Biomimcry

Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of Nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take

inspiration from in order to solve human problems (Wikipedia)

What can business learn from this?

•Dinosaurs ruled the earth for millions of years• They adapted into virtually every

ecological niche•And they dominated each of

those niches

And the point is?

• Dinosaurs kept improving over time• They were fearsome competitors in an aggressive marketplace.

• However, they did not survive the unexpected!

• So, can we learn both from what they did well, and what they failed to learn?

Are there any parallels? YES!

• The dinosaurs specialised, as do industry sectors.

• Each type of dinosaur developed attributes suited to its niche

• Does your firm do this?

Brontosaurus

Initial Comparison

Brontosaurus• Slow-moving• Large, not particularly

responsive to changes in its environment

• Requires a lot of resources to perform at any level at all...

Government departments• Does the list on the left

sound similar to government?

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Tyrannosaurus Rex• Fearsome to anything

smaller than it• Stops at nothing to get what

it wants• Rules its environment by

fear• Even its presence is enough

to quieten everything else• Highly specialised

Dominant (Monopoly) Businesses

• Fearsome to competitors• Will use any legal or

political avenue to get what it wants

• Presence of such firms discourages competition

• Highly specialised

Triceratops

Triceratops

• Adapted to defend itself from predictable threats ( predation)

• Slow-moving, reacts to danger rather than anticipating it

• The best at what it does; less vulnerable than other herbivores

Defensive sectors• Utilities, health care etc• Able to look after

themselves in a downturn, because they are adapted to slower/calmer parts of the economy.

• Not necessarily known for being innovative.

Deinonychus

Deinonychus• Ruthless, intelligent killer• Able to think ahead in order

to work in packs• Fast moving • Able to change focus to

different prey

Venture Capitalists• Ruthless, intelligent

capitalists• Able (at times) to work

together• Fast moving – survival

depends on being ahead of the curve

• Able to change focus to different business models.

Quetzalcoatlus

Quetzalcoatlus• Adapted to hunt from afar• Able to focus eyes on prey

from a distance• Swoops at high speed,

without prey being aware of danger

• Able to launch again quickly• Feeds on wounded and

carrion

Consultants• Able to focus attention on

target industries and topics• Able to swoop, and to leave

no fingerprints• Often do the poisoned-

chalice jobs no-one internal wants to touch

• Able to move onto next consultancy quickly.

Is your firm adapted to thrive?Do you have;

• The presence of T. Rex?

• The defences of Triceratops?

• The adaptability of Deinonychus?

• The focus and precision of Quetzalcoatlus?