A CEO was walking along a sandy beach recently, thinking about the things that CEO’s reflect on when they are alone and are walking by the edge of the water. Suddenly the CEO noticed a gnarled object bobbing in the edge of the waves and being curious, grabbed the object from the surf. It was battered and discoloured but looked like an old bottle. Being curious [as CEO’s are] the CEO rubbed the surface and found that it was indeed made of glass and that it was sealed by an old damaged stopper.

The CEO decided to open the bottle and struggled to get the stopper out, without breaking the bottle. The CEO was persistent and dextrous but it still took several minutes struggling with a Swiss Army knife before the stopper could be released. And of course an enormous genie appeared from the bottle.

The genie explained to the CEO that he could solve one problem but that the CEO could call on 3 experts to help find the right answer before the genie invoked the solution. The CEO’s mind was made up in a flash. "I want to see what’s happening in my business," said the CEO.

‘Aha’, said the genie. ‘I can offer you a number of possible things that can help you see better. You could have:

	A telescope so you can see further
	A magnifying glass so you can see close up
	A microscope so you can examine the underlying structures
	A crystal ball so you can see the future
	A mirror so you can see your organisation
	A surveillance satellite so you can see what your competitors are doing
	Or radar so that you can see in the dark’

All these things are possible the genie reminded the CEO and suggested calling the first expert. The CEO was starting to get the picture and decided to ask the genies’ advice. ‘Well business and war and government have much in common’ the genie commented, ‘so I recommend the Duke of Wellington who was one of Britain’s greatest soldiers, who defeated Napoleon and went on to become Prime Minister’. The CEO though this was an excellent choice and so the Duke of Wellington was summoned. "When you look at your business, what are you looking for" he enquired of the CEO.

‘Views that will let me gain insight’ the CEO answered. ‘I seek perception and wisdom; the ability to discern wisely between options; to balance savings against investments; to see the broad canvas and yet unerringly be able to spot the critical points at which I can influence the course of events in my favour’.

The Duke nodded, recognising that he too had faced these issues. "What you need to see and what you see from it will be different every time you look. Your situation, your goals, your strategy, your constraints, what’s driving you and what the enemy are doing will all influence what you need to see."

The Duke concluded " I believe what you need is a ‘The all seeing eye’. Commanders through the ages have sought it; i.e. the ability to see the big picture from a high vantage point coupled with the means to view in detail the focal point of the conflict. I wish you well in your search" he concluded, and quietly vanished.

The genie pondered for a moment and then reflected ‘You seem to need a combination of the tools I was offering originally. I suggest we ask Galileo how to devise such a device’. The CEO nodded and in a flash Galileo appeared. ‘Mmmm’ he mused ‘ You need a lens of infinite variety’.

To have the capabilities of all the visualising mechanisms that the genie has described, it must provide:

	Variable scale
	Boundless scope
	Infinite focus and zoom capabilities
	The ability to look inside and outside
	The means to look back and forward in time
	Mechanisms to compare the past, present and future
	Quick and easy adjustment
	Instant snapshots, or views assembled and compared over extended periods
	Its own light source, so dusty corners are illuminated

In my century’ Galileo added, ‘ to make such a mechanism was beyond the wit and skills of all the astronomers and alchemists together, even had they worked a lifetime on the project. Perhaps now, with the second millennium approaching, the possibilities are different – call me again if you find one’ he muttered as he slowly faded from view.

‘Well’ said the genie ‘ I think we are making progress. You have identified what you want to do with the The All Seeing Eye and that it will need to work like A lens of infinite variety. Before I set off in search of this incredible mechanism you can call one more witness and I think that this time you should decide who to consult’. The CEO agreed, reflected for a few moments and then announced his choice. ‘So far I have met a soldier/politician and a scientist, I think I should meet another businessman and I shall pick Henry Ford who established a new industry, set its pattern for 50 years and founded a dynasty.’

The genie nodded and Henry Ford materialised. ‘How can I help’ Ford enquired. The CEO and the genie updated them on their thinking so far. Ford puckered his brow, scratched his head and then smiled slowly. ‘What are you going to do once you’ve used this device to provide snapshots or whatever, and you’ve had your insights and perceptions? That’s my question. It’s what you do with ideas that makes the difference. Nowadays there are hundreds of magazines and books stuffed full or more and more great ideas and don’t get me wrong – they are great ideas. The trick is to pick the one that’s right for your circumstances and to use it effectively.

You might want to use the device to help you examine the comparative values and costs that reside in your value chain; or you might want to review your customer’s experience along the consumption chain. Another possibility would be to develop an E-commerce capability or alternatively to see for yourself the potential to develop a suite of knowledge products. You could use the device to take a broad overview of the business for yourself or to produce a consistent methodology for a lower level repeatable process, such as opening new outlets.

These uses, and a thousand others, occur to me. But YOU have to decide. You and you alone as the CEO can select how and where to make use of the mythical, magic non-existent tool that this overweight genie has promised you. The people around you in the organisation will only see part of its potential, those below you will feel threatened by it, you uniquely are the one who can use it to greatest effect – The CEO must choose how to use it.’ And with this remark Henry Ford disappeared in a puff of blue smoke and the noise of what sounded like a model T Ford.

The genie summarised, your witnesses have helped you clarify the value to you of having this new artefact, and their advice is:

	You need The all seeing eye
	It will be A lens of infinite variety
	You personally as the CEO must choose how to use it

The CEO shook his head and decided that this was all just a pipedream, when to his surprise the genies' eyes started to sparkle. ‘Trust me’ he announced with a flourish ‘I know where to find such a jewel of rare value, an All seeing eye, based on a lens of infinite variety does indeed exist and has been used already by discerning organisations. Let me share with you some of the things it has been used for:

	Example
	Example
	Example
	Example

‘Where can I find out more about this? ’ Asked the CEO excited by the chance to exploit his newly acquired knowledge and to avoid the storm threatened by the gathering clouds. As he vaporised, the genie answered ‘Fill in the reply card at the bottom of this article – oh, and please don’t forget to mention me by name so I get my sales commission’

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