CRAMER'S CUBE

Chapter 6
Octalysis™

Octalysis™ is a one-word descriptor for Octal Analysis, a process that uses eight points or conditions for describing the object or event being analyzed. It is the analysis of three criteria, each of which has two extremes. The geometric representation of this is six pyramids, which are shown in the illustration. Each pyramid has five sides, and the cube constructed from these pyramids has six. The reason for the terminology "Octalysis," which denotes "eight," is that in Cramer's Cube, the criteria used in our analysis are not analyzed from the vantage point of their poles. That approach would yield only six (three criteria times two poles). We only create an octal world when we combine the pyramids and construct Cramer's Cube. Now it is easy to see the eight. It is the corners of the cube, four each on the top and bottom of the cube.

The eight corners have been assigned the name PV for Point of View. Each member of the team whose pyramid is at the juncture of a PV will share responsibility for the analysis at that particular PV. Three team members will discuss the dynamics of the contiguous pyramids that comprise the PV. They will collaborate on the effects that result from this union. As independent Pyramists, you have a deep understanding of the pyramid for which you are responsible. Now, the objective is to understand the effects produced by the influence of each pyramid on its neighbors.

In the aftermath of 9/11, many government intelligence and enforcement organizations were forced to review their actions and policies in the period leading up to 9/11. They were challenged to answer some very hard questions. Was the agency's information gathering adequate? Did inter- and intra-agency communication operate properly and efficiently? Were all possible scenarios covered in the planning process and were appropriate responses established? Since the attack resulted in such devastation, it is apparent that something, or many things, went wrong. One person quoted at the time of the attack said that it was not a security failure. The tragedy of 9/11 was not a failure of preparation but a failure of imagination. He went on to explain that many scenarios for attack were discussed, analyzed, and prioritized. Only in hindsight could they have realized that individuals or groups would not only conceive of the method of attack used on 9/11, but that they could actually implement the plan. The thinking on the part of the teams who were constructing the scenarios of defense against possible terrorist attacks was that it was not conceivable such a plan could be carried out. In Cramer's Cube, we are not faced with such a daunting task. Should this team fail to meet its objectives, there will be no loss of human life. However, there is a dramatic lesson to be learned from this story. We need to be vigilant that we do not suffer a failure of imagination.

In Octalysis, you will be conducting yourself like the director of a government agency. In the aftermath of 9/11, each agency first undertook an internal accounting of itself. With the resulting knowledge, the agencies then began the process of analyzing interagency dynamics. In our little geometric world, we will be conducting an interpyramid analysis. After completion of this exercise, the output of the effort and the insight gained will be shared with other team members in a quantitative manner. As a member of a PV team, you will be expected to determine if each Pyramist strictly adhered to the specified methodology.

It will be important to evaluate the extremism of each Pyramist. Did each member of the group diligently gather information at the absolute bottom of the pyramid? Did each member adhere to the extreme analysis guidelines that were mandated by the entire team at the beginning of the process? Before discussion begins on the effects resulting from the joining of the pyramids, the three members of this corner group must analyze and certify the integrity of each pyramid. Again, make the determination that the Pyramist responsible for each pyramid intensely focused his or her analysis in the lowest portion of the pyramid, which is defined as the extreme limit of that particular criterion. Self-discipline requires that each of you forthrightly determine that all members applied the proper degree of diligence. Amongst yourselves, reapply the process of P.O.V: Provocation – Observation – Validation.

Ideally, a team is comprised of six individuals. The methodology can support team sizes from four to eight, but the partitioning of responsibility and the collaboration sessions have the greatest impact and efficiency when the team is comprised of six team members. In addition to the mathematical derivation of this number based on the six pyramids, team dynamics appear to be at their optimum with six members. A team of this size should yield the proper degree of diversity to create vibrant interactions.

If the team is comprised of four individuals, two members will be required to be the Pyramists for two pyramids. These Pyramists will perform the PV exercise for two pyramids, but there are limitations. The second assigned pyramid cannot be opposite the person's primary pyramid. The analysis suffers if an individual attempts to be the Pyramist for two pyramids that comprise the poles of the same criteria. In other words, one individual cannot be responsible for a pyramid-pair. The team members who are responsible for a second pyramid will be assigned one of the other four pyramids. For eight members, the two additional members will be assigned to two pyramids that the team designates as being most critical to the success of the exercise. These critical pyramids will now have two individuals assigned as Pyramists.

With each of the pyramids now having known properties, the individual team members will rotate around the cube from the vantage point of the PVs. Through this process, every individual will have the opportunity, actually the responsibility, to add his or her personal and professional perspective at all PVs. This circulation process will enable individual team members to contribute experience, insight, and viewpoints to the analytical process.

As you can probably see, Octalysis is a methodology of analysis and collaboration for reaching an objective. By design, it ensures the greatest utilization of the talent possessed by each individual. The vantage point from which each individual works is not outside the box. The perspective that is established is at the corners of the cube, and the Kinetic Diversity™ is released inside the cube.

Having gone through the massive economic swings of the recent millennial inflection period, have we learned any profound lessons as individuals or organizations? The Internet Bubble has burst! It came and went so fast, it might have actually been an illusion that fooled all of us. It seems that everyone has been hit with the shrapnel from the exploding bubble. Most of us are simply grateful that we have survived. As Annie said, "The sun wi