Excerpts from Zen and the Art of Mission Design

by Jan Griebe, Ph.D.

Interview with the Author

Q. What is your book about? (Tell us about your book.)

A. On one level, the book is about big business and how two management consultants resolved issues in big companies, large national laboratories, and production facilities. It consists of 21 short stories that are based on actual case studies. In each chapter, the consultants solve issues and in the meantime reveal to the reader a little about the underlying philosophy, theory, and practices they use to arrive at the solutions for their clients.

On another level, the book is about the transformational process that is foundational to this reality. Specifically, the book talks about mission and mission systems and their role in this process. If you step back far enough, you can see the book as a metaphor through which these philosophical subjects are discussed.

Q. What prompted you to write about this subject?

A. I am philosophical by nature. I was raised in a highly philosophical environment where my parents taught us to consider underlying causes to actions and reactions that we observed in others. Once headed down that path, I incorporated that slant on life in everything I did. This includes my education, my work, raising my children and so on.

Naturally after a few years of management consulting, I began to ask questions that could not be answered by conventional education and existing management theory. Eventually, I began developing my own models, models that exposed more aptly the underlying dynamics of what I saw happening in big business. After a few years, I started realizing that we were in fact involved in an evolutionary process that transformed constantly both the environment and the people that existed in that environment.

Working in the business world provided an opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of how intent based systems were executed. At some point, I realized that it was through the execution of intent that we created and altered the reality of our existence, not just on an individual basis, but also on a collective basis. As I focused on these ideas, I realized that a mission was actually an intent that compelled one to take action. Next I realized, that as soon as action was taken to pursue that intent, a system was formed. I called this the mission system. Once I could talk about mission in terms of systems, it was a short step from there to understanding a whole host of underlying dynamics that support systems in general.

Q. What does this mean for a regular person trying to earn a living in today’s world?

A. First, it is important to understand what you intend to do. Once you discover what it is you intend to do, it is equally as important to understand why. With these two pieces of information, you can start exploring the underlying values necessary to produce the outcome you want to achieve.

From values, you can expand you plans to include a baseline philosophy, and a discussion of the major strategies you need to use. With good strategies in place, you can design whatever systems are needed to implement the reality of your intent.

In short, the more specific you are in what you intend to do, the more successful you can become. There is a logic to this, and it is explained in the book.

Q. How did you ever come up with its title?

A. Zen is the Chinese word for Philosophy. One of the foundational tenets of Zen is that we are involved in a transformational process. I believe that the mission system is at the basis of that process. So, the title, ZEN and Applications of MISSION DESIGN, is an accurate description of what is in the book.

Q. What kind of person should read your book?

A. Everybody should. It describes the basic underpinnings of how to be successful in your life. It explains through the short stories The Theory of Missions™ and provides applications of the theory in real life situations so that everybody can understand what was done and why.

Q. What would a young professional expect to get from reading the book?

A. The book is ideal for people involved in all types and sizes of businesses. It is specifically applicable and useful to large missions. The larger the mission, the greater the demand for some degree of uniformity in its design, and in the understanding of the basic management principles incorporated by that mission. In essence, everybody needs to be on the same page regarding basic operating principles and philosophy. My book provides an excellent form through which this common dimension can be achieved.

Q. Is there a place for the book in the academic world say as a business school text or required reading for an organizational development class?

A. This book might be a requirement for philosophy students, business students, and law students. The stories provide valuable insight into how businesses work as well as some of the frailty of human beings.

Q. What would be your expectation if a company would buy a copy of your book for all its managers and first line supervisors and ask them to read it?

A. That company would develop a collective understanding of how to design and execute missions that would significantly improve their profitability. You see, even small deviations in the mission can result in the development of serious maladies in the mission system.

Q. Do you provide consulting services to organizations that might be interested in using the concepts in the book to improve its profitability?

A. For years, my company has been recognized for its advanced problem solving and innovative techniques. This work has been based on The Theory of Missions™ as it has been only briefly presented in the book. It is really hard to communicate just how effective the theory contained in the book has been and can be for every business out there.

Q. Would a school teacher or a house wife be interested in the book?

A. If they are interested in adventure stories about big business told by the main character who is a female, then yes. The message in the book would also be immediately applicable to many situations in their own personal and professional lives. You see, the concepts presented in the book are universally applicable whether you are planning a second graders birthday party or the expansion of a multi-national business.

Q. How can I get a copy of the book?

A. You can send a check directly to OAC, 1539 Mason Road #67, Katy, Texas 77450. The book is $29.95 with $6.95 shipping and handling for a total of $36.90. Texas residents have to add an extra $2.47 sales tax for a total of $39.37.

To order a copy, print and then mail the completed order form to us. We'll get it right out to you. Just click on ORDER NOW!!!

HOME