This Intriguing Study Used a Multi-Dimensional Approach That Achieved Great Results. It Is A Great Example of How Recognizing More Levels of Environment Can Change Measured Circumstances. http://www.aging-us.com/article/100981/text
Our current dominant thinking on medicine fits into the “lock and key” paradigm which searches for a “one step in one one process” solution. This reductionist approach is failing (so far!) for conditions like Alzheimers (and others).
Deming was famous for asking “what was the process?!” that led to breakdowns in manufacturing, rather than focus on the problem caused. To add further power to this super-question – what if we ask “what is the environment” in which the problem occurs?
In this case – they altered the physiology of the subjects with lifestyle changes – specifically to do with inflammation and insulin resistance. These are almost ‘global’ affectors that produce a cascade of adaptions in our body. Our bodies adapt at multiple levels to suit the environment.
There were improvements in the Alzheimer scores in this study – but absolutely no insight as to what specifically made a difference at the cellular level (lock and key model). We can only guess that it was a multi-step cascade effect.
Environment Cascade Example in Business
An example in your business – you may decide to do a 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize & Sustain + Safety). As a result of this structured activity your physical work environment changes, levels of stress in your team changes, waste due to looking for things reduces, customers experience improves as efficiency goes up, team becomes happier, sales and profits surge. So did sorting your storeroom directly make your sales increase? Or putting the old files from 2003 into storage? Or getting rid of the that 4th printer that is never used? It cannot be known.
A changed environment changes every process in it to some degree.
Clearly the theory of constraints (Goldratt) still applies – there is only one bottleneck to address a time. But consideration of the environment may uncover that much of the existing processes at work are ADAPTATIONS that would not be required if the environment was altered (ideal).
Change the environment so that the problem simply CANNOT exist?
The attempts by medical research to find the answers to amyloid protein build up in Alzheimers may be restricted by the reductionist level of thinking being followed. Simply – if I am standing “in” the amyloid tissue in the brain of a sufferer – I can only see the variables that are there surrounding me. If I stand in the total of the brain – I will see different, and many more processes. Expand out to the body (as this study did) – and completely different variables, processes and pathways come into play.
Where I stand determines what I see. And we are allowed to move to a different view! In simple terms, we can zoom in, zoom out, step out and step in, or turn and face the other direction (eg view your business as a customer or supplier) You also get a different perspective if you or your objects of study are in motion.
This may also be part of the “super-powers” created by the “Mastermind Group”, which imports the thinking positions and levels of others with the same mission. (Video)
Initial Conditions Determine Your (Chosen) Actions or Efforts
In my LinkedIn profile – I state that “Initial conditions determine your path to success.” (Deming again) This infers you can begin walking your path from where you are right now. Or – which is relevant to Alzheimers research – to stop and examine (or alter) the conditions and position from which you begin your motion.
The simplest possible example is in setting your targets and doing your planning. If you do these tasks while in a “Non-ideal” mental and physical state – you will choose targets and options that will likely not be optimal. Setting targets, visions, missions or even choosing what to have for lunch varies with your state. This includes your physical state. Poor sleep, too much coffee, absence of exercise, stoop posture, hyperventilating, stress – if your state is affected, so will your perspective and decisions be. One of your selections for “initial conditions” is your own state.
Our state is ONE thing that we do have control over. Is it logical to monitor and adjust it at times of high value activities?
For me, the key points are to recognize the different levels available – and to be completely aware of what Napoleon Hill called the “Definite Chief Aim” – which the DESIRE you wish to fulfill. This is the “First 1%” that allows our efforts to be organized. It is what filters our perception to draw to our attention that knowledge which allows our efforts to be organized, rather than diffused and weak.
There is a protocol to creating and refining your targets to ensure that your own subconscious does not generate counter-measures to your Definite Chief Aim – and sabotage your results.
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