What Can Sharks, Bees and Humans Teach Us About Urban Development?

Torrey Pines

Sharks, Bees and Humans forage and explore in many of the same ways.  Researchers at University of Arizona studied the foraging and exploring patterns of a number of creatures in their habitats (1). In particular, they looked at the Hadza people of Tanzania who still forage and hunt in the same way that our ancestors did. To their amazement, they found similar patterns of activities among broad species.

The pattern is known as the Levy walk and is based on mathematical principles. The same patterns exist when foraging for food or walking around an amusement park (2). It entails short movements around a particular area and then longer movements into newer areas.

Co-author and anthropologist Brian Woods from Yale states, “Detecting this pattern among the Hadza, as has been found in several other species, tells us that such patterns are likely the result of general foraging strategies that many species adopt, across a wide variety of contexts” (3).  They argue that understanding how these patterns work may eventually influence urban development.

It is possible that this process is based on our evolutionary development to create net effects in an area. The short movements help us find the things we need for survival. Once an area is canvassed, we then move to change the environment and search again in a new area. At present, the researchers desire to conduct more studies to determine the actual reasons for and how these patterns may have influenced the societal development (4).

Putting this within an urban context, we may find that having local pockets of retail to serve basic needs of local residents with larger commercial areas could have some benefit. People will forage their neighborhoods and walk to the local grocery store but will naturally drive to shop at larger retailers or commercial districts. Getting people out of their houses and walking around can have a large impact on social cohesion and health. 

News Release

Does Closeness with Others Influence Business Ethical Choices?

Decisions are a common occurrence in everyday life. Why some make ethical and others make unethical decisions is of interest. Wood, et. al. (2013) studied the decision-making process of managers and found that psychological distance and options influenced their ultimate choice. When proper choices are available, and reflections on courses of action are possible, better decisions result.

There are pillars that help formulate how psychological distance is created in people’s minds. These pillars are mental constructs and decision filters managers use judge course of action. They are as follows:

1.) Temporal Distance: Now versus later. Future events are more abstract while current events are more concrete.

2.) Spatial Distance: Researchers have shown that faraway locations are abstract while closer locations are more concrete.

3.) Social Distance: Us versus them mentality that lowers the perception of impact on other groups while raising the perception of harm to one’s own.  Think of in-group and out-group dynamics.

4.) Hypothetical Distance: When it appears that an outcome is unlikely it is evaluated more abstractly than likely outcomes.

The researchers used surveys of managers to determine their decision-making processes. They found that when faced with a forced choice those who are more psychologically distant from them often received the brunt of impact. When the choices are open they often distribute the impact equally. When they have an option not to choose they often reflect more on the potential consequences.

The research helps show that people will make poor decisions that influence the future, are geographically distant, are outside of their social group, and when it appears that, the outcome is unlikely. Reflection helps us to consider the potential consequences of choice and how they impact others. Sometimes to not choose is the best choice someone can make.

Wood, et. al. (2013). If you can’t see the forest for the trees, you might just cut down the forest: the perils of forced choice on “seemingly” unethical decision-making. Journal of Business Ethics, 118 (3).

Open Business Conference 2014

May 5^th-6^th, 2014

San Francisco

Open Source is blazing a new path of innovation in the areas of  Cloud, Big Data, Mobile applications, Enterprise Mobility and applications integration. Open Source has become ubiquitous in the Enterprise and in the business layer, as more and more organizations are reaping its considerable benefits, including speed, efficiency and cost savings.

Topics Covered:

·         Open source and strategies for driving data-driven businesses

• How enterprise software infrastructure can support the consumerization of IT
• Which technologies and vendors are poised to dominate the Big Data movement?
• The State of the OpenStack Union
• Democratizing Big Data: Making Hadoop Mainstream
• The Cloud Imperative

More Information

Substance Allows for Super Muscle Strength

Researchers from the University of California Berkeley believe they can develop artificial muscle that is one thousand times stronger than human muscle (1). They are creating the material from vanadium dioxide at the micro-level. As the material heats up to 67 degrees it becomes an extremely strong structure that has wide application.

The new artificial muscle may someday be used in Prosthetics or other medical procedures (2).  Controlled by a sensor similar to human muscles it may function and work nearly identical to human limbs. Researchers hope that such developments will lead to a new era of medicine and robotics. The Sci-Fi is nearly here! 

The team works for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and are astounded at the strength (3). Prior robotics is slower and less agile than human tissue. This new discovery may offer a new wave of development.  Building a suit of such material will allow someone to lift up a small car and throw it across the street.  

It isn’t hard to imagine some places where this would be beneficial. A warehousing company may need to lift large packages and having suits of such material means that the individual worker could carry large boxes easily. It becomes an enhancement of human abilities that can increase productivity and safety. Certainly, such developments are further out in the future but they are likely to be here soon enough.

Pictures of San Diego Bay

San Diego is known for its beautiful coastal waters, great harbors, and excellent history. Walking along the harbor is a treat as you can see many of the ships at port. There are boat museums, tours, and restaurants either on or near the harbor. With weather reaching into 78 degrees with little breeze, the walk was easy and unimpeded. Most activities were at a standstill for Christmas celebrations but people still found time to jog and bike along the pear.  Not much open but Starbucks a few blocks away. 

I tried to practice taking a few action shots for fun.

Poseidon in Del Mar-Beachfront Dining

Poseidon Restaurant in Del Mar provides a California beach atmosphere in an upscale environment. Visitors stroll along the oceanfront and stop in for lunch or cocktails. Watch the waves crawling up the sand as you dine in style.  A full service establishment with a spacious bar area, indoor dining, and open patio seating.

Known for both breakfast and dinner the establishment has gained a following among Del Mar residents. Breakfast retails for around $12 while supper is closer to $33. Mediterranean Seafood Linguini, Rack of Lamb and Mussels are just some of their main attractions. If you have money to burn, look toward the lobster.

If you are like me and on a budget, you can opt for the happy hour. Items like a large half-pound burger with fries, mussels, and fish sliders are for $ 7.  Beverages are equally discounted off their happy hour menu. Four people engaging in leisurely conversation ate approximately 8 plates and six drinks for $110.  Don’t miss happy hour Monday - Friday 4:00pm - 6:30pm.

The restaurant is the right atmosphere for romantic dinners or beach strolling lunches.  Watch the sunset during the evening hours. The lighting is low and heating lamps keep the patio warm (must order from full menu). Service is quick and the staff friendly. Valet is easiest but is relatively cheap at the price of $4.   

Website

A Culture of Economic Engagement Creates National Growth

Culture and economics not often something that are seen together as its smacks of elitism. However, culture as a belief system has a noticeable impact on societal behavior and the everyday choices people make that contribute to economic development. A paper by Svetlana Overbaugh, indicates that culture should be a major consideration in the determination of countries that are ripe for international investment and growth (2013).

Falling trade barriers, communication improvements, and shipping improvements have opened the markets to major change. Those nations that are likely to succeed have the right culture and infrastructure to capitalize on this change. As Asian countries zoom ahead in growth, Americans and Western European nations continue to lose market share. The time for regeneration based upon basic cultural principles may be needed to reclaim the marketplace.

The degree of economic freedom and the pace of a country’s growth influence its economic competitiveness (Johnson & Lenartowicz, 1998). The Organization on Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines global competitiveness as the ability of a country to produce new products that can successfully compete against other countries in the global marketplace (2011). Economic growth becomes a process of turning out the new and unique.

If we travel back in time we can find that Adam Smith (1776) believed that self-interested actions of many market participants leads to efficient allocation of resources that can result in higher productivity and economic growth. Other ancient theorists such as Tucker believed that countries become rich due to the desire to develop new knowledge, learn, and apply this knowledge in new ways (1776). Thus, economic development is rooted in the cultural underpinnings that afford opportunities to develop new knowledge and use that knowledge to enhance international sales and profits.

The author relied on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Model and economic activity to determine competitiveness.  The six cultural dimensions of power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/ femininity, short/long-term thinking, and indulgence/restraint were part of the evaluation process. They are important because once the cultural underpinnings have been established they reinforce social rules and norms on society.

Even though the study focused on smaller post-communist countries, they also offer a glimpse into why some countries are growing and why some are not and this has broad implications. The Author found that since national culture impacts every aspect of social life it is necessary to foster innovativeness and human development within that culture to foster economic activity. It is the choices of many that make a viable system.

The author found that two cultural attributes of power distance and uncertainty avoidance have the greatest influence on growth. When power-distance relationships are low all members of society are encouraged to work and grow while low uncertainty avoidance encourages a higher entrepreneurship stance that takes chances on new products and services. Growth is through egalitarian and supportive risk-taking perspectives.

Beyond this report, we can see that those cultures that influence norms on productive innovativeness and human development also see higher levels of GNP development. These cultural attributes are based in the way people think about their place in the economic system. Through maximum engagement of all members of society in the self-enhancement, of their personal lives and their economic spirit of creation, the system can transform itself to a high product and service development society that reaps the rewards of international competition.  Culture must engage, encourage, and reward individuals or those who can offer the most are stifled under poor reinforcing economic structures that lead to a path of decline for a nation and its people.  The best and brightest must rise if there is to be hope for a better future.  Is it what you know or who you know that filters its way into your decision-making process and management decisions?

Hofstede, G. H. (2001). Culture's consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and

organizations across nations (2 ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Johnson, J. P., & Lenartowicz, T. (1998). Culture, freedom and economic growth: Do cultural

values explain economic growth? Journal of World Business, 33(4), 332-356.

OECD. (2011). Retrieved ft-om OECD:

http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_l_l_l_l_l,00.html

Overbaugh, S. (2013). National culture, country-level competitiveness, and economic development. International Journal of Business and Economics Perspectives, 8 (1).