Most people have “selective vision” in that they tend to see what they expect to see, what they hope to see, etc. In this book, George S. Day and Paul J.H. Schoemaker examine the common causes and frequent consequences of what they call a “vigilance gap”, the inability of both individuals and organizations to recognize and then act upon “weak signals from the periphery” before it is too late. Day and Schoemaker recommend a series of seven steps to bridge this gap. In fact, the objective is not to “bridge” it but, rather, to minimize it. How? Knowing where to look, how to look, what the data mean, how to explore more closely, what to do with insights and how to do it, how to develop/establish and then sustain vigilance, and finally, how to set an appropriate agenda, mobilize resources, and then effectively apply them. Obviously, these are not head-snapping insights, nor do Day and Schoemaker make any such claim for them. The great value of this book is derived from how rigorously and how eloquently they explain each of the seven “steps.” They offer dozens of specific, real-world examples.
Those who take the “Strategic Eye Exam” electronically (by visiting www.thinkdsi.com) and then read the book with appropriate focus and rigor will derive substantial benefits from having done so. Stated another way, what they learn about themselves and their organizations will include several head-snapping revelations. In this sense, “Strategic Eye Exam” functions both as a mirror and as a window.
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