Ben Chiganze A Bass Fisherman’s Approach
It is the management’s prerogative to be continually sensitive to environmental dynamics. Ignoring the effect of environment is in most cases detrimental to the survival of the business. It is not wise to be always reactive to the environmental changes. Managers at times need to be proactive. A deep appreciation of the impact of the environment to the business is crucial when a company is formulating its sustainable growth path.
No one is insulated against the impact of the environment. Similarly no business is immune to environmental shocks. The difference arises in perception of it. Some perceive environmental changes as opportunity providers and others view it as seasons of disaster. The environment can affect us now and in the future.
It is therefore imperative to be prepared to meet the challenges always. One of the tools used is environmental forecasting.
Changes in weather patterns affect the migration patterns and foraging behaviour of the prey species such as bream.
The hunting ground changes as the weather changes. The fisherman needs to understand the effect of weather patterns on the bass and fish in appropriate spots.
Any change in weather patterns affects the availability of the prey for bass.
The prey movement affects the positions for fishing. When the temperature is very cold, would-be-prey (bream fish) go to deep waters.
This implies that the bass will also be found in deep waters. The fisherman also has to fish in the deep waters.
Should the fisherman ignore the dictates of weather, the fisherman will catch nothing (or very few fish) if he continues to fish the shallow ends of the dam.
At times changes in the weather patterns can have far reaching consequences.
One pattern that comes to mind is a storm.
There are two types of storms namely freak storms and seasonal storms.
Seasonal storms occur mostly in summer.
Freak storms come when they are least expected and are more dangerous to fisherman because their level of preparedness will be very low.
A storm can bring threats and opportunities to the fisherman. A storm can bring destruction and opportunities.
The storm can cause some serious dislocations to the fisherman. If the storm is not anticipated, it can cause serious damage to the fisherman’s boat, equipment, the dam and the fisherman’s life.
It is not sufficient to understand the weather patterns, but the fisherman needs to study the structure of the dam he or she is fishing.
Tributary dams are dangerous especially if the dam wall of the dam which is on the higher ground collapses.
I actually experienced the effect of dam collapse at a time when I had just decided to have a lunch break.
I was saved by hunger not by preparation. Before then I did not understand that an event in another dam can affect a fisherman in another dam.
Similarly the September 11, 2001 bombings in America affected hunting operations in Zimbabwe negatively as hunters from America cancelled most of their bookings that year.
Safari Operators in Zimbabwe lost revenue in 2001.
Preparations to avert the loss of revenue could be taking a loss of profits insurance policy.
Opportunities
Storms do not always bring negative results to the fisherman.
Storms can help to bring the inflow of nutrients into the dam in addition to recycling the food which is in the dam.
The inflow of new food and recycling of existing food helps in the renewal of aquatic life and triggering of ecological processes that are beneficial to the fish.
The more the food, the more the fish and the more the dam becomes productive for the fisherman.
Every fisherman wants to fish in very productive dams.
Most disasters are accompanied by business opportunities as well just like war brings opportunities to arms dealers, diamond dealers, animal tusk dealers, food sellers, automotive manufactures, aeroplane manufacturers medical and pharmaceutical products, though other people will be dislocated or dying.
The ill prepared fishermen pack their bags(when there is a storm) and go thereby reducing completion in the dam.
This enables the fisherman to have wider choice of hunting spots.
Whereas before he competed for those spots with other fisherman, this time the number of players will be reduced in the dam.
The price controls carried out by the National Incomes and Pricing Commission in 2008 and the hyper-inflationary environment was like a storm hitting the retail industry.
Some companies folded as a result of being forced to sell at sub-economic prices and not being able to restock.
Even the collapse of a retail giant like Jaggers three years later could be attributed to the price controls and hyperinflation. The collapse or downsizing of the retail concerns provided an opportunity for other players to enter and those that could recapitalise to consolidate their operations.
OK Zimbabwe carried out a rights offer in 2009 and are making profits at the time of writing.
Therefore the storms can help other companies to increase their market share if they are well prepared during the time of the storm and to reduce your competition if you are better planned.
During the time of hyper inflation in Zimbabwe (2007-2008) some businessmen sacrificed their business models and jumped into the short term money changing bandwagon.
The introduction of multi currency reduced the viability of money changing.
In the meantime most businesses which soldiered on during the period grew from strength to strength and some of them are now prosperous after riding over the storm.
During most storms those who are ill-prepared scurry for cover and leave better prepared businessmen with bigger market share.
Smaller fishermen can scurry for cover and leave you alone.
Preparation for a storm
There are unavoidable storms so one needs to be always prepared for one. A Fisherman must always be prepared for sudden extreme changes in the environment.
A fisherman must drill and train oneself in skills such as swimming and disaster management.
For example, airlines have mock fire drills to prepare for the aviation disasters.
In addition to training ,the fisherman must inspect the equipment such as the boat before and after fishing.
A hole in a boat can precipitate sinking of a boat during fishing time or during a storm the boat will be too heavy to drive which can reduce the chances of swift take off to avoid a major storm.
Fisherman needs among other things, life jacket, first aid kit, enough water to avoid dehydration, and anti venom to increase his chances of survival after being bitten by a snake.
Business should be fully conversant with stock turnover and avoid overstocking or having obsolete stock.
In the event of a storm you must have always have Plan B
Distress call
One of the major preparation strategy for a fisherman is to have a network of friends around you who can give you assistance during your darkest hours.
Who does your business turn to during its darkest hours?
A fisherman is prone to suffer from hippo, crocodile attacks or might capsize during a storm.
A fisherman must be able to call for help and get positive feedback from where help is sought.
At times the fisherman can send signals for help and get positive feedback.
What is important to note is that distress calls must be responded to with the urgency that it deserves.
A fisherman must have people around him who feel obligated to assist. Do your business partners feel obligated to support your business when the push comes to shove?
The fisherman can also look out for others to help, if he or she is adequately prepared.
When assisting others the fisherman must ensure that he or she will not endanger his or her life by helping and evaluating her or his capacity to assist.
Companies can send out distress calls to companies and can get positive response in forms of contracts and give you new networks, advice on corporate renewal.
Be prepared for freak storms.
The writer is a Managing Consultant at CLC Training International. E-mail chiganze@iwayaafrica.co.zw