempting to "think together" collectively. According to the proposal, Dialogue should not be confused with discussion, lecture, discourse or debate, which, says Bohm, all suggest working towards a goal rather than simply exploring. Meeting without an objective or agenda is done to create a "free space" for something new to happen.
I reccomend you try it......
Possible? Yes!
I learned this from The Performance Group who are true experts in this (Thank you to you!) and I fell in love with the format.
Bohm Dialogue or Bohmian Dialogue is a form of free association conducted in groups, with no predefined purpose in mind besides mutual understanding and exploration of human thought. It aims to allow participants to examine their preconceptions, prejudices and patterns of thought. The group sits in a single circle, for a few hours during regular meetings or for a few days in a workshop environment. Participants "suspend" their thoughts, motives, impulses and judgments - exploring and attempting to "think together" collectively. According to the proposal, Dialogue should not be confused with discussion, lecture, discourse or debate, which, says Bohm, all suggest working towards a goal rather than simply exploring. Meeting without an objective or agenda is done to create a "free space" for something new to happen.
I reccomend you try it......
11/9/10
CIM Event - a way to make life easier
What does it take to be able to communicate, control and ensure all key decisions are provided to all involved in an event? This is SO key!
We have lately talked to several event organizers about this providing the solution of our partner, One Voice. Their system is made for crisis situations and is used by many private companies and public entities. Running an event is pretty much like being on alert for 24 hours and we see many similiarites to dealing with contingency situations. So we put togheter a version of CIM fit for events.
Now we're looking for the first pilot client - we know it will be a breakthrough for any event operation! I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, have a look here: http://www.onevoice.no/en/
We have lately talked to several event organizers about this providing the solution of our partner, One Voice. Their system is made for crisis situations and is used by many private companies and public entities. Running an event is pretty much like being on alert for 24 hours and we see many similiarites to dealing with contingency situations. So we put togheter a version of CIM fit for events.
Now we're looking for the first pilot client - we know it will be a breakthrough for any event operation! I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, have a look here: http://www.onevoice.no/en/
10/20/10
Transfer of knowledge between events - true or false?!
Ellen and I were resently in Innsbruck to visit the organizing committee for the first Youth Olympic Winter Games. This is the first Winter Youth Olympic Games to be hosted. It will take place in January 13-22, 2012 for 1.058 athletes, age 14-18 from 70 nations that will perform in 7 sports and participate in the Culture and Education Programme.
We had the opportunity to share knowledge on how to do the Games operation, how to plan for it and not the least - how to train the entire staff in an efficient way. I am impressed by the way they with a small staff approach a complex event like this .....
We had also the opportunity to meet with a friend working with several events in the area, and what strikes me is that Austrians have something in common with Norwegians: The challenge to really take advantage of the knowhow of preparing for big events not reinventing it all again. And again. And again.
I really would love to see a true legacy where how-to-prepare-and-execute-an-event is documented in a way making it easy for the next one to "copy-paste" what's needed.
Who's ready to do that?
9/17/10
On my way home....
I am on my way home after a very interesting week here in Moscow and working with the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. I have facilitated a workshop assisting an Australian expert on Bus Operations in a Russian environment, with attendance from both an Austrian and a Swede. I am impressed with the compact Games concept, with the level of knowledge and the hard working Russians and how they have accepted a learning environment different from what they are used to.
So in the end, although we all see the world through " the coloured glasses of our own culture", we are none the less humans that enjoy to learn the same way - doing it the Sim Optima way!
So in the end, although we all see the world through " the coloured glasses of our own culture", we are none the less humans that enjoy to learn the same way - doing it the Sim Optima way!
9/16/10
A day in the life of.....
What is it like being at a workshop? Get up at 0600, morning yoga, breakfast, emails, last preps. Briefing with the Advisor for breakfast. Walk to Sochi office (boy, we are so lucky to be so close; commuting for 2 hrs is normal i Moscow!), organize the room, adjust the agenda (always changes), drink a coffee, work until 1300, lunch, work until 1800. Other meetings. Debrief with Advisor, dinner, emails, bed......I could be anywhere in the world? No, this is definately Russia. So when I come home I hope people will not ask questions like: What did you see? How was Kreml? How is Moscow? But rather questions like: How is the working culture? What are Russians like? Which are the challenges they face in the Olympic project? Which are the do's and don't's of Russian culture?
I love to meet the people! That is what I treasure and they are my source for knowledge. That is why I am here!
Oooopps, I better run........
I love to meet the people! That is what I treasure and they are my source for knowledge. That is why I am here!
Oooopps, I better run........
9/14/10
Next winter Olympics Sochi 2014!!
I am spending this whole week in Moscow assisting the organizer of the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games in Sochi 2014 in a workshop on Bus Operations. With a knowledgable advisor, an interested transport team, a nice atmosphere and good coffee, knowledge sharing is a fun sport. A complex project like this has many challenges and transport is among the biggest. So how do you succeed? Well, what I have learned today is that you start with the clients' needs and work on your service level agreements. Then you have to develop and agree on the route network, the bus timetables, the bus schedules, the driver roster, the depot staffing and rostering, design and operations. So now you just need to know where to get all the buses you need, how to recruit the staff, how to train them, where to accomodate them and feed them.....Easy? No, not really. I am glad there is knowledge to provide .....and may be we can create some too?
3/1/10
That's it.....for this time!
Sunday, February 28
Thanks Canada for being a huge country with few inhabitants, wanting to perform well, enabling to put on great Games despite a financial crisis and a Closing Ceremony with lots of humor.
Go Vancouver, go!
Sochi, here you come!
I am going home.....for now....
Thanks Canada for being a huge country with few inhabitants, wanting to perform well, enabling to put on great Games despite a financial crisis and a Closing Ceremony with lots of humor.
Go Vancouver, go!
Sochi, here you come!
I am going home.....for now....
2/26/10
Observation, observation....!
Friday, February 27
As part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM) programme, around 300 people from current Organising Committees (OCOGs) and applicant cities have been participating in the Vancouver 2010 Observer Programme. As an integral part of the OGKM platform, the programme provides a unique opportunity to live, learn and experience real Olympic Games operations.
The programme is organised by the IOC in conjunction with the host OCOG and it gives each future organiser the opportunity not only to see how things are done, but also to study specific areas, so that they can learn and improve upon them within their own organisational and cultural context.
Today I took part in the Games Coordination Observation Program and visited the Main Ops Center, Technology Ops Center, Main Media Center (Press and Broadcast) and the Olympic Family Hotel? 22 participants from 7 different organising committees.
What did I learn? That the Games is a machine that just live it own life when get going, that both command, control and communication is essential, that all is about coordination accross entities and "out-of-the-box"-solutions and that it will come together in the end - although you do not think so several times along the project timeline and phases....
That the British are funny, the French are French, the Canadians are jovial, the Corean are shy, the Russian are many, the Brasilian are smiling. And that is why I just love these Games.
And tomorrow I leave....time for reflection!
As part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM) programme, around 300 people from current Organising Committees (OCOGs) and applicant cities have been participating in the Vancouver 2010 Observer Programme. As an integral part of the OGKM platform, the programme provides a unique opportunity to live, learn and experience real Olympic Games operations.
The programme is organised by the IOC in conjunction with the host OCOG and it gives each future organiser the opportunity not only to see how things are done, but also to study specific areas, so that they can learn and improve upon them within their own organisational and cultural context.
Today I took part in the Games Coordination Observation Program and visited the Main Ops Center, Technology Ops Center, Main Media Center (Press and Broadcast) and the Olympic Family Hotel? 22 participants from 7 different organising committees.
What did I learn? That the Games is a machine that just live it own life when get going, that both command, control and communication is essential, that all is about coordination accross entities and "out-of-the-box"-solutions and that it will come together in the end - although you do not think so several times along the project timeline and phases....
That the British are funny, the French are French, the Canadians are jovial, the Corean are shy, the Russian are many, the Brasilian are smiling. And that is why I just love these Games.
And tomorrow I leave....time for reflection!
A day in the office....
Thursday, February 25
Working in the office all day. Meetings with good all friends from Marsh.
And learning about how the OCOG trained their managers....
Nothing really to write aboute....
Working in the office all day. Meetings with good all friends from Marsh.
And learning about how the OCOG trained their managers....
Nothing really to write aboute....
2/24/10
"Black Tuesday" - yes and/or no?
Tuesday, February 23
"Black Tuesday" (BT) is the name of the second Tuesday of the Games - say the broadcasters.
That is the day everything goes wrong. People are getting tired, jobs are getting routine, everyone relax a little, details fail, and all of a sudden -ooooppps, what should not happen just did... So was today a "Black Tuesday" here?
Arriving Whistler Olympic Park to see the skijumping competition, the event service volunteer denies me ingress; I do not have the right accreditation. But his teamleder stops by and let me enter anyway. They want people on the stands to have a crowd. Could easily have been a BT for me, but not this time.
I have agreed with John Aalberg, responsible for this venue, to have a chat with him. A connection from yesterday told him I would be there, so he was looking for me....Definately not a BT.
The car is to pick us up at the venue....but where is he!??? We wait 5 minutes, 10 minutes. We call him. On his way. Another 15 minutes. We call again. He had not seen us and is now waiting somewhere else, do not understand where we are...Time for our debrief is getting closer. We need to leave. A transport volunteer suggests she takes us down, and have him drive down to meet us at the Olympic Village. Saved from BT!
Preparing a debrief with some athletes and officials in the Olympic Village, I discover there are no flipcharts, the room is so noisy due to the heating fan that it is not possible to hear people speak, and upon arrival some of the participants say they expected the focus to be different...... Definately a BT! But...4 people help me make "flipcharts" out of A4-sheets, someone manage to switch off the fan (although really cold after 1,5 hours we at least heard each other) and the participants with other expectations enjoyed it anyway and hope to meet again....Puhhh, we avoided a BT!
Maybe it is just about creativity....seeing possibilites in the limits....What do you think?
"Black Tuesday" (BT) is the name of the second Tuesday of the Games - say the broadcasters.
That is the day everything goes wrong. People are getting tired, jobs are getting routine, everyone relax a little, details fail, and all of a sudden -ooooppps, what should not happen just did... So was today a "Black Tuesday" here?
Arriving Whistler Olympic Park to see the skijumping competition, the event service volunteer denies me ingress; I do not have the right accreditation. But his teamleder stops by and let me enter anyway. They want people on the stands to have a crowd. Could easily have been a BT for me, but not this time.
I have agreed with John Aalberg, responsible for this venue, to have a chat with him. A connection from yesterday told him I would be there, so he was looking for me....Definately not a BT.
The car is to pick us up at the venue....but where is he!??? We wait 5 minutes, 10 minutes. We call him. On his way. Another 15 minutes. We call again. He had not seen us and is now waiting somewhere else, do not understand where we are...Time for our debrief is getting closer. We need to leave. A transport volunteer suggests she takes us down, and have him drive down to meet us at the Olympic Village. Saved from BT!
Preparing a debrief with some athletes and officials in the Olympic Village, I discover there are no flipcharts, the room is so noisy due to the heating fan that it is not possible to hear people speak, and upon arrival some of the participants say they expected the focus to be different...... Definately a BT! But...4 people help me make "flipcharts" out of A4-sheets, someone manage to switch off the fan (although really cold after 1,5 hours we at least heard each other) and the participants with other expectations enjoyed it anyway and hope to meet again....Puhhh, we avoided a BT!
Maybe it is just about creativity....seeing possibilites in the limits....What do you think?
2/23/10
Connections and what does Olympic Games mean?
Monday, February 22
Today I met Etinne, who knows Delphine who I know and who knows Lisa who I will meet tomorrow. And hopefully bring Matt who we both know. And Ingunn who only I and Matt know. But who knows, maybe Tom who we all know will join ...
Olympic Games - so big, involving thousands of people, yet....some you always meet again, you share experiences and thoughts, do things, learn, quarrel and laugh. Build bridges across nations and culture. Is that the purpose of Olympic Games?
What happens when you ask this question to 12 athletes and officials?
They answer: The crowd, the flame, the Olympic village, the integration of different sports, the media, the ceremonies.
When I ask the lady on the train sitting next to me, she says: We need to finish what we have promised to the world although we can not afford it. She was running a non-profit organisation for people in trouble.
And when I asked the guy who told me the way to the sky train, he said: Open stores all the time - great!
Or the taxidriver who smiled and said: More money!! And less drunk people.
Whatever it is....it connects!
And tomorrow is "black tuesday"......!
Today I met Etinne, who knows Delphine who I know and who knows Lisa who I will meet tomorrow. And hopefully bring Matt who we both know. And Ingunn who only I and Matt know. But who knows, maybe Tom who we all know will join ...
Olympic Games - so big, involving thousands of people, yet....some you always meet again, you share experiences and thoughts, do things, learn, quarrel and laugh. Build bridges across nations and culture. Is that the purpose of Olympic Games?
What happens when you ask this question to 12 athletes and officials?
They answer: The crowd, the flame, the Olympic village, the integration of different sports, the media, the ceremonies.
When I ask the lady on the train sitting next to me, she says: We need to finish what we have promised to the world although we can not afford it. She was running a non-profit organisation for people in trouble.
And when I asked the guy who told me the way to the sky train, he said: Open stores all the time - great!
Or the taxidriver who smiled and said: More money!! And less drunk people.
Whatever it is....it connects!
And tomorrow is "black tuesday"......!
2/22/10
Impressed....
Sunday February 21
Today I had a guided tour at the Technical Operation Center (TOC). 10 rows of 20 people in front of computers. Here 200 people work from about 6 different IT companies, monitoring the technology systems of the Games. They come from many countries, speak different lanugages, have different interests, 30% with long term experience, some are paid, some are volunteers - all of them have undertaken the framework of the concept "this is how we do it here" yet with the possibility to influence areas of improvement. I am impressed about what I hear how they define the jobs, limits the rights, develop the job description, train and do action reviews on a regularly basis - all called Identity Mangement.
Next door is another huge room - the Main Operation Center (MOC) - here the organizing committee coordinate the Games. Today everything is relaxed and the Canadians can watch the hockey Game without worries. Not so true earlier in the Games.
Then a brief 3 floors up with Risk Management - the group that track, document and follow-up all the incidents. Depsite some serious issues that we know about, there are few other ones. Mostly volunteers with smaller injuries.
The day ends at the Russky House where Sochi 2014 promotes Russa, Russian culture and the Games. I get a tour and an interesting insight into their Olympic concept and visions on education.
I think we can wait another fantastic Games in 4 years too!!
Today I had a guided tour at the Technical Operation Center (TOC). 10 rows of 20 people in front of computers. Here 200 people work from about 6 different IT companies, monitoring the technology systems of the Games. They come from many countries, speak different lanugages, have different interests, 30% with long term experience, some are paid, some are volunteers - all of them have undertaken the framework of the concept "this is how we do it here" yet with the possibility to influence areas of improvement. I am impressed about what I hear how they define the jobs, limits the rights, develop the job description, train and do action reviews on a regularly basis - all called Identity Mangement.
Next door is another huge room - the Main Operation Center (MOC) - here the organizing committee coordinate the Games. Today everything is relaxed and the Canadians can watch the hockey Game without worries. Not so true earlier in the Games.
Then a brief 3 floors up with Risk Management - the group that track, document and follow-up all the incidents. Depsite some serious issues that we know about, there are few other ones. Mostly volunteers with smaller injuries.
The day ends at the Russky House where Sochi 2014 promotes Russa, Russian culture and the Games. I get a tour and an interesting insight into their Olympic concept and visions on education.
I think we can wait another fantastic Games in 4 years too!!
2/21/10
Friendlienes lives here...
Saturday February 20
What is Olympic Games? It is an event that starts 2550 days to plan, 16 days to execute and a few months to close up. It has 5500 athletes and officials taking part in 14 sports with 86 competitons being transmitted to 3 000 000 000 TV viewers with 2 400 000 spectators. It is the most complex event in the world.
But most of all it is meeting with people across cultures and languages opening up for new input and lessons learned.
What happends when a Norwegian is placed between two eager Canadians at a hockey match? She learns about all the details hocekylover Canadians know about hockey.
What happends when you buy pepper potatoes in the break? The waiter hand over the food, smiles and says: "Have fun and enjoy the Game!"
What happends on a croweded bus on its way to downtown Vancouer? Another person - of course a Canadian - starts talking to you about how key it is to keep your patience on a full bus, how great the Olympics are and why this street is a nice shopping area.
What happends when they check your accreditation card at the Olympic Family Hotel as you enter? The security lady says: "Super. You have the number 6; just what I was looking for. Enjoy your day!"
What happends when your Olympic car stops in the middle of the street in order to let you out making a traffic jam? The police man says teasingly: "Oh you're messing up my line here...." And then laughs.
Some of my Canadian friends are pleasantly surprised about themselves; that everyone is so positive. I think it is just the nature of Olympic Games coming through......
What is Olympic Games? It is an event that starts 2550 days to plan, 16 days to execute and a few months to close up. It has 5500 athletes and officials taking part in 14 sports with 86 competitons being transmitted to 3 000 000 000 TV viewers with 2 400 000 spectators. It is the most complex event in the world.
But most of all it is meeting with people across cultures and languages opening up for new input and lessons learned.
What happends when a Norwegian is placed between two eager Canadians at a hockey match? She learns about all the details hocekylover Canadians know about hockey.
What happends when you buy pepper potatoes in the break? The waiter hand over the food, smiles and says: "Have fun and enjoy the Game!"
What happends on a croweded bus on its way to downtown Vancouer? Another person - of course a Canadian - starts talking to you about how key it is to keep your patience on a full bus, how great the Olympics are and why this street is a nice shopping area.
What happends when they check your accreditation card at the Olympic Family Hotel as you enter? The security lady says: "Super. You have the number 6; just what I was looking for. Enjoy your day!"
What happends when your Olympic car stops in the middle of the street in order to let you out making a traffic jam? The police man says teasingly: "Oh you're messing up my line here...." And then laughs.
Some of my Canadian friends are pleasantly surprised about themselves; that everyone is so positive. I think it is just the nature of Olympic Games coming through......
2/20/10
Finally here
Friday February 19
I arrived today at 14.55 in sunshine and airport workers in shorts (did I hear Winter Olympics?). Airport nicly decorated and not busy. My friend Ingunn picked me up. She works with transport, being responsible for all the buses.
Transport is ALWAYS a challenge; and so true here too. I followed her to her work and realize how many details.....the devil is in the details....in order to make such an event work as it should . Transport is slowly coming together and is working for everyone. But you do need time both for venue ingress and egress.
First meetings for next days in place. Tomorrow I am heading to the Main Accreditation Center to get my accreditation.
Bente:-)
I arrived today at 14.55 in sunshine and airport workers in shorts (did I hear Winter Olympics?). Airport nicly decorated and not busy. My friend Ingunn picked me up. She works with transport, being responsible for all the buses.
Transport is ALWAYS a challenge; and so true here too. I followed her to her work and realize how many details.....the devil is in the details....in order to make such an event work as it should . Transport is slowly coming together and is working for everyone. But you do need time both for venue ingress and egress.
First meetings for next days in place. Tomorrow I am heading to the Main Accreditation Center to get my accreditation.
Bente:-)
2/18/10
Soon to be there.....
I am packing my last things to finally find my way to Vanocouver.
I am eager to see for myself how things work, but my good friend Matt with VANOC - the organizing committee - says everyone is buzzing. Like any big complex project it's taken a couple of days to get some aspects of the operaitons running as smoothly as expected.... It usually takes the workforce a couple of shifts to really understand the expectations and policies and procedures.
And some sunshine and gold medals helps too - for both Canadians and Norwegians!
Bente
I am eager to see for myself how things work, but my good friend Matt with VANOC - the organizing committee - says everyone is buzzing. Like any big complex project it's taken a couple of days to get some aspects of the operaitons running as smoothly as expected.... It usually takes the workforce a couple of shifts to really understand the expectations and policies and procedures.
And some sunshine and gold medals helps too - for both Canadians and Norwegians!
Bente
2/15/10
Vancouver - here I come......
February 19 I am heading over.
Already I am eager to learn about how the organizing committee (OCOG) is dealing with all the challenges they have faced so far; heavy rain, problems with the snow, death of an athlete, competition postponements, demonstrations, transport challenges.
On the IOC media update I can read that the IOC President is complimenting the OCOG on the quality of the sports competitions and the Opening Ceremony show.
The truth of this we will know later....when "black Tuesday" appears....
I'll tell you more about that later.
Bente
Already I am eager to learn about how the organizing committee (OCOG) is dealing with all the challenges they have faced so far; heavy rain, problems with the snow, death of an athlete, competition postponements, demonstrations, transport challenges.
On the IOC media update I can read that the IOC President is complimenting the OCOG on the quality of the sports competitions and the Opening Ceremony show.
The truth of this we will know later....when "black Tuesday" appears....
I'll tell you more about that later.
Bente
2/1/10
Cooperation with Sikker MAT
Sikker MAT consists of two food technologists, Kathrine Rødsjø and Siv Søraas. They have wide experience in food safety, quality control and food production. Sikker MAT and Sim Optima provide courses to anyone who offers food. The course includes training in quality assurance and contingency plans. After the course the customer will be able to manage and reduce the impact of any crises.
1/29/10
Photographer Lena Knutli @ Sim Optima
Alongside our collaboration with the students from NTNU we have brought in a photographer to help us use images in a better way on our website. Lena Knutli is an exciting artist and we look forward to our work together.
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