Talks / Ideas / Philosophy

Why Strategy Fails in a Complex World (and How to Fix It)

Various venues across London

Wed 28 Oct · 19:00 · £20.25

90m · Talk

About this event

"Why Strategy Fails in a Complex World (and How to Fix It)" with Mark Workman Summary: The world is growing less predictable and more complex. The ability to design long term strategy is increasingly challenging. Organisations are struggling to develop decision making systems suited to this era of complexity. In recent years, this challenge has led to poor preparedness and handling of crises has across sectors including finance e.g. the impact of complex derivatives and inflationary forecasting, health e.g. Covid-19 pandemic preparedness, energy e.g. forecasts for economic competitiveness and net zero planning, trade e.g. around supply chain planning for crises ranging from the Panama Canal to the Strait of Hormuz, and geopolitics e.g. around the rules-based global order). Although wait-and-see approaches to recent geopolitical events – such as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz - have been prudent, they also generate risks of paralysis at the operational and strategic levels. It is also becoming ever apparent that the application of the conventional strategy tools, have and continue to be applied, which are inappropriate thereby distorting strategy design and decision making. The majority of Boards and Executives are traditionally educated, trained and culturally conditioned to rely on outdated decision-support tools. This talk will explore the following questions regarding strategy design in complexity with attendees: Are we seriously underestimating the extent of uncertainty when designing strategies? Are we asking the right questions?; and Are we using the right tools for strategic decision making? Bio : Mark Workman is a Researcher at Imperial College London where he undertakes research on climate change, violent conflict and strategy design in complexity. A specialist in Strategic Foresight, he uses mixed methods to develop insights about risks and opportunities in different possible futures with a specific application of complexity and deep uncertainty approaches to dynamic high dimensional state spaces. He holds a PhD in Coastal Engineering, a master’s in environmental economics and previously led a multi-million-dollar commercial business unit specialising in humanitarian disaster relief, medical services and security provision in Africa and Asia as well as serving as a Captain in the Royal Engineers on expeditionary warfighting operations post-9/11. He has also led extreme and high-risk expeditions all over the world and two military awards for leadership Venue: The Alma, Wandsworth 499 Old York Rd, London SW18 1TF Event Running Time: (We recommend arriving at 6:30pm if you're eating, and 7pm if drinks only) Doors from 7pm Introduction: 7:25pm Lecture: 7:30pm Q&A: 8:10pm Finish: 8:30pm FAQs: What is Pints of Knowledge? Pints of Knowledge is a series of public talks where experts, researchers, and big thinkers share fascinating ideas all in the relaxed setting of a pub. We bring brilliant minds and curious audiences together over a pint, covering topics from science and politics to history, art, and beyond. What happens at Pints of Knowledge? At each Pints of Knowledge event, you’ll hear engaging talks (approx. 40 minutes) from expert speakers on fascinating topics — followed by an audience Q&A (approx. 20 minutes). The vibe is informal and social, set in a pub where you can grab a drink, meet interesting people, and enjoy big ideas in a relaxed setting. What if I don't drink alcohol ? No problem at all! Pints of Knowledge is all about the ideas and the community, not the drinks. You’re welcome to enjoy a soft drink, coffee, or whatever you prefer. The focus is on creating a relaxed, social atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Can I attend without a ticket? Tickets must be purchased online prior to the event. With our limited capacity at each venue we can't let people in without a ticket. There is occasionally the option to purchase a ticket on the door for our sold-out events, but we cannot guarantee this. Is there food available? Yes, there is usually the option to purchase food at our events - please see each venue's menu on their website. If you plan on eating at the venue, we recommend arriving as early as possible so the kitchen can get your order out before the talk starts. In the unlikely event the kitchen isn't open, there will typically be an option to order in food from elsewhere or bring your own food. Can I get my ticket refunded? We issue full ticket refunds up to 24 hours before the event. Any requests after will be at the discretion of the event organiser. Can I get my ticket exchanged? We issue full ticket exchanges if you have requested 48 hours before the event. Any requests after will be at the discretion of the event organiser . Is the event pet/baby friendly? Yes, we allow pets and babies to attend but reserve the right to request their removal if they are disruptive. Is the venue accessible? All of our venues are accessible, besides the following: The Old Queen's Head, The Landor, The Alma, and The Morpeth Arms.