Oil Spill Commission, Real Innovation Lessons

by J John Swanko

11/16/10 (People Port) Our Commission laid out what they learned. It was easy to understand. It is preliminary, however, America saw how the accident happened. All those firms involved were innovative, not communicating well. Chief Counsel Fred Barlit, Deputy Chief Counsel Sam Sankar made a point not to make conclusive connection, That is up to the Commission.

Engineers -not in a skunk works- are slow to point out problems. The assume everyone sees, understands, problems obvious to themselves. These firms compete outside this mutual beneficial environment. Each major firm's rule book dealt with similar problems -from each firm's expertize.

"Hey Jerk, you are creating a problem form my...," The Commission's Counsel expected to hear some witness say. Personal blowups did not happen. The Counsel took issue with engineers behaving as engineers. Lawyers and most of the public, respond differently to high risk changes.

Those Commission factfinders, pointed out, We do the same thing while driving. If we did not take on any risk, We would never get in a car (Much less the Interstate during rush hour).

This situation was very different, Everyone in the car could have hit the brakes, Change directions, Turn off the key. As Commission Counsel pointed out,
If trained.

What we all saw was a detailed explanation of how firms wishing to innovate, Can. Lots of problems in the high risk zones -even death.

Admiral Thad Allen explained, It is like working on Mars. On Deepwater Horizon, that was an everyday occurrence. Everyone involved knew it was dangerous. They communicated those risks to spouses.

All the business dangers of collaboration, personal disaster risks accompanying drilling for hydrocarbons. They are paid well.

Firms wishing to innovate, most firms trying to expand their top line, have to ask, How long will they keep someone on -their team- that speaks out. Raise a real issue -terminated. Do not hire the boss's golfing buddy (the clueless one), get transferred, terminated.

A major obstruction to firm's wishing to innovate are the groups controlling employment at your firm. Power point presentations by senior management, cannot guarantee that perfect person will be hired at some firms, governments.

Real innovative firms understand people will screw up. They look for what that person recruited, applying, did when they had the chance. Did they protect the stockholders or their reputations. In the very lowest levels, did they seek efficiencies or overtime.

All these examples are aligning personal interests with that of the firm. It takes serious management, employees, working to build a better tomorrow.

For firms looking to innovate, The Oil Spill Commission's Fifth Meeting November 8, 9 are worth watching. It will take a couple days -worth the effort. Innovative firms (most likely) already ordered the film.

Oil Spill Commission

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