Not your father’s statistics

John Markoff of The New York Times reports on new software which finds relevant documents and social interconnections inside big volumes of legal data.  E-discovery is only one area where the accelerating torrent of information will be interpreted by new algorithms to generate knowledge and to change the jobs of professionals and managers. How will it change your business and your job?

Leadership checklist

I ran across this quote on Tom Ricks’ blog from Lt. General Walter Ulmer, who helped the U.S. Army recover from My Lai back in the ’70s and ’80s.

What is the essence of a ‘good climate’ that promotes esprit and gives birth to ‘high performing units’? It is probably easier to feel or sense than to describe. It doesn’t take long for most experienced people to take its measure.

• There is a pervasive sense of mission.
• There is a common agreement on what are the top priorities.
• There are clear standards.
• Competence is prized and appreciated.
• There is a willingness to share information.
• There is a sense of fair play.
• There is joy in teamwork.
• There are quick and convenient ways to attack nonsense and fix aberrations in the system.
• There is a sure sense of rationality and trust.

The key to the climate is leadership in general, and senior leadership in particular.

Looks to me like a good checklist for anyone planning a fearless reexamination of the role they play in their organization.