Ed Morrison · Colorado’s new strategy document

July 22nd, 2011

Colorado’s governor has released his Blueprint for the state’s economic development strategy. Not surprisingly, given the times, the plan encourages the state to reduce government red tape and increase “access to capital”. 

The governor calls the document — a “bottom up” approach to strategy. That’s revealing of a mindset. In a traditional approach to economic development, leaders think in these hierarchical terms. But today, we live in an age of open networks, and we must learn to think differently about how economic development takes place. 

A network has no top or bottom. 

At the same time, strategy in loosely joined networks is more demanding than traditional approaches to strategy. To move an open network, a strategy needs clear, concise outcomes that are measurable. Without a command and control structure to move people, a strategy in open networks must emotionally engage people. Outcomes must create shared value in order to be sustainable. Outcomes and coherence are more important than vision and vague goals (which too often are simply statements of activities). 

Finally, effective strategy in open networks requires shared responsibility for implementation. Transparent action plans enable members of a network to hold each other accountable and to know which way to jump when circumstances change (as they inevitably will). 

Along these dimensions, the Colorado Blueprint makes some progress, but it falls short. 

Colorado Blueprint July 2011.pdf Download this file

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