Planner, pioneer, or explorer – which are you?

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|December 6, 2011

In my mind, there are three different approaches you can take when it comes to living your life. You fall into one of three personas – Planner, Pioneer or Explorer. While each approach is very different, they all have one thing in common: a profound influence on what career best [...]

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Can analytics create people who can lead?

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|November 1, 2011

At a recent conference of The Association for Operations Management (APICS) where I was a presenter I attended a provocative talk by Alan G. Dunn, President and founder of GDI Consulting and Training Company. He questioned if leaders are born or can be grown. It is the classic “nature versus [...]

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Cheaper than free: Analytics

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|September 6, 2011

In the song sung by Fleetwood Mac’s’ Stevie Nicks, “Cheaper than Free,” it begins with the lyrics “What’s cheaper than free? You and me.” This started me thinking about applying analytics as having a similar value. Why? When you understand how analytics are truly applied to gain insights and make [...]

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How are business analysts like teenagers on the Internet?

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|August 2, 2011

Business analysts are in some ways similar to teenagers and college students in how they go about exploring to learn things. People like diversions – especially on the Internet – to the point that diversions are almost like an addiction. We know it might not be the best use of [...]

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Can We Be Happier in Our Job?

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|March 29, 2011

Writing articles and blogs is not my day job; I make time for composing them at odd hours. One challenge for me is determining what topic to write about. I get ideas from many sources, including other authors’ articles and blogs. Most of the articles I read can be roughly [...]

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Geeks are Chic

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|December 7, 2010

This blog is an excerpt from an article I authored. To read the full length article, click on this hypertext with the same title as this blog, “Geeks are Chic”. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx A managerial movement is now picking up steam: organizations are applying business analytics to gain insights to determine good [...]

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Horse Racing’s Triple Crown – Just like Business Analysts*

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|June 8, 2010

The Belmont horserace, third leg of the USA’s prestigious Triple Crown races, was this past week-end. It made me think that thoroughbred racehorses and business analytic and performance management project leaders have similarities depending on which type they are. (This metaphor is also applicable to professional careers.) There are three [...]

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Why Study and Learn?

Gary Cokins
Gary Cokins|December 15, 2009

The more you study, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you forget. The more you forget, the less you learn. So why study? The less you study, the less you learn. The less you learn, the less you forget. The less you forget, the more you [...]

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