A day in Amsterdam

A long day in Amsterdam on various strategic issues associated with pricing, product development, network support and the like. Some exciting new stuff on strategy which will be included in my forthcoming US seminar series; expect some blogs on that later this week. In the evening we settled down to outline a series of assemblies (standard combinations of methods and software) which will address a Cynefin based approach to organisational strategy, Employment engagement and 360° feedback together with a new approach to marketing strategy and segmentation. I’ll be working on those with others this month and will announce details on the blog as they become available.

By happy accident we were joined for dinner by Jochum Stienstra of Ferro who is one of our more successful network members with a range of method and software based projects behind him (and the odd prize winning article). One of the advantages of having a local is that you get to find some great places. De 3 Vrienden is one of those. A really clever idea to allow you to choose between two to three mains based on how hungry you are. If you go the mussels are outstanding! Its also a great place to sit and talk, an old building tastefully maintained.The picture from left to right is my good self, Michael Cheveldave, Jochum and then Steve Bealing.

Come to think of it the venue for our meeting (and for the accreditation course tomorrow) was pretty outstanding. As proof I offer the view from the window below, under the massed ranks of bikes which remains the most distinctive feature of Amsterdam. Woe be tide you if you think you have right of way as a pedestrian you will be mown down. One cute aspect is that each room is given a set of badges (see to the right) and you wear the one which most reflects your mood when you go into the restaurant or lobby areas!

More photos

Bicycles at Centraal Station (they remind me of the seagulls in Hitchcock’s the Birds, that scene on the lawn …….)

View from the meeting room

View from breakfast – and an enlarged view of wonderfully adapted bit of ironmongery opposite the cafe