Leadership and The Boiling Frog Experiment - Organization culture

There is a fascinating 19th century science experiment.  As the story goes, researchers found that when they put a frog in a pan of boiling water, the frog just quickly jumped out.  On the other hand, when they put a frog in cold water and put the water to boil over time, the frog just boiled to death.  The hypothesis is that the change in temperature is so gradual, the frog does not realize it’s boiling to death. While the results of the experiment are in question it is a good metaphor for organization cultures.

Indeed, many organisations/companies are unable to see the changes they are affecting them around, specially by competitors and when they do it is usually too late. The business has being highly impacted.

Sources:
Wikipedia: The Boiling Frog
Youtube Video Experiment (used image for this article is a capture from the YouTube Video)

Pattent trolling

I heard from the first time about this term “Patent troll” at a conference about competitive intelligence in Paris.
Indeed patents are often used as a PKI in different companies to illustrate their capacity to innovate or about the “status of art” within their R&D department.

Pattent trolling describes people or companies that misuse patents as a business strategy to weak its competitors by the use of third parties. Such a company (or third party) can then launch lawsuits against infringing, or simply hold the patent without planning to practise the idea in an attempt to keep other companies productivity at a standstill. It is even often the case that the company that has been attacked is obliged to put on the table confidential information in front of a judge. All this goes well when you are at the level of a unique country.
However, things become more complex when those information must be supplied to foreign countries where the impartiality/corruption might be at stake.

Read another interesting articles from:

• Word Intellectual property Organisation (WIPO) Magazine: Patent Trolls: Friend or Foe?

• How patent trolls operate?

About the Author
Jose Ferreiro is an entrepreneur and a performer with a passion for working to make this world a better place!

The Roots of European Civilization (Roma) by Jose Ferreiro

Roma according to the legend was founded by Romulus.
Romulus and Remus were the twins from "Rhéa Sivia" and Mars. Rhéa Silvia was the unique daughter of King Numitor (Albe-la-Longue).

When Amulius took over his brother Numitor. Amulius obliged Rhéa Silvia to become a priestess. He intended by doing to ensure that he will not have any direct descendant to claim to the throne.

But Mars, the king of war charmed Rhéa Silvia and she gave birth to twins (Remus and Romulus). Amelius ordered his servants to kill the new borns. However the servants just thrown away the new borns in a cradle in the Tibre river.  The cradle went away in the river and it stopped by a side of the river far away. A female wolf nursed the twins.
Later a shepherd named Faustulus discovered them in the wolf’s den. Faustulus took them to his home. Romulus and Remus were raised as shepherds but soon their abilities to lead and fight became famous.

One day Numitor found Remus and understood who he was. At this point of time the family was united again. Nevertheless both brothers could not settle for living in “Albe-la-Longue”. Romulus and Remus left to found their own city. However, a fight would break out between the twins. They agreed to establish their city on the same place they were found and rescued. The exact place was not clear in their minds. They decided to question the omens.  Romulus stand up on Palatin and Remus over the Aventin. The city will be setup where the omens will the most favorable. Remus saw first six vultures. On the other hand Romulus saw twelve. The sky decided in favour of Palatine, thus Romulus.

Romulus proceeded to draw the walls of his city. The wall was a simple ditch dug drawn by two oxen. Remus, disappointed not to have been favoured by heaven, laughed at this place. He could easily pass it with a jump.
He went inside the drawn perimeter by his brother (Romulus).

The latter, angered by seeing this sacrilege, drew his sword and killed instantaneously Remus (Dignitas).

Why did I write all this story? So simple, it is to show the values of the root of the European civilisation.

The roman virtues are shown next and they illustrate the roots of the European Civilization (romano germanic).

• Auctoritas "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.

• Comitas "Humour" Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness.

• Clementia "Mercy" Mildness and gentleness.

• 
Dignitas "Dignity" A sense of self-worth, personal pride.

• Firmitas "Tenacity" Strength of mind, the ability to stick to one's purpose.  

• 
Frugalitas "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly.


• Gravitas "Gravity" A sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility and earnestness.


• Honestas "Respectibility" The image that one presents as a respectable member of society.

• Humanitas "Humanity" Refinement, civilization, learning, and being cultured.

• Industria "Industriousness" Hard work. Pietas "Dutifulness" More than religious piety; a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others. Prudentia "Prudence" Foresight, wisdom, and personal discretion.

• Salubritas “Wholesomeness" Health and cleanliness.

• Severitas "Sternness" Gravity, self- control.
Veritas "Truthfulness" Honesty in dealing with others.

About the Author
Jose Ferreiro is an entrepreneur and a performer with a passion for working to make this world a better place!