Author: The Caine Group, LLC

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Energy and National Security

I am fortunate enough to be spending a few days at the Kennedy School at Harvard as part of the Kennedy School’s program for Senior Executives for National and International Security.

One of the lectures we listened to today was on the role of energy in our national security policy and how energy transitions from carbon-based approaches to more sustainable energy will impact both global economies as well as the underlying fabric of global security

The US and our allies and partners need to think strongly about what a world looks like where oil is not a baseline power source.

What happens when that political and policy lever is not in play for global decision-makers. What does that look like, and what investments are leaders making now to ensure decision space in that new market?

This blog represents my personal views and does not represent the views of any element of the US Government or my views as a US Government employee.

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Requirements

I’ve been working on a few business projects recently which have highlighted again to me the value of taking the time to craft well-defined requirements.

Requirements are the road to solid end-states, and without them, a business or project will meander all over the place trying to find what it needs to get the job done.

So what does a well-defined requirement look like?

The requirement should lay out what the business needs in order to reach its strategic goals and/or end-states.  It should be clear, concise, understandable, and measurable.  The requirement should be “testable” and be nested within your business or corporate strategy.

The format varies, but the need to take some time to properly define, articulate, and communicate your requirements should be a key component of your business strategy and plans.  Don’t forget to take the time to craft some good ones.