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Video Bites: Muddling Through: Strategic decision making for complex, high risk problems

Paul Hunter and Stuart Orr Season 1 Episode 1

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0:00 | 3:10

Driven by extreme uncertainty following the onset of Covid - 19, immediate change became an imperative for all CEOs. Their response was impressive, corporate leaders sprang into action. This begs the question though: If decision making is improved during a crisis, why isn’t it that good all the time? The answer lies in the circumstances of the problem being addressed. Influential factors are uncertainty, complexity, risk and reward. In this video we present a matrix that provides insight into alternative decision making methodologies, of which Muddling Through is one. The context of the discussion is organisational transformation and renewal.

Reference:

Lindblom, CE. 1959. The science of muddling through. Public Administration Review, 19(2): 79–88. https://doi.org/10.2307/973677

The video can be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwW1QK_4P31MtXyYGmJOyUg

From the CSOsandbox Podcast Channel, The CFO Strategy Brief delivers focused, strategy‑led conversations for CFOs, CEOs, and senior executives at the intersection of finance, strategy, and leadership. Each episode explores how modern CFOs drive transformation, connect financial discipline with long‑term corporate purpose, and shape enterprise‑wide outcomes.

We tackle themes such as capital allocation, digital transformation, risk intelligence, and the evolving governance agenda, helping leaders turn complex realities into clear, forward‑looking strategies. The podcast is part of a broader strategic intelligence ecosystem, linking executive education, research, and analytics for CFOs and corporate leaders.

Insights are powered by the stratāgaia Power BI app and informed by the books Corporate Strategy (Remastered) I & II and Corporation of the Future (Routledge). Learn more at www.smiknowledge.com, connect with our Strataegic Intelligence and learning platforms via www.phsandl.com, or explore the full episode library at https://csosandbox.buzzsprout.com.