Supply chains and all that jazz
Thu, 26 Aug 2010
Oliver Evans, Chief Cargo Officer at Swiss International Air Lines, in his first blog for IFWtv, explains how the spontaneity and inventiveness of master jazz musicians playing together can relate to the creativity and teamwork exchanged by logistics partners
Oliver Evans, Chief Cargo Officer at Swiss International Air Lines, is a jazz fan, and on a recent visit to the world famous Monterey Jazz festival, he had an idea.
It struck him that accomplished musicians playing jazz together were akin to the partners in a logistics supply chain working as a team.
He says: “Jazz is never afraid to change – it thrives on it. And jazz masters the unpredictable – is it whim or instinct that leads musicians along different directions, following a changing chord sequence, phrase or rhythm?”
“Also, jazz is nothing without teamwork, and teamwork spans supply chains involving many partners.”
Evans suggests that, like musicians improvise phrases, taking different directions for their fellow players to follow and develop, so logistics partners can follow and develop ideas from each other to improve their business process.
It struck him that accomplished musicians playing jazz together were akin to the partners in a logistics supply chain working as a team.
He says: “Jazz is never afraid to change – it thrives on it. And jazz masters the unpredictable – is it whim or instinct that leads musicians along different directions, following a changing chord sequence, phrase or rhythm?”
“Also, jazz is nothing without teamwork, and teamwork spans supply chains involving many partners.”
Evans suggests that, like musicians improvise phrases, taking different directions for their fellow players to follow and develop, so logistics partners can follow and develop ideas from each other to improve their business process.
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