"The evil octopus is killing the nice fish."

Our thanks to Anders Jangbrand of CSC for this amusing model. As you can see, Southbeach, while retaining a high integrity of meaning, can nevertheless express concepts visually.

A blessing in disguise

Everything is both useful and harmful. Decomposing agents into their useful and harmful elements is central to TRIZ and to Southbeach. We understand this instinctively in life. Hence the saying, a blessing in disguise. In this model, the blessing (useful) has a dotted border. In Southbeach, this means 'potential'. We have also added the delay modifier to the production ... since the blessing is often realized later than the immediate harm.

Look after the pennies...

... and the pounds will look after themselves

Killing two (harmful) birds with one (useful) stone

An amusing model, suggested by Anders Jangbrand of CSC.

A trend in the past, coupled to an event in the present, could trigger bad stuff in the future

Southbeach supports the concept of "Separation" For example, a model could be separated into those parts which relate to the past, present and future. Other types of separation include, in space, by structure, by perspective, by role, etc. (The Southbeach tool gives all the options).

Here, we show a simple model of the financial crisis. Over leverage and derivative instruments in the past was a growing trend. Note the use of conjunction to link the past trend with the current trigger event, leading to actual bank failure in the present, and a potential future epression.

An ace up one's sleave

A potential ace card becomes a real ace card, in play. The effect (change from potential ace to real ace in play) is created by an opportune moment which we must wait for.

An accident waiting to happen

An accident waiting to happen. The potential accident is created by an event - delayed/waiting. The event that causes the accident can be counteracted by hindsight.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Note the strong useful effect.

Entrepreneurs

The right culture creates entrepreneurs. But what is an entrepreneur. They are more than a risk taker. They are in fact risk averse, and they focus on outcomes through drive and passion. It is this combination that creates successful new ventures. Ventures are inherently both about outcomes, and risks.

A new strategy is needed

A new strategy (Blue Ocean) is needed. It is required for the successful potential transformation of the company, and it counteracts a harmful potential buy out of the company.

Any means to an end

A company is capable of both making money, and losing money. It employs any means to make one happen and not the other.

Too much of a good thing

Good things can lead to two behaviors, moderation and excess.

Design patterns

Designers create designs. That process can be observed, building up a store of design patterns. Those patterns can be consumed by lessor designers, transfering skills they would otherwise not have.

Is policy stronger than advice?

Both advice and policy can control behavior, and while some businesses believe that policy is a stronger effect, this "useful" effect can counteract personal initiative, leading to a non-proactive culture.

Profit Cost Tension

There is always a tension between profit and cost in any useful business.

Complication

Complication.
A development that complicates a situation.

Sometimes our expectation of achieving our goal gets in the way of us coping with the unexpected. A development that complicates the situation can create confusion. This extra complexity in itself is often insufficient to stop us. However, we must focus on dealing with complexities as they arise in order to reduce the confusion and avoid creating greater ramifications that if not dealt with, can destroy our expectations completely.

Credibility gap

For example: In the 1960's President Nixon asked African Americans "to judge him by his deeds and not his words". They did, but were disappointed.

Skeleton in the cupboard

A potential source of shame produces a disproportionate amount of worry (overloaded). Secrecy inadequately counteracts the source of shame.

SWOT semantic

What is a SWOT chart? Here is a Southbeach model that describes it perfectly.



Weaknesses counteract strengths. Weaknesses produce threats. Threats counteract opportunities, which are produced by strengths. Threats are potential. Opportunities are potential goals - only realizable if the strengths can be maximised and not limited by the threats.

Calculated risk

This situation will get worse unless we focus on taking action. True, that action could make things worse more quickly but that risk is small by comparison to the potential benefits that can only be achieved through this path.

Look at it this way: We have to weigh up the potential benefits against the risks and act to achieve our goal.

Thin on the ground

This is all good stuff. However, we must focus on our work force. We have insufficient people to complete the work required to realise our potential and achieve our goal.

The slippery slope

There is no one way of modeling a situation in Southbeach. This interpretation of the slippery slope may not be yours. Things get worse, the retarding action is insufficient to counteract the change. The accelerating action is overloaded.

Give the green light

Permission is required to get from where we are to where we want to go.

Good to great

Change is required to go from good to great.

Shortcut

Avoiding the steps that are unnecessary (harmful)

Contradiction

So is the contradiction useful or harmful? It is both.

Boiling point

Going over an energy limit, causes a transfer of state.

Useful