One of our students, Bridget Finn, recently put together a pretty cool product using Dipity, an online timeline tool, to show the timeline of significant events in Egypt since Mubarak stepped down.
She intends to continue to update the timeline with a specific focus on women's issues and social media, so check back in a few days and see what she has done with it!
Egypt on Dipity.
25 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi
Interactive Online Timeline Of Events In Egypt Since Mubarak Stepped Down (Infographic)
To contact us Click HERE
Sources And Methods Games? Yes!
To contact us Click HERE
There's more, but this list is a good start. The bottomline is that this effort -- which is as much a research project as a company -- gives me a chance to explore these questions in a more realistic way. I recognize that much of the evidence I gather will be anecdotal but I think I will be better able to orient myself on important issues as a result.
This is not the first time I have owned a games company, though. I ran a small company, Wheaton Publications, back in the early 80's while I was still in law school - ran it right into the ground. Despite having two pretty good, well-reviewed games, the company was massively under-capitalized and had to be shuttered within 18 months.
While it was painful at the time, I remember how much I learned from the experience. While I am no Rockefeller, my financial position has improved a bit since I was a poor law student living in a basement and eating mac and cheese 4 times a week. I still have good games (including one I which I am about to launch in the next couple of weeks -- if you are interested you can get more information here). So, who knows? Maybe I'll make it 24 months this time!
Well, I went and did it! Started my own company - Sources And Methods Games!
No, I am not quitting my day job.
But ... I do want to explore the intersection between games, intelligence, learning and entrepreneurship (4 big passions of mine). Doing so from the safety of the University and with someone else's money, however, just didn't seem right somehow. I suppose I just like testing theories more than talking about them.
What specifically, do I hope to learn?
- What makes a game good?
- How do games teach?
- Is it possible to make good games that teach intelligence concepts or methods?
- Does it make more sense, from the standpoint of teaching intelligence, to focus on tabletop or video games?
- How is crowdfunding (KickStarter, IndieGoGo, etc.) changing the gaming industry (particularly the tabletop games industry)?
- What are the intelligence requirements of a globalized, crowdfunded, social media driven business environment?
- Given the research into effectual reasoning and entrepreneurship, what is intelligence's role in a start-up?
- What are an entrepreneur's Essential Elements of Information (EEIs)?
- How can they best be met?
There's more, but this list is a good start. The bottomline is that this effort -- which is as much a research project as a company -- gives me a chance to explore these questions in a more realistic way. I recognize that much of the evidence I gather will be anecdotal but I think I will be better able to orient myself on important issues as a result.
This is not the first time I have owned a games company, though. I ran a small company, Wheaton Publications, back in the early 80's while I was still in law school - ran it right into the ground. Despite having two pretty good, well-reviewed games, the company was massively under-capitalized and had to be shuttered within 18 months.
While it was painful at the time, I remember how much I learned from the experience. While I am no Rockefeller, my financial position has improved a bit since I was a poor law student living in a basement and eating mac and cheese 4 times a week. I still have good games (including one I which I am about to launch in the next couple of weeks -- if you are interested you can get more information here). So, who knows? Maybe I'll make it 24 months this time!
Entrepreneurial Intelligence (ENTINT?)
To contact us Click HERE
All entrepreneurs are crazy.
Nuts. Cuckoo. Certifiable dingbats. Need evidence? How about this: According to a study published last year, only about 25% of companies that take venture capital are able to make any money off it -- the other 75% lose at least some and perhaps all of the money.
Need more? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about a third of all small businesses make it for longer than 10 years and 30% fold within the first two years! You have to be crazy to go up against those odds...
Intelligence analysts live to forecast and one of the easiest forecasts you can make, or so it seems, is the sooner-rather-than-later demise of a new business.
Easy but worthless.
It is a situation that is sort of like the 1990 National Intelligence Estimate on what is now the former Yugoslavia. It was completed just before the war broke out in full force. It turned out to be extremely accurate but was virtually useless to the policymakers of the day. In fact, it was probably counterproductive as it validated the inertia that was prevalent in Washington regarding the issue at the time.
You see, it was in the US's interests -- heck, it was in everyone's interests -- to keep Yugoslavia from breaking up or, if it had to break up, to do it in a way that was neither bloody nor lengthy. Saying, as the NIE did, that the breakup was inevitable and that there was nothing policymakers could do about it was singularly unhelpful. The policymakers needed to try and they could have used some intelligence insights to help them.
So it is with entrepreneurs. Telling them that they are likely to fail probably isn't going to dissuade them from trying; its just going to make them think that intelligence isn't going to be very valuable. This is a shame, since entrepreneurs probably have more questions about things that are critical to their success or failure but are outside their control (the essence of an intelligence question) than most businesses.
For the last several months I have been busy starting my own company and working on a number of games (one of them - Widget - is about ready to launch. You can find out more about it here if you are interested). I know intelligence has a role to play in entrepreneurship but am just beginning to understand what that role is and how it is both different and the same as more traditional notions of intelligence in business. As I learn new things and gain understanding, I intend to explore these ideas in an occasional series of posts on the topic.
On The Intelligence Requirements Of Entrepreneurs (ENTINT)
To contact us Click HERE
Entrepreneurs, according to Sarasvathy's research, operate on five principles. These principles, in turn, give an insight into the intelligence needs of entrepreneurs:
This certainly tracks with my own experience to date. I don't need perfect answers. I certainly don't need long-term predictions about the health of the tabletop gaming industry. I need good-enough answers about things I am working on right now.
This, in turn, suggests the form of an intelligence activity designed to support entrepreneurs. It would have to be staffed by a variety of high-quality generalists, able to provide answers on a wide range of topics quickly. Since almost no entrepreneurs have money to burn, it would likely have to provide support to a number of entrepreneurs at a number of different low-cost support levels (perhaps by subscription or even by the question). It would have to be available 24/7 and, it almost goes without saying, it would have to be available online and possibly through phone or text message.
Such a service already exists. Called Fancy Hands, this online site bills itself as a virtual assistant service. While it provides a wide variety of services, all at a reasonable flat fee per month for a pre-defined number of requests, I have used Fancy Hands almost exclusively as a research service - a proto-intelligence service for entrepreneurs, if you will.
Fancy Hands, of course, does much more than research for their clients and, I am sure, would dispute any claim that they are an intelligence service of any kind (proto or not). My point is not to disagree with them (I like their service too much to gratuitously seek to irritate them...). My point is that any organization seeking to provide intelligence services to entrepreneurs could learn from them. Much of what they do and, more importantly, the way they do it, is exactly what entrepreneurs require.
(Note to readers: This is the continuation of an occasional series of posts about providing intelligence support to entrepreneurs This issue interests me for both academic and personal reasons. Academically, I can think of no one who has touched it and, personally, I have recently started a games company and am about to launch my first game, Widget.)
To understand the intelligence requirements of entrepreneurs, it helps, I think, to have an understanding of what makes a "good' entrepreneur. When you consider that both the guy with 10 million dollars in venture capital and the guy with 50 bucks of used CDs are both technically entrepreneurs, such a task might seem difficult, if not impossible.
Recently, though, some very good research has come out of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Saras Sarasvathy, (who, it should be noted, got her start at Carnegie Mellon working with Nobel Laureate, Herbert Simon), has done extensive research on how great entrepreneurs think.
Great entrepreneurs, it seems, are "effectual reasoners". They start with broad goals, assess their means - the birds in their hands - and then move as far as their resources will allow. This is in contrast to more typical "causal reasoning" which starts with a specific goal and a clear plan for achieving it. The image below, from the Society for Effectual Action, visualizes the difference:
 |
| http://www.effectuation.org/learn/effectuation-101 |
- Bird in the Hand. Entrepreneurs start by imagining what they can do with what they have rather than setting a goal and then abandoning it if they do not have the means to achieve it. Helping the entrepreneur identify what they "have" in this global economy would seem to be at least one intelligence requirement.
- Affordable Loss. Instead of large all or nothing plans, entrepreneurs seek, like Napoleon, to conduct "a well reasoned and extremely circumspect defensive, followed by a rapid and audacious attack." In other words, they seek to determine what they can afford to lose at each step rather than hyper-focus on expected return. Intelligence should, then, focus on the near-term, external, potential causes of loss.
- Lemonade. Entrepreneurs tend to see surprises as opportunities. Intelligence would be useful in helping the entrepreneur explore, understand and exploit those opportunities.
- Patchwork Quilt. Entrepreneurs worry less about competition and more about building partnerships with people who want to work with them. Intelligence could play a significant role in helping the entrepreneur identify potential partners.
- Pilot in the plane. Entrepreneurs believe that the future is "neither found nor predicted, but rather made." Sarasvathy contrasts this to managerial thinking which accepts that trends will hold and the future is predictable.
This certainly tracks with my own experience to date. I don't need perfect answers. I certainly don't need long-term predictions about the health of the tabletop gaming industry. I need good-enough answers about things I am working on right now.
This, in turn, suggests the form of an intelligence activity designed to support entrepreneurs. It would have to be staffed by a variety of high-quality generalists, able to provide answers on a wide range of topics quickly. Since almost no entrepreneurs have money to burn, it would likely have to provide support to a number of entrepreneurs at a number of different low-cost support levels (perhaps by subscription or even by the question). It would have to be available 24/7 and, it almost goes without saying, it would have to be available online and possibly through phone or text message.
Such a service already exists. Called Fancy Hands, this online site bills itself as a virtual assistant service. While it provides a wide variety of services, all at a reasonable flat fee per month for a pre-defined number of requests, I have used Fancy Hands almost exclusively as a research service - a proto-intelligence service for entrepreneurs, if you will.
Fancy Hands, of course, does much more than research for their clients and, I am sure, would dispute any claim that they are an intelligence service of any kind (proto or not). My point is not to disagree with them (I like their service too much to gratuitously seek to irritate them...). My point is that any organization seeking to provide intelligence services to entrepreneurs could learn from them. Much of what they do and, more importantly, the way they do it, is exactly what entrepreneurs require.
MRAP
To contact us Click HERE
Recently I have been reading a lot on the Internet about people who are worried that the Federal government law enforcement agencies have been buying large amounts of ammo, guns and armored cars. One report was the DHS had 2,700 MRAP armored cars. I support local law enforcment but I don't think the Federal government is planning to install President Obama as the dictator. I do think President Obama is a terrible president and I did not vote for him either time.
As the military downsizes or gets new vehicles they are often given to local law enforcement. I work as a reserve police sergeant at a small agency in Southern California. In the 22 years I have been there we have gotten several CCUV trucks (all gone now) and one Cadillic armored car. The armored car was a hand me down from another police department, but they got it from DOD and were upgrading to a new armored car. The other agency was ten times our size. Most people don't know this but there are over 10,000 local law enforcement agencies in the United States, most cities have their own police and every county has a county sheriff, in addition to state police, game wardens
and many other agencies.
I suspect that's where most of theose MRAPS are going since the Iraq was has been winding down. Remember too the USA is a big place, if you need an armored car to respond to a terrorist incident you have to have hundreds, if not thousands, pre-positioned all over the nation to have one or two close enough to get to the incident in a reasonable time. US police have used armored cars for almost a century now, and it's a good idea; that's what the SGT Says.
As the military downsizes or gets new vehicles they are often given to local law enforcement. I work as a reserve police sergeant at a small agency in Southern California. In the 22 years I have been there we have gotten several CCUV trucks (all gone now) and one Cadillic armored car. The armored car was a hand me down from another police department, but they got it from DOD and were upgrading to a new armored car. The other agency was ten times our size. Most people don't know this but there are over 10,000 local law enforcement agencies in the United States, most cities have their own police and every county has a county sheriff, in addition to state police, game wardens
and many other agencies.
I suspect that's where most of theose MRAPS are going since the Iraq was has been winding down. Remember too the USA is a big place, if you need an armored car to respond to a terrorist incident you have to have hundreds, if not thousands, pre-positioned all over the nation to have one or two close enough to get to the incident in a reasonable time. US police have used armored cars for almost a century now, and it's a good idea; that's what the SGT Says.
24 Şubat 2013 Pazar
Oh please! Military's new medal for cyber warriors and drone pilots
To contact us Click HERE
"Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, who announced the new award on Wednesday, said the military needed a medal that recognizes that post-9/11 warfare is different with servicemembers at consoles in the U.S. directly affecting the outcome of enemy engagements." [VFW Wants New Medal Ranked Lower].
Worse yet the medals are ranked higher than "both the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart – medals typically awarded for combat in which the servicemember's life is at risk." The VFW's position: "The VFW fully concurs that those far from the fight are having an immediate impact on the battlefield in real-time, but medals that can only be earned in direct combat must mean more than medals awarded in the rear." [VFW Wants New Medal Ranked Lower].
While defending your country sitting in front of what might well be considered little more than a game console exhibiting skills that gamers across the world exhibit for entertainment might deserve some recognition; however, it ought to be measured against the risk of the particular service performed.
It is incomprehensible that anyone, especially the military, could equate the roles played by those in a comparative cushy environments with those actually placing their lives on the line in service to their country. "Thank you for your service" will be an empty phrase. The ranking of these cyber warrior medals dishonors the service of men and women that have fought in combat.
The two medals mentioned by the VFW are medals for extra-ordinary service, not something for completion of a tour of duty or completion of the term of enlistment.
Worse yet the medals are ranked higher than "both the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart – medals typically awarded for combat in which the servicemember's life is at risk." The VFW's position: "The VFW fully concurs that those far from the fight are having an immediate impact on the battlefield in real-time, but medals that can only be earned in direct combat must mean more than medals awarded in the rear." [VFW Wants New Medal Ranked Lower].
While defending your country sitting in front of what might well be considered little more than a game console exhibiting skills that gamers across the world exhibit for entertainment might deserve some recognition; however, it ought to be measured against the risk of the particular service performed.
It is incomprehensible that anyone, especially the military, could equate the roles played by those in a comparative cushy environments with those actually placing their lives on the line in service to their country. "Thank you for your service" will be an empty phrase. The ranking of these cyber warrior medals dishonors the service of men and women that have fought in combat.
The two medals mentioned by the VFW are medals for extra-ordinary service, not something for completion of a tour of duty or completion of the term of enlistment.
"The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military." [Purple Heart - Wikipedia].
"The Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria. A Purple Heart is awarded for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an oak leaf cluster is worn in lieu of the medal. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant. A "wound" is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required; however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award. The Purple Heart is not awarded for non-combat injuries.[6]" [Purple Heart - Wikipedia].
"The Bronze Star Medal is an individual military award of the United States Armed Forces. It may be awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone. When awarded for acts of heroism, the medal is awarded with the "V" device." [Bronze Star Medal - Wikipedia].
"The "V" device may be authorized for wear on specific decorations awarded to any service member. In the Army and Air Force the device denotes that a specific individual decoration resulted from an act of combat heroism. In the Navy and Marine Corps, the Combat "V" may be authorized for wear to denote valor or being exposed to personal hazard involving direct participation in combat operations." [Bronze Star Medal - Wikipedia].Where is the heroism and valor in military gaming?
US senator proudly asserts 4,700 killed in drone strikes
To contact us Click HERE
""We've killed 4,700," [Repulican Senator] Graham was quoted as saying by the Easley Patch, a local website covering the small town of Easley. "Sometimes you hit innocent people, and I hate that, but we're at war, and we've taken out some very senior members of al-Qaeda," he told the local Rotary Club."" [US senator says 4,700 killed in drone strikes].
Collateral damage in an undeclared war fought by military gamers. I wonder how many "senior members of al-Qaeda" are in the 4,700? I sure feel relieved that the good senator hates killing innocent people.
Gee - as long as "war" is declared, however waged unconstitutionally, then the killing of innocent people is justified.
Collateral damage in an undeclared war fought by military gamers. I wonder how many "senior members of al-Qaeda" are in the 4,700? I sure feel relieved that the good senator hates killing innocent people.
Gee - as long as "war" is declared, however waged unconstitutionally, then the killing of innocent people is justified.
Kaydol:
Kayıtlar (Atom)