[Infowarrior] - Ten business lessons from 'Battlestar Galactica'

[Richard Forno]

Ten business lessons from 'Battlestar Galactica'

by Robert Strohmeyer, PC World

http://www.macworld.com/article/139561/2009/03/bsg.html

You think your business has it rough? The people of Battlestar  
Galactica have lived through a recession you wouldn't believe. With  
dwindling resources, a skeleton crew, enemies constantly lurking out  
of view, and a pervasive threat of annihilation, Admiral Adama  
navigates the vast unknown. Like any leader, he makes his share of  
mistakes--sometimes with devastating consequences. But regardless of  
the fate of that ragtag fleet, the tale of Galactica is rife with  
lessons that can benefit any business leader.

1. Tech isn't always the answer.

In the premiere episode, the Cylons took out the entire human battle  
fleet by exploiting a weakness in the computer network. Only the  
Galactica survived, because its network was offline. The takeaway?  
Overdependence on technology can be your downfall.

2. Don't neglect training.

In episode 4 of season 1, an explosion on the hangar deck wiped out  
many of Galactica's top pilots, forcing Starbuck to begin training new  
pilots. Had Adama and company been training new talent all along, the  
fleet would have been prepared for such an emergency.

3. Some things can't be outsourced.

Pretty much every terrible event that befalls humanity in Galactica is  
the direct result of an overzealous push toward outsourcing human  
labor to robots. The business lesson here is clear: While outsourcing  
may save short-term costs, outsourcing the wrong jobs can ultimately  
destroy your business, the economy, or your species.

4. Update your antivirus.

In season 2, episode 9, a Cylon computer virus threatens to shut down  
the Galactica's defenses, vent the ship's atmosphere into space, and  
turn its guns on the civilian fleet. No enterprise is immune to  
viruses, and an infection can have disastrous consequences. Run your  
patches and updates, folks.

5. Democracy doesn't always work.

At the close of season 2, the weary civilian fleet votes to stop the  
search for Earth and settle on a verdant planet called New Caprica.  
But like so many decisions fueled by populist anxiety, this one proves  
disastrous, leaving humanity enslaved by the Cylon overlords. Good  
leaders listen to their people, then make their own decisions.

6. Some problems can't be killed.

During the Cylon occupation on New Caprica, Starbucks is imprisoned by  
Leoben Conoy, who toys with her mind. She kills him repeatedly, but he  
just keeps coming back. We're not sure what her alternatives might  
have been, but it's clear that her problem wasn't going away.  
Likewise, some problems simply must be accepted as reality; endlessly  
fighting them is a waste of energy and resources.

7. Seek strategic alliances with competitors.

There are times when your enemies can also be your friends. In today's  
world we call these "frenemies." Case in point: In season 4, when  
Cylon rebels find themselves on the outs with their "people," humanity  
gets a shot at evening the odds by collaborating with the outcasts to  
destroy the Cylon resurrection hub. Cylons lose their immortality, and  
with it, their strategic advantage. Well-timed alliances can change  
any business landscape in your favor.

8. Don't store all your backups in one place.

See number 7. If Cylons can benefit from off-site backup, so can you.

9. The mission can change at any time.

Galactica accomplished its primary mission and arrived at planet  
Earth. Yay. Unfortunately, the entire place had been rendered  
uninhabitable by a nuclear holocaust two millennia earlier. Boo. New  
mission: Find someplace else to survive. Your mission can change at  
any time, whether you're ready for it or not. Be flexible.

10. Beware of visionaries. Zealots make bad leaders.

There are a few visionaries out their worth following, but for the  
most part, people who claim to have visions are insane. For every Bill  
Gates or Steve Jobs in the world, you'll find a million Admiral Cains  
willing to sacrifice the entire company in the service of their own  
egos. Or, worse, you could get stuck with an unwitting Kara Thrace,  
and we all know she's the harbinger of death.