A view from the outside in
Fresh perspectives are the key to achieving radical supply chain innovations; a new partnership may help us get there.
This edition—and the project it launches—is inspired by what my work has not achieved. Over the past three years, I have explored how distribution and the supply chain might embrace the technological, cultural, and economic forces transforming society. I’ve pushed for radical innovations, encouraging leaders and innovators to see with a wider lens to consider and pursue dramatically different business models. I’ve made progress, but not as much as I had hoped. So, I am working with a partner who can help me see the world from a new perspective—someone of a younger generation, representing those with their lives and careers fully ahead of them.
Spread the word! Share this edition with anyone who might find inspiration in bold ideas and conversations with a community of innovators.
Unlocking potential
I’m working with an intern this summer, and together, we have decided to look for supply chain innovations from the outside, looking for ideas for helping skilled workers and communities thrive. A supply chain worthy of our times can do much more than move boxes; it can be a force for change, helping to solve some of the most critical challenges of our times. Examples include the harmful effects of artificial intelligence and social media, the growing wealth gap across class divides, the high cost and irrelevance of education, and every community’s struggle to achieve social and economic goals.
We will start from scratch, looking for ideas from the ground up, with insights gathered from outside the supply chain and worldwide among its customers, researchers, educators, regulators, and partners. And when we have hypotheses to test, we will expand our discourse to include supply chain companies, especially distributors.
Three questions guide our work:
If you could imagine a business designed to help skilled workers and communities thrive, what would that business look like?
What specific needs and aspirations would that business address through its core capabilities and with added value from its partners?
How would the business enhance the lives and wealth of those it serves, individually and collectively?
Robert Brooks, a Colorado College senior, is my project partner. We are looking for insights in person and through podcasts and publications. Proximity: How Coming Breakthroughs in Just-In-Time Transform Business, Society, and Daily Life, a new book by Robert Wolcott and Kaihan Krippendorff, serves as a North Star, helping us think about how technology may enable new supply chain roles and business models.
To get started, we are considering our reflections on three eclectic perspectives:
Navigating the Proximity Revolution—a podcast conversation that highlights the need to innovate for the future vs. fixing the past, creating space for new supply chain business models.
Gen Z Plumbers and Construction Workers Are Making #BlueCollar Cool —a Wall Street Journal article explores generational values at the intersection of social media and physical work.
Qualifications of a Naval Officer—John Paul Jones’ historical reflections on what it means to pursue work with passion, personal responsibility, and civic commitments.
Together, these inputs will help us think about the ongoing technical revolution from a supply chain point of view, an emerging generational trend toward a hybrid model for work and wealth, and a code of conduct for working with purpose for the betterment of society.
About the artwork
This edition’s opening artwork is created in collaboration with two artificial intelligence tools, ChatGPT and Leonardo.AI, and intended to visually represent John Paul Jones’ Qualifications updated as a standard for today’s purpose-driven, socially conscious leaders. Asked to provide a wall label as if a gallery or museum displayed the art, my AI copilots offered:
“Authentic Leadership’s Ethereal Echo” is an abstract visualization that melds the timeless sentiments of John Paul Jones with the profound influence of genuine human interactions. This artwork captures the essence of authenticity as it transcends time and space, represented by a blend of ethereal forms and harmonious colors. Each stroke and hue in the painting not only echoes the impact of realness and sincerity but also resonates with the enduring principles of leadership and honor championed by Jones. This piece invites viewers to reflect on how the core values of authenticity and integrity continue to shape our perceptions, relationships, and communities in a deeply meaningful way.
A way forward
Brooks and I are designing our work to be fluid, flexible, and—especially—fun. We welcome your participation. Consider our three initial sources above and send us your thoughts. If you find better inspirations elsewhere, send them to us. We will write about our progress in future editions, and I encourage you to share this letter and the ones to come with your peers, teams, and anyone interested in building a supply chain worthy of our time.
As always, please leave your comments below or reach out at mark.dancer@n4bi.com.
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