Strategic Momentum

Our drawing looks like this:

We call your attention to the middle ring. It is here that you see the rhythm of art and science:

What do we mean by art and science? We use the words to contrast the kinds of skills needed to be successful. Art, for example, implies dexterity, creativity and vision. Science is different. It requires adherence to a process, precision and quantitative outcomes.

When you think about it, business education tends to emphasize the scientific side of business, including analysis, accounting and process. These skills are easier to teach. And, most companies have a basic infrastructure in place to provide and deal with quantitative, hard data. Being former bankers, we absolutely appreciate the role of hard data and analysis in business.

But good scientific skills alone don’t usually solve problems. Success often involves some degree of art as well—having an intuitive sense of what’s important, what to do about it, and how to get it done. These skills are as critical to success (maybe more so) than the hard, scientific skills. They include instinct, vision, and leadership.

But how does this play out for your business in practice? Here are some ideas:

• Understand that you need a variety of skills to succeed
• Identify the mix of skills applicable to your situation
• Develop a balanced team that has varied strengths
• Make room in your management processes for both art and science

Business success is usually the result of a healthy combination of both art and science. Managing that combination can be challenging. Make sure you are aware of the right skills for the task at hand and give both the scientists and the artists in your organization room to thrive.

-Mary Adams and Michael Oleksak    2005