The 3rd Alternative At

workSulaman Jamil Bc-11-309

Husnain Amjad Bc-11-339

The 3rd Alternative

When we listen to understand. When we deeply believe in

“3rd Alternative” that there is truly something better just

waiting to be created marvelous thing can happen.

They can happen in your organization.

The can happen in any relationship.

The 3rd alternative is a way to solve the difficult

problems we face.

It is not your way and it is not my way.

It is a higher way.

OUR WAY

MY WAY YOUR WAY

How do we get to the 3rd alternative?

We get to the 3rd alternative through a process called

synergy.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Birds in a V formation can fly nearly twice as far as alone

bird because of the updraft created by the flapping of

their wings.

Every child is a 3rd alternative with capabilities that never

existed before. Those capabilities cannot be predicted

by adding up the capabilities of the parents.

The 2nd Alternative Fight or Flight

Fight or flight is the body’s response to threat or danger. Your body is faced with the decision to fight or run away from the situation.

A third alternative response which often comes before fight or flight is freezing. This is often used by prey as they seek not to be noticed by predators.

Synergy

Synergy is the benefit that results when two or more agents

work together to achieve something either one couldn't

have achieved on its own.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” -

Helen Keller

Synergy doesn’t just happen it’s a process. You have to

get there.

The 3rd Alternative Synergy

Synergy is a miracle.

It is a concept that is difficult for people to understand.

Synergy is better than my way or your way.

It is our way.

It is a win-win situation.

It is not a compromise where everyone loses something.

Compromise breeds satisfaction but not delight.

4 steps to Synergy

Step 1

• Ask the 3rd

Alternative Question

Step 2

• Define Criteria of Success

Step 3

• Create 3rd

Alternatives

Step 4

• Arrive at Synergy

Where can Synergy be Found in

Humans

Synergy is common in humans. An example would be a

good football team. A football team needs every player

on its team other wise the team would be extremely

horrible like the Lions.

Where can Synergy be Found in

Humans

Also a great band needs every single member to be

effective. It’s not just the drums, or the guitar, or the

saxophone, or the vocalists it is the sum total of all their

works that makes up the sound.

An Example of Synergy

THE VACATION

Dad: I don’t care how you feel. You’re going on this vacation whether you like it or not. We've had this planned for months, and its important that we spend some time together as a family.

You: But I don’t want to go. I want to be with my friends. I’ll miss out on everything.

Mom: I don’t want you staying here by yourself. I’d worry the whole time and it would ruin my vacation. We want you with us.

Define the Problem or Opportunity

In this, we have a problem. It’s this:

My parents want me to vacation with the family, but I

would rather stay home and go out with my friends.

Their Way (SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS

OF OTHERS)

This vacation is very important to my dad. He wants to

have a family bonding time. He feels it wont be the

same without me. Mom feels that they would worry so

much about me being home alone that they wouldn't

enjoy the vacation.

My way (SEEK TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY SHARING

YOUR IDEAS.)

Mom and Dad, I want to stay home and be with my

friends. They are very important to me. We have a lot of

things planned, and I don’t want to miss out on any of

the fun. Bedsides, I go crazy when I have to drive in a

crowded car all day with my little brother and sister.

Brainstorm (create new options and ideas)

Throw out your wildest ideas. Let it flow.

The High Way (FIND THE BEST SOLUTION)

We all agreed that I could stay home during the first half

of the week and then bus out with a friend to join the

family for the second half. They even offered to pay the

bus for my friend and me if I would paint the fence. It’s

not hard work, so I will still have time to hang out with my

friends. They’re happy and so am I.

My Way Our Way Your Way

New Ideas

Synergy is…

Celebrating Differences

Teamwork

Open-minded

Seeks new & better ways

Synergy is not…

Tolerating Differences

Working Independently

Closed to other opinions

Gives up or give in

3rd alternative at work

Transform

Fight Flee

3rd Alternative AT SCHOOL

Business Educators

Leadership

3RD ALTERNATIVE IN LIFE

Keep WorkingRetire to

Leisure

Contribute

Hubris: The Great Barrier to Synergy

Hubris means Extreme Pride or Self Confidence.

The Toughest Barrier to Synergy Is “Pride”.

The Ancient Greeks Thought That Hubris, or Extreme

Arrogance Was The Worst of a Crime.

Today we have seen the collapse of some of our most

trusted institutions just because of Hubris.

The main symptom of Hubris is a lack of conflict.

An example of the former head of the Royal Bank of

Scotland.

The “GET”

G is for

• GAIN

• My personal gain

• What I’ve earned

• What is due to me

E is for

• EMOTIONS

• My feelings

• My insecurities

• My fears

• My identity

T is for

• TERRITORY

• My truth

• My headcount

• My budget

• My project

• My expertise

3rd Alternative Teams

Innovation depends on synergy.

Synergy requires diversity

Innovative companies organize themselves into teams with divergent

strengths

Complementary Team:

Strengths are made productive.

Weakness are made irrelevant.

Teams members complete each other.

Such team is capable for creating 3rd alternative.

Repel differences…great enemies of synergy.

Converging Divergence

Complementary teams turn out divergent insights.

Reproduce the environment…Made fertile Connections and synergies

develop.

Nathan Myhrvold: “for fun and profit”

Creativity is synergy plus what matters.

Teaming Without Frontiers

Complementary teams know no boundaries.

Can talk and meet and think with anyone anywhere anytime we want.

Enemy…Cultural walls: Should work hard to raze those walls as well.

LEGO world best toymaker…Tormod Askildsen.

Merging into a 3rd Alternative

Company merge for different reasons:

e.g. :Econaomic scales, access to new markets, Diversification.

Some mergers for achieve synergy.

Mergers are motivated by hubris not synergy.

e.g. status and money for top leaders.

Many business allergic to word synergy.

Merging into a 3rd Alternative

See our strength other opportunities…other strength our opportunities.

Merge only when we can create a complementary team.

Synergy is a transformation strategy for business.

Synergy creates new industries and business.

Merger is not just a matter of combining assets.

3rd Alternative Skills

Prototyping and Countertyping.

Blending prototypes .

Countertyping Business Models.

Finding countertypes in the developing world.

Prototyping and Countertyping

Prototyping: Make models, draw pictures on white board,

sketch diagrams, build mockups…show everyone to

what you think and what you have in mind.

Prototype is a model to test an idea.

e.g. Electronic Engineers, Software Engineers ,Business

owner.

Create great decision making sense.

Prototyping and Countertyping

Countertyping: Turn ideas on their heads.

Countertype is a model that overturns expectations.

Most creative solution for problems.

New ways to solve a problem.

Both are efficient ways for complementary teams to arrive at a 3rd

alternative.

Blending prototypes

Combinations elements of many prototypes.

VHS and Betamax Videotape.

Complementary team called Technical working group (TWIG).

Chairman: Alan Bell of IBM.

Countertyping Business Model

Every company wants to be 3rd alternative company.

3rd alternatives companies go through a countertyping phase …they diverge from the norm.

Have countertype business model: truly serve and care for their customer.

e.g. Disney Park.

Deep respect and empathy for their employees and customer.

e.g. Panera care... Panera Bread.

Finding countertypes in developing

countries

Low cost and Low energy change the global economy.

Bangalore… Harish Hande.

How to genrate electricity for people at virtually no cost and save the

environment at the same time.

3rd alternatives thinkers are connecting around the globe.