Sex And Cicadas

In our little corner of the Garden of Eden, an insect apparently, modeled after Transformers, emerges from a 17-year nap, procreates with a clamor that would shame a harlot, alights in the nearest Big Hair opportunity,,dies, and falls to earth.  17 years later, the eggs laid a generation earlier progress through some larval stage to 105-decibel flying machines, and repeat the cycle - which has now gone on for millennia and aeons.  Other varieties of cicada experience differing, but nonetheless lengthy, cycles with very similar manifestations.

Strangely, and perhaps not coincidentally in an evolutionary perspective, the larvae of humans appear to experience their hormones reaching critical mass somewhere in the 14-17 years of their lives, with the propensity to be staggeringly noisy, and to explore possibilities for reproduction, with unfortunate levels of success.

What this could signify for the supply chain management community is a growing realization that nothing we do can afford to become tied in long-cycle development and maturation.  Decisions are critical now.  Customers want their orders now.  Key staff want responsibility now.

There is no longer time - or an expectation - for rookies to learn the ropes.  The new staff is not given the luxury of finding his or her sea legs; they must have their feet under them beginning Day One.

17 years is four career stages.  The moment of truth is this very minute.  Contributions to orgnizational success are bitcoin of the realm. 17 years of silence, then a flash of immortality, then death is a model that too many unwittingly  follow.  But, it hasn't been acceptable for centuries.

 And, it's not an acceptable model for today.