Rick and TED(x)

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

info@RSDsolutions.com

 

It is with great pride that RSD Solutions wishes to announce that Rick Nason (Partner) will be speaking at the TEDx event in Halifax on March 11^th.  Rick will be providing the audience with insights he gained from his experiences as a trained physicist working on Wall Street.  This mash-up of science and business allowed for him to develop a unique perspective on risk and risk management which has become the foundation for his soon to be released book “It’s Not Complicated: The Art and Science of Complexity in Business”.  Interestingly, in all the years of TED talks, this will be the first in risk and risk management.  For this to we are also proud of Rick for pushing the barriers of risk management acceptance.

 

For more on TEDx in Halifax, NS and a background to Rick please follow the link: http://tedxhalifax.ca/

Rick Nason project described in recent Canadian Business article

by Stephen McPhie, CA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

info@RSDsolutions.com

 

In a recent Canadian Business article on October 20, 2011, "What's your thesis?" by Michael McCullough, RSD Solutions Partner Rick Nason had his thesis: "Financial regulation isn’t rocket science" described in the article.  Rick's thesis is one of five quoted in an article that looks at the latest academic thinking being applied to the business world.  Rick's background of physics allows him to bring a unique perspective to business solutions and in particular the area of risk.  

 

To read the article follow the link:  http://tinyurl.com/3clb8m2

The Psychology of Motivation: What motivates you determines your risk management focus

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

info@RSDsolutions.com

 

My colleague, Rick Nason has recently done a series of blogs on “Models “and on occasion peers into the world of algorithm based risk management.  While these risk management techniques (processes?) have their place there is, as a supporter of behavioral economics,  a greater force at work determining your approach to risk management and in turn, the way you handle and quantify risk.  This greater force is looked at by Ms. Heidi Grant Halvorson, a motivational psychologist who believes that it is how we think about the goals we pursue that determines our views and management of risk.

 

When we pursue a goal we make many decisions along the way and according to Ms. Halvorson we make our decisions based on either what we might lose or what we might gain.  In other words we may have a prevention focus or a promotion focus.  Sadly, it is pointed out that the prevention focus, while helping your organization (or you personally) in the short term, in the longer term it will be those following a promotion focus that will come out on top.  For the “promotion motivation is about getting ahead, maximizing your potential, and reaping the rewards” and “never missing an opportunity for a win, even when doing so means taking a leap of faith”. 

 

With this in mind, what is your “focus”?  How do you feel it impacts your risk management strategy and just as importantly, the road to achieving your goals?

 

For more on Heidi Grant Halvorson’s thoughts click on the link:  http://tinyurl.com/3ne63df

Financial Executive International Conference – Ottawa. Starts today. RSD is there

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

infor@RSDsolutions.com

 

Starting today, Financial Executive International (FEI) Canada will be hosting its popular annual conference entitled “Capitalizing on the Future” in Ottawa, Canada. The FEI is a professional association for senior financial executives with over 2,000 members in Canada and another 15,000 members throughout the rest of the North America. Together, FEI Canada and FEI United States represent 8,000 of North America's leading and most influential corporations.

 

The FEI Canada conference is the major event on the financial executive calendar as it is the largest such event in Canada and provides delegates with networking opportunities, information sessions and an Exhibitor Hall.  RSD Solutions Partners Stephen McPhie, Rick Nason and I will be representing the firm in the Exhibitor Hall, providing the 300 or so delegates with the opportunity to chat, learn more about our firm and our views on financial and strategic risk management. 

 

For more information on the annual FEI Canada National Conference in Ottawa click on the link:

http://www.feicanada.org/events.php?eid=1028

Financial Executive International Conference – Ottawa, June 8 - 10: RSD will be there

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

infor@RSDsolutions.com

 

Next week, Financial Executive International (FEI) will be hosting its popular annual conference entitled “Capitalizing on the Future” in Ottawa, Canada. The FEI is a professional association for senior financial executives with over 2,000 members in Canada and another 15,000 members throughout the rest of the North America. Together, FEI Canada and FEI United States represent 8,000 of North America's leading and most influential corporations.

 

The FEI Canada conference is the major event on the financial executive calendar as it is the largest such event in Canada and provides delegates with networking opportunities, information sessions and an Exhibitor Hall.  RSD Solutions Partners Stephen McPhie, Rick Nason and I will be representing the firm in the Exhibitor Hall, providing the 300 or so delegates with the opportunity to chat, learn more about our firm and our views on financial and strategic risk management.

 

For more information on the annual FEI Canada National Conference in Ottawa click on the link:

http://www.feicanada.org/events.php?eid=1028

U of T Press signs book publishing contract with RSD Solutions Partner Rick Nason

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

info@RSDsolutions.com

 

We are RSD Solutions are very happy to announce that the University of Toronto Press (UTP) has signed Rick Nason, Partner at RSD Solutions, with a publishing contract for a general interest book.  Founded in 1901, University of Toronto Press (UTP) is Canada's leading scholarly publisher and one of the largest university presses in North America publishing books of general interest, journals and textbooks.

 

With the working title “It’s not complicated: The art and science of complexity in business”; Rick’s book is aimed at altering the way business problem solvers, strategist and managers look at areas as diverse as marketing, operations and organization behavior.  Utilizing his background in physics and Wall Street, Nason applies the thought processes used in the studies of the sciences such as biology, mathematics and physics to the business environment.  From this cross-disciplines perspective, readers will gain a unique understanding of business issues and be equipped to propose distinctive practical solutions to common and not so common issues. 

 

Rick’s book is scheduled to be released for North American wide distribution in early 2012.  Follow our RSD blog to learn more about the finalized release date and purchasing information as it becomes available.

 

 

For more on UTP, their books, journals and other services click on the link:

http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/

Managing through Complexity. A Free Dalhousie University "Lunch and Learn" with Rick Nason in Ottawa, Toronto

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

info@RSDsolutions.com

 

 

This week as part of a cross Canada out reach, Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management is offering an Executive Leadership Series of talks in Ottawa and Toronto.  

 

This week, Rick Nason, Associate Professor in Finance will be hosting two free lunch and learn events looking at business risk but through the thought processes of science.  This interesting mash-up of disciplines recently gained Mr. Nason a featured article in the Risk Management Association Journal - the prestigious and thought leading journal in the area of risk management and strategy.

Seminar dates and locations:

• Wednesday, April 13– Ottawa at the RBC Royal Bank, 90 Sparks Street, 2nd Floor
  
•  Thursday, April 14 – Toronto at the RBC Royal Bank, 20 King St W, 10th Floor

We hope you can make it and remember – it’s free!

 

For more information and registration for this free event and the series follow the link:

 http://bit.ly/fVbTVG

Free Lunch Seminar: Rick Nason to speak on “Managing through Complexity”

by Michael Arbow, MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.RSDsolutions.com

info@RSDsolutions.com

 

 

Over the next few months, Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management is offering an Executive Leadership Series in various cities across Canada.  These “lunch and learn” seminars will deal with subjects ranging from social media to creating value-added employees to risk management. 

 

This month, Rick Nason, Associate Professor in Finance will be hosting three free lunch and learn events looking at business risk but through the thought processes of science.  This interesting mash-up of disciplines recently gained Mr. Nason a featured article in the Risk Management Association Journal - the prestigious and thought leading journal in the area of risk management and strategy.

Seminar dates and locations:

• Thursday, April 14 – Toronto at the RBC Royal Bank, 20 King St W, 10th Floor
• Thursday, April 7 – Halifax at the Kenneth C. Rowe Building
• Wednesday, April 13– Ottawa at the RBC Royal Bank, 90 Sparks Street, 2nd Floor

We hope you can make it and remember – it’s free!

 

For more information and registration for this free event and the series follow the link:

 http://bit.ly/fVbTVG

Pentagon Political Risk Model: $125 million. Reliability: Ummm,...

by Michael Arbow MBA

Partner, RSD Solutions Inc.

www.rsdsolutions.com

info@rsdsolutions.com

 

Over the past 4 decades the US Pentagon (Department of Defense) has spent untold millions attempting to build a predictive political risk model, the latest iteration of which cost around $125 million USD.  Despite the vast amounts of data gathered from world political experts and the complexity of the algorithms, they failed to predict the recent events in Egypt.  Luckily the direct impact on the US in this particular instance is minimal; for now. 

Rick Nason, a partner at RSD, has pointed out that risk can be simple, complicated and complex.  When people and human emotions are involved it seems that complex risk management wins the day.  Is your organization operating under a “tick the box” risk management system?  Alternatively, has your organization put faith in algorithms? 

For a link to “Pentagon’s Prediction Software Didn’t Spot Egypt Unrest” from Wired Magazine click:

http://tinyurl.com/6jc3zzc