The Great Popcorn Potential
Have you ever wondered what makes Popcorn pop? Neither have I but I just think that the result of what happens after it’s heated up is rather interesting and really satisfying on a sensory level: sound, smell and taste. Popcorn also has a rather interesting history. Popping corn is not a new thing – prehistoric evidence of it has been found in South America and New Mexico. While it gained popularity as a snack food by the Western world towards the end of the 19th century, the Depression and WWII were probably what really cemented its place in everyday life.
I tend to think the same way about popcorn as I do many of the technologies that have been become part of our every day life.
GPS (Global Positioning Systems) in particular is one such technology that I think of as a one of those wonderful popcorn items. It produces a product (a map and if desired, directions) and sound (now available in almost any dialect or accent). The only thing missing is the taste and olfactory sensory strata!
Like popcorn, GPS was not originally intended to become something that would be widely and commercially used day-to-day. Interestingly enough, the true birth of GPS occurred during the Cold War as an integral part of the U.S. Defense Navigation Satellite System. Eventually it was realized that GPS could be used for other purposes beyond just national defense.
Just as consumption of popcorn moved outside movie houses and special events, GPS use was broadened and is now viewed as an everyday item essential to many businesses and people.
The supply chain industry has come to rely on and leverage GPS technology to assist with route tracking and planning. The master data associated with the technology can also be studied and has led to improvements in areas such as route scheduling. One doesn’t need to be an expert on all of the parameters of route scheduling to recognize the potential of GPS use to reduce costs and increase revenue.
Have you stopped to consider how many other things might be out there that possess this “popcorn potential?” At present it might only be utilized minimally, but once surrounded by the right conditions, who knows what might happen and the potential that could be unleashed.
RSVP For Change: It’s not necessary to understand exactly how all things work or the steps involved. What is important however is that you have a general understanding of the components needed to achieve the result. Using GPS as an example, in order to determine a route to our destination, we need to know the target street address and any other inputs (such as quickest route) as well as the town or city name.
Management Insight: Pay attention to how people use the information you provide – in essence viewing it from their perspective. By doing this you can better understand and identify the individual decision making criteria at play and determine which items to focus on. A simple example is to see how time is being spent. Are employees fulfilling every moment or just rushing to the end? Are they even achieving their targets? An important part of any managerial role is to assist employees in making the best use of any and all information available to them.
Linda Craig (@LindaCraigRSVP)
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