What happens when data
sets collide with mindsets?
*Lies, Dam Lies and Statistics
Popularized by Mark Twain in Chapters from my autobiography
“There are no facts, only
interpretations.”
Friedrich Nietzsche…
In Business –
“In the end, there is only
perspective…”
The world is full of best intentions
& perspectives…
What percentage of all phone calls
are cross border…
 What percentage of people are first
generation immigrants…
 What percentage of direct
investment is foreign based…
 What is the export to GDP ratio…

Global Cross Border Flows
Popular Guesses
50%
40%
30%
Guess
20%
10%
0%
Phone Calls Immigration
Direct
Export to
Investment GDP Ration
People believe the world
is pretty flat…
Source: Pankaj Ghemawat
author “The world isn’t flat”
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
Guess
20%
Actual
15%
10%
5%
0%
Phone Calls
Immigration
Direct
Investment
Perception vs. Reality
Export to
GDP Ration
Source: Pankaj Ghemawat author “The
world isn’t flat
Which country of the pair has
the highest child mortality
rate…
Sri Lanka
or
Turkey
Poland
or
South Korea
Malaysia
or
Russia
Pakistan
or
Vietnam
Thailand
or
South Africa
Which country of the pair has
the highest child mortality
rate…
Sri Lanka
or
Turkey
Poland
or
South Korea
Malaysia
or
Russia
Pakistan
or
Vietnam
Thailand
or
South Africa
When armed with the right data
and presented in the right way –
you can change the world…
Dr. Hans Rosling – Quantitative
Analysis meet Saturday Night Live
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever
_seen.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=usdJgEwMinM
New Paradigm - Convergence

Preconceived Ideas vs. Factual Evidence:
Business
 Social Policy
 Economics
 Prices at Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks

Data Set + Mindset X Perspective = Business Reality
What do I mean by
Mindset?
Let’s play cards and find
out…
A Final Thought on Mindsets & Perspectives
Transmission: Please divert your course 15 degrees north to
avoid a collision.
Response: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees
South to avoid a collision.
Transmission: This is the captain of a U.S. Naval Ship. I say
again divert your course!
Response: NO.. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Transmission: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
ENTERPRISE. WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE U.S.
NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!
Response: This is a lighthouse. Your call …
Moral of the story for each
of us…
No matter where you
come from and
regardless of how much
data and power you
may have,
sometimes you just have
to change directions!
Thanks for having me…
Appendix
Deviance: To stray from an
established course or norm
Webster’s Dictionary
Negative
Deviance
Normative
Performance or
Behavior
“Desired State”
Energy Spent
Problem Solving
Positive
Deviance
Energy Created
vs.
Abundance
Comparing Approaches to Change
Source: Cooperrider, 2001
PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH
Define the Problem
• Specify problems or needs
Analyze Determinants
• Identify symptoms and root causes
Identify Solution
• Generate alternatives that address
problems
Plan and Implement
• Design interventions that address or
solve problems
BASIC ASSUMPTION:
• Our job is to overcome major
problems, challenges, and
obstacles.
ABUNDANCE APPROACH
Identify Peak Performance
• Recount spectacular experience
Explain Success
• Identify enablers of the best past
successes
Create Sustainability
• Identify what should be continued in
the future
Design a Future
• Design interventions that create an
ideal future
BASIC ASSUMPTION:
• Our job is to embrace and enable
our highest potential.