Choosing a Future - Grand Haven Michigan

Copyright 2006 Whittaker Associates, Inc All rights Reserved

Choosing a Future

Presented by Dean Whittaker


The Past The Future=


Linear Thinking in a Cyclical World

Reality Gap


The Future = Choices Made in the Present


Two Kinds of Choices

Conscious choices Unconscious choices


The Role of Government

Government determines what takes place where and for whose benefit


Economic Development

What is it? Why should I care? What’s in it for me?


Economic Development – Creating Wealth by Making the Pie Bigger


Boundaries

Political Economic Social


Not in My Backyard?


What is the Purpose of a City?

Remove the spaces between people and between businesses

Foster a sense of community Shared services Protection

Physical Economic


Thinking Regional?


Protecting the Water?


Trading Partners?


Work moves – workers, jobs and facilities stay put!

Electrolux – Greenville, Michigan


Is the World Really Flat?


Product Life Cycle vs Transit Time


Call Center Mumbai, India


Call Center Under Construction – (one of fourteen) in Mumbai, India


Who is doing the work?


The Changing Nature of Work

Work moves, workers stay put. Work becomes disassociated from

place. Work is done collaboratively and

globally.


What Determines Where Work Gets Sourced? Fungible vs non-fungible Talent Pools Time Factor Scalable Access to Resources Cost


Attracting and Keeping Talent

“The Rise of the Creative Class” by Richard Florida Talent Technology Tolerance - diversity


Economic Development in a Post Industrial Age New Factors of Production

Knowledge Communication Networking

Old Factors of Production Land Labor Capital


Who’s doing the work?

Microbes as factory works The Goat chemical factory Lights-out third shift factories Labor as a variable cost

Shifting risk to worker Shifting career management to

worker


Grand Haven Surprises

Locked Rest Rooms Large number of small manufacturers Poor condition of streets Lack of Moderate Income Housing Large number of high end housing

under construction, mostly condos


Ferrysburg Surprised

Significant higher income level than GH Lack of a core downtown Fragmented nature – split by Rt. 31 Preservation of dunes and lakeshore


Spring Lake Surprised

Emphasis on history Active commercial development Re-development of Industrial Property Attractive Library – Library Police Sign


What does it take to be a player in a global market? Knowledge/skills/talent Ability to connect/communicate Ability to create/innovate new ideas,

products and services


On Choosing a Future…

If not you, who? If not now, when?


Thank You!


Contact Information

Dean Whittaker44 E. 8th Street, Suite 420Holland, MI 49423616-396-4500 dean.whittaker@whittakerassociates.comwww.whittakerassociates.com

Choosing a Future - Grand Haven Michigan

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