Dear examinator, excellent post, interesting responses.

The big picture is sometimes called the helicopter or top down view of the major issues. By this we mean we “see” the key components and their relationships but are not distracted by content, strategic thinking.

Today’s societies comprise the main components or domains of social, scientific, political, economic, religious and ecological. This is so because all human endeavors or activities fit into these domains.

If, as individuals, we are capable of recognizing, separating, yet understanding the relationships between each domain, this defines strategic, big picture thinking.

The further down each domain we “drill”, the more complex and “interrelated” each domain becomes. The levels below strategic are defined as “tactical”, “operational” and finally the most complex of all, “content”. The content layer is where things are so complex or “bottom up and side on”, there is not the remotest possibility of understanding anything, with the possible exception of “perceived effects”.

This not to say that the content layer does not serve a vital purpose, the tactical layer defines the effect upon action items, the operational layer defines effects upon processes and the content layer defines effects upon people (intellectual and physical assets). Each layer is therefore (should be) a feedback loop to the strategic layer.

Sadly for most of us, we thrash around in the content layer, trying to make some sense of important issues from the bottom up. If we do not understand or see the “big picture” we are doomed to live in the (frustrating) “content” world dealing with effects rather than causes.

Without exception, all the BP’s in these posts are content at the bottom of one or other of the domain entities. This is absolutely not intended to diminish or trivialize OLO comments however, it is intended to show how “big picture” thinking is taught, the structures needed, the processes required and most importantly, that it is absolutely definable in its meaning.

Top Nazis Planned EU-Style Fourth Reich
http://www.prisonplanet.com/top-nazis-planned-eu-style-fourth-reich.html

A writer..who was collecting material for a fictional book based around the premise that top Nazis,seeking to preserve their power at the end of the second world war,conspired to create a Fourth Reich under the auspices of the European Union,

...actually discovered documents proving the plot to be true.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/leaked-1955-bilderberg-docs-outline-plan-for-single-european-currency.html

watch the nazies do their thing
http://www.prisonplanet.com/nau-precursor-eu-police-subdue-sovereignty-protesters.html

cant have sovreign govt when world govt is the aim
http://www.prisonplanet.com/somali-pirates-guided-by-london-intelligence-team-report-says.html

in case you still believe..one is holier that the other

http://www.prisonplanet.com/us-accused-of-illegal-white-phosphorus-attack-in-afghanistan.html
lest we forget cia created the tall-i-bin[larden]taliban
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/8227CE5AED148A8A652575B30020EBE7?OpenDocument

http://www.prisonplanet.com/green-shoots-or-greatest-depression.html

who
http://www.prisonplanet.com/israel-prime-minister-says-he-will-stand-up-to-obama.html

how
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/if_citigroup_--_recipient_of.php
using bloggers
http://www.prisonplanet.com/not-funny-barack-obama-laughs-at-wanda-sykes-joke-about-wanting-rush-limbaugh-dead.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/obama%e2%80%99s-middle-east-imperialism.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/chomsky-obama-policies-same-as-bush.html

http://www.prisonplanet.com/why-the-governments-attempt-to-instill-false-confidence-will-backfire-2.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/5301123/bEnjoy-the-rally-while-it-lasts---but-expect-to-take-a-sucker-punchb.html
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dr_goldstein/2009/05/al-gores-endgame-deniers-are-n.php?ref=recmuck
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/05/while-substantial-uncertainty-remains.html

Examinator

From what I read of your posts, I think my BP is rather similar to yours.

I won't be making contributions to OLO as much, if at all. Apparently I am "difficult" but not difficult enough to qualify for a permanent ban from OLO it seems.

Ciao

spindoc,

That's a very good explanation of the big picture. Adding a vertical dimension to the concept gives the reader a sense that everything exists in a volume rather than in the two-dimensional slice they mostly live their lives.

Speaking of thrashing around in the content layer, that is all I ever see unions doing in the workplace, for example. It's always a case of it's his fault (glibly pointing the finger at the manager that made the last decision the union didn't like) or that "we work hard and therefore we deserve this and that". If the union looked a little higher and thought more about what they could do to achieve a more sustainable wage outcome for staff, they would see that the higher concept of improving their productivity (work output), getting rid of wasteful spending in the organisations and companies they work in, as well as serving their masters (either the consumer in the case of public companies or the public via the Government in the case of the Public Service), workers would make the country wealthier and thus should get a much better wage deal for themselves. They would then be dealing with the causes of their problems and not the symptoms.

The other problem with unions is that when they do work hard, they sometimes don’t add value – they’re then doing the equivalent of digging a hole out back that no-one else can see or cares about. In that situation it's just a matter of time before they lose their jobs because they simply aren't relevant any more.

Spindoc
Absolutely, You spotted it.
I figured that I'd simplify it so people could comment.
From a strategic perspective I wrote it to explain to some my basic reasoning processes in the hope of averting them from jumping to erroneous assumptions about what I write and why. When I tried to get academically correct in the past I've been accused of pomposity etc when in reality I view things from generally a larger picture thus seeing the connections, consequences etc a meaningful discussion needs to involve all three levels. But you know that, I suspect.I will admit that I need to take some lessons (classes) from Romany about expression, brevity and to the point.

Fractelle,
If your difficult then I must be too. Come to think of it if it emanates from "hey good looking" I can think of a few others who must also wear the same criticism. If you get bored remember my full title then try gmail.

Romany,
Spindoc beat me too the punch I was hoping that the topic might shake loose some philosophies or underlying overall thought premises or logic driving thought processes.
I could, obviously need your assistance. If I've learned anything from OLO (surprisingly not from other sites) that my ability with words doesn't necessarily extend to thought processes. Perhaps you can do the same as I suggested to Fractelle.