Go Lean Commentary
The book Go Lean…Caribbean calls for the elevation of Caribbean society, to re-focus, re-boot, and optimize all the engines of society so as to make the Caribbean a better place to live, work and play. The activities of “play” are of serious concern; they are Art and Science.
All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy. All play and no work, makes Jack a dumb boy.
There is the need for balance.
Tourism activities and/or vacations, the primary economic driver in the Caribbean region, are grouped as a “play” activity.
The Go Lean book, serving as a roadmap, posits that tourism will continue to be the primary economic driver in the region for the foreseeable future. Considering the “bread and butter” of the region, it is obvious our “bread is buttered” with “play”. Understanding the science of “play” activities can therefore be critical in the roadmap to grow the region’s GDP and create jobs (2.2 million new jobs projected). There are many other activities considered “play”: sports, parks & recreation, art & culture, media (film, TV, online social networking, etc.) and also … animal companions. People love their pets and even treat them as part of the family. So to make the Caribbean a better place to live, work and play means considering the needs of the 42-million population and their animal companions.
A study of economics must consider the systems of survival, the quest for food, clothing and shelter. This is a science. Research by Behavioral Scientist & Psychologist Abraham Maslow with his Hierarchy of Needs[a], identifies needs as a pyramid, where at the bottom, or base level, are basic, survival elements (food, water, shelter and security/safety). As these are obtained, then there are natural urges for emotional stability (belongingness, self-esteem, social acceptance); accordingly, the top level of the pyramid was defined as complex understanding (beauty, justice, realizing one’s full potential). Where does “play” fit into this hierarchy? Other research now indicates that the need to play nullifies the hierarchy, people and animals seek play at all times and all circumstances, despite whether the other needs are fulfilled. See the example here …
… this VIDEO shows hungry polar bears in the Arctic region and what they do with dogs, despite a potential food source. See here:
Title: He Watched Helplessly As A Starving Bear Approached His Dogs. Then Something Amazing Happened.
Polar bears and dogs are natural enemies, and bears usually behave quite aggressively toward dogs. Polar bears are the largest land carnivore and are many times larger than even the largest of dogs, so when a hungry polar bear spots a dog, it usually ends very badly for the dog.
This, however, is truly unbelievable. Take a look at the photos and videos here.
Renowned nature photographer Norbert Rosing, whose work has appeared in National Geographic, visited Brian and his dogs on several occasions. Here are some of the incredible photos he took.
Here is some incredible footage of these unlikely friends playing together:
Mother nature never ceases to amaze. There’s so much we can learn from these unusual friends about tolerance.
Share this awesome friendship with others. They’ll never expect to see this!
VIDEO 1 – Not Just Man’s Best Friend – http:/youtu.be/5bcl0yrHPwk
VIDEO 2 – Polar Bears and Dogs Playing – http://youtu.be/JE-Nyt4Bmi8
There are lessons here to consider …
… there is a lot that can be learned from the science of “play” by just examining dogs and other animals.
Everyone needs and wants to play … at all levels of the socio-economic ladder: rich, middle-class and poor. So “play” options should be provided in society so that everyone can partake. Since tourism is categorized as “play”. The Go Lean book posits that the region can experience even more growth in tourism than the estimated 80 million people that visit our shores annually, by facilitating more “play” options for all levels of society. (Cruise vacations are known for being more affordable to those with smaller budgets). The book proposes growth strategies/options, such as:
- Inter-Island Ferries (Page 280)
- Cruises options that can start/stop at different Caribbean ports (Page 193)
- Features of the Sharing Economy (Car and Residence) for Cheaper Vacations (Page 35)
- Sports eco-system for amateur, professional and inter-collegiate participation (Page 229)
- Expansion of Parks Eco-system (Page 83)
- Urban Bicycle Assimilation and Expansions of Bike Paths (Page 352)
The Go Lean book asserts that the requisite investment of the resources (time, talent, treasuries) for these societal elevation goal may be too big for any one Caribbean member-state alone. So the Go Lean book campaigns to shift the responsibility to a region-wide, professionally-managed, deputized technocracy, the Caribbean Union Trade Federation (CU). The book serves as a roadmap for the introduction and implementation of the CU.
The subject of animals and animal companionship is also pivotal in the roadmap for elevating Caribbean society, especially for the security engines. The Go Lean book posits (Page 185) that better command of Animal Husbandry can facilitate better security around the region’s economic engines. Dogs feel a lot less intrusive and less intimidating than formal security screening, or personnel patrolling with AK47 automatic rifles. Imagine a beautiful Caribbean beach scene with a plain clothes “officer” walking along with specialty dogs, or more exactly:
- Drug Sniffing Dogs
- Bomb Sniffing Dogs
- Service/Therapy Dogs
The Go Lean book considers the Agent of Change (Page 57) of the “Aging Diaspora” and its effect on the Caribbean’s biggest economic driver: “tourism”. Many former Caribbean citizens left these shores for greater opportunities abroad, but now they are approaching retirement. These ones can be induced to return to the Caribbean … and bring their economic resources with them … provided that their needs are covered.
This includes the needs of their animal companions. (Currently, the requirements for transporting pets to “foreign” countries are exhaustive; they entail many standards and veterinarian assessments).
The goal of the CU is to bring the proper tools and techniques to the Caribbean region to optimize the stewardship of the economic, security and governing engines. The book posits that the economy can be induced and spurred for continuous progress, with technocratic management and stewardship of a Single Market. As conveyed here in this commentary, and in previous commentaries, this would be better than the status quo.
Change has come to the region. This book Go Lean… Caribbean provides the needed details on how to better manage the challenge of a changing world. Early in the book, the optimization and best-practices was highlighted as a reason the Caribbean region needed to unite, integrate and confederate to a Single Market. These pronouncements were included in the opening Declaration of Interdependence (Pages 11 – 14):
iv. Whereas the natural formation of the landmass is in a tropical region, the flora and fauna allows for an inherent beauty that is enviable to peoples near and far. The structures must be strenuously guarded to protect and promote sustainable systems of commerce paramount to this reality.
vi. Whereas the finite nature of the landmass of our lands limits the populations and markets of commerce, by extending the bonds of brotherhood to our geographic neighbors allows for extended opportunities and better execution of the kinetics of our economies through trade. This regional focus must foster and promote diverse economic stimuli.
xix. Whereas our legacy in recent times is one of societal abandonment, it is imperative that incentives and encouragement be put in place to first dissuade the human flight, and then entice and welcome the return of our Diaspora back to our shores. This repatriation should be effected with the appropriate guards so as not to imperil the lives and securities of the repatriated citizens or the communities they inhabit. The right of repatriation is to be extended to any natural born citizens despite any previous naturalization to foreign sovereignties.
xxiv. Whereas a free market economy can be induced and spurred for continuous progress, the Federation must install the controls to better manage aspects of the economy: jobs, inflation, savings rate, investments and other economic principles. Thereby attracting direct foreign investment because of the stability and vibrancy of our economy.
xxxii. Whereas the cultural arts and music of the region are germane to the quality of Caribbean life, and the international appreciation of Caribbean life, the Federation must implement the support systems to teach, encourage, incentivize, monetize and promote the related industries for arts and music in domestic and foreign markets. These endeavors will make the Caribbean a better place to live, work and play.
The Go Lean… Caribbean book wisely details the community ethos to adopt to proactively facilitate digital campaigns for the changed landscape; plus the executions of the following strategies, tactics, implementations and advocacies:
| Community Ethos – Economic Principle – Economic Systems Influence Individual Choices & Incentives | Page 21 |
| Community Ethos – Economic Principle – Consequences of Choices Lie in the Future | Page 21 |
| Community Ethos – Lean Operations | Page 24 |
| Community Ethos – Return on Investments (ROI) | Page 24 |
| Community Ethos – Ways to Impact the Future | Page 26 |
| Community Ethos – Ways to Foster Genius – Athletics, Literary, Art and Music in “Play” activities | Page 27 |
| Community Ethos – Impact Research & Development – Including Animal Husbandry | Page 30 |
| Community Ethos – Ways to Improve Sharing – Viable for Service Animals | Page 35 |
| Community Ethos – Ways to Impact the Greater Good | Page 37 |
| Strategy – Vision – Integrate Region in a Single Market | Page 45 |
| Strategy – Mission – Enhancing the Tourism Product | Page 45 |
| Strategy – Agents of Change – Aging Diaspora | Page 57 |
| Tactical – Fostering a Technocracy | Page 64 |
| Tactical – Growing the Economy to $800 Billion – Trade and Globalization | Page 70 |
| Tactical – Separation of Powers – Tourism Promotions and Administration | Page 78 |
| Tactical – Separation of Powers – Fairgrounds Administration | Page 83 |
| Tactical – Separation of Powers – Department of Health – Veterinarian Standards | Page 86 |
| Implementation – Assembling Regional Organs | Page 96 |
| Implementation – Ways to Deliver | Page 109 |
| Planning – 10 Big Ideas – Single Market | Page 127 |
| Planning – Ways to Make the Caribbean Better – “Play” activities for Rich, Middle Class, and the Poor | Page 131 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Grow the Economy | Page 151 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Create Jobs – Many from “Play” activities | Page 152 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Foster Cooperatives – Ideal for Animal Husbandry | Page 176 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Better Manage Natural Resources – Parks Administration | Page 183 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Improve for Natural Disasters – Animal Partners & First Responders | Page 184 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Improve Animal Husbandry – Police & Security Canines | Page 185 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Enhance Tourism – Expanding Solutions for “Snowbirds” | Page 190 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Impact Events – Sharing Economy | Page 191 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Promote Fairgrounds – Venues for “Play” activities | Page 192 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Impact Cruise Tourism – Appealing for Budget Vacations | Page 193 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Improve Transportation – Bicycle-Friendly Culture | Page 205 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Improve Elder-Care – Planning for Storm Shelters | Page 225 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Improve Sports – For Amateur and Professionals | Page 229 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Promote Music – A significant role despite the level of need | Page 231 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Impact Urban Living – Storm Shelters for Pets | Page 234 |
| Advocacy – Ways to Promote World Heritage Sites – Low-cost Touristic Activities | Page 248 |
| Appendix – Sample Inter-Island Ferry Scheme | Page 280 |
| Appendix – Sample Urban Bicycle Sharing Scheme | Page 352 |
The CU seeks to foster play options to aid-and-abet tourism and other economic activities. This includes all supporting functions before, during and after visitors come to our shores. Consider the example of Hurricane preparation; there is the need to prepare storm shelters for residents in unsafe areas; these solutions MUST consider pet shelters as well; (Page 234).
In previous Go Lean blogs, related points of the innovative tourism marketing, Aging Diaspora and the need for efficient Animal Husbandry have been detailed; see sample here:
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=6341 | Tourism Stewardship — What’s Next? |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=5251 | Post-Mortem Analysis of Initial Bahamas Carnival Event – Need for Dogs |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=5210 | Cruise Ship Commerce – Getting Ready for Change |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=4308 | 911 – Emergency Management/Response Systems in Crisis |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=2571 | Internet Commerce meets Sharing Economy: Airbnb |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=1364 | Uber’s Emergence Transforming Cities |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=535 | Remembering and learning from Boston Terrorists Attacks |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=273 | 10 Things We Want from the US – # 2: Tourists |
| http://www.goleancaribbean.com/blog/?p=235 | Tourism’s changing profile – Less “rich”… |
This commentary focuses on the core competence of the Caribbean Union Trade Federation, which is Trade. This refers to the ability to accentuate the economic activities of the region to make the homeland a better place to live, work and play. But this commentary also addresses a passion project: the love of dogs. See the related VIDEO in the Appendix below.
But the integration of core competence and passion can elevate a society. Dogs can definitely have that impact for the Caribbean.
The people and institutions of the Caribbean are urged to lean-in to these new business models to incentivize more tourism and “play” activities for all segments of society. The region is also urged to full employ working canines, as in embedding them with Military & Police units. This is win-win!
Let’s do it! This is the quest of the Go Lean roadmap: elevate the societal engines for all people … and their pet companions & helpers. With the empowerments and elevations portrayed in the roadmap we can succeed in making Caribbean region a better place for citizens and tourists alike to live, work and play. 🙂
Download the book Go Lean…Caribbean now!
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Appendix – Footnote
a. Maslow, Abraham H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–96. Retrieved November 2013 from http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm
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Appendix – VIDEO – “So God Made A Dog” A gift to all of us – https://youtu.be/VDrabmm421I
Published on Aug 18, 2014 – “So God Made a Dog” a takeoff on the Paul Harvey “God made a Farmer”. They are, our friends and part of the family and often with us for to short a time …
Ethologist that he is, Morris has long understood play – his own and that of others – as a set of behavior patterns the human animal shares with many other species. Particularly in childhood , he and other students of animal behavior have argued, play is vital to the acquisition of complex skills. The kitten pouncing on a ball of yarn, for example, learns behaviors necessary to the hunt well before survival depends on the outcome.