Comments on: Supply chains: Density increases distance which favors specialization and concentration spawning vulnerabilities

By: HGRATTAN

HGRATTAN — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:49:49 +0000

As has been extolled on this blog, cynefin methodologies “might” be a means to “engage: complex adaptive systems.

However, I am not sure who “we” is or if “engagement” might be what Nassim Taleb (Black Swans) refers to as naive interventionism. Taleb argues that acknowledging randomness and black swans and our fragility (Antifragile) will increase resiliency. The National Intelligence Council’ Global 2030 suggest that the fittest societies and economies will survive best.

While I am skeptic as to effective interventionism, I am open to cynefin and other means to engage the world as it is.

By: Philip J. Palin

Philip J. Palin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:02:01 +0000

Mr. Grattan: Can we conceive of ways to effectively engage complex adaptive systems that do not involve control (regulation)? Is our economy — society — really just a Darwinian process of randomness and survival of the fittest?

By: Today’s Digest 24. January 2013 » Continuity Management News

Today’s Digest 24. January 2013 » Continuity Management News — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:01:06 +0000

[...] Supply chains: Density increases distance which favors specialization and concentration spawning vul… Three recent reports offer related insights. Building America’s Future: Transportation Infrastructure Report 2012 (4.8 mgb) tells us, We have let more than a half-century go by without devising a strategic plan on a national scale to update our freight and passenger transport systems…. [...]

By: Willioam R. Cumming

Willioam R. Cumming — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:24:26 +0000

Of course international illegal drug supply chains seem highly resilient.

By: HGRATTAN

HGRATTAN — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:18:17 +0000

IMHO, Global supply chains are the ultimate representation of Adam’s Smith’s invisible hand driving markets. No matter governments, companies, or individuals, the fittest purveyor of goods can manufacture and acquire globally and sell globally.

IMHO, near-future attempts to control (regulate) global markets will be mostly nominal. Capitalist mostly recognize the inherent fragility of business enterprise and relish in the idea that the fittest will succeed.

Reductionist attempts to build global market resiliency must consider that the whole market is inherently resilient. That is not to say that regions, states, and local government should not build regional, state, and local supply resiliency. The recent events of Hurricane Sandy demonstrate that we should.

By: Philip J. Palin

Philip J. Palin — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:46:18 +0000

Bill, An oblique response. Over the last two centuries the human species has transformed its context in totally unprecedented ways. Over the last fifty-to-sixty years we have accelerated this process.

Along the way we have created new aspects of complexity and self-organization. This has altered our cultural topography in ways we still do not fully understand.

We usually prefer reductionist and linear solutions that are now often ill-suited for where we find ourselves. Too often what we intend as a help ends up hurting, sooner or later.

Before we can usefully specify effective tactical solutions, I perceive we need to acknowledge how dramatically our context has shifted and reach some shared sense of how this new reality truly operates… for better or worse.

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 06:30:51 +0000

Okay so is it less investment equals less resilience or is it nonfeasance, misfeasance, or malfeasance whether the investment stream in supply chain resilience like the earnings of the banksters been diverted to those who manage it as opposed to the end product, e.g. a service or good that helps maintain and increase resilience?

Did the $17-20B invested in the Big Dig in Boston help supply chain resilience? Or did the average $10-20B in annual federal crop insurance payments help supply chain resilience? Or did property insurance repetitive payouts in coastal areas help supply chain resilience?

And exactly which Congressional committees are involved in supply chain resilience?

What investment has been made in Intermodal Transportation links? Shipping containers improved resilience and lowered costs. Widening of the Panama Canal will lower costs of goods shipped.

And conversion of valuable crop land to other uses impacts resilience how?

And how does the growth of local government to over 90,000 entities with more each day help resilience?

How does federal recognition of Indian Tribes help resilience? Now over 500? How does the Casino industry help supply chain resilience? How do state lotteries help resilience?

How does immigration help supply chain resilience?

How does government organization help supply chain resilience?

Who studies logistics and supply chains and develops studies of their resilience?

Who profits from lack of supply chain resilience? Who benefits in other ways? Who benefits from improvements? Which SIC are most dependent on supply chains?

A fool of course can ask more questions than a wise man can answer!

FOOD, ENERGY, WATER ALL INTERRELATED SUPPLY CHAINS OF COURSE!

FEDEX AND UPS part of supply chain!

In 1940 over 100 vegetable canning facilities in the Northern Neck and Middle Pennisula of Virgina now none. Supply chain resilience?

Which governors worry about supply chain resilience? Which mayors? Which Executive Branch departments and agencies? Which regulators? Which insurers? Which investors?

YUP all a worry IMO!