Garden Design Over Seed Selection
Books Teaching This Pattern
Evidence

Certain to Win
Chet Richards · 3 highlights
“A garden analogy may help summarize implementing Boyd’s operational climate. The duty of senior managers is to design the garden, decide what they want to grow, and prepare the proper conditions. Obviously to do this well, they must be highly experienced gardeners, with a sure feel for the soil conditions, the nature of their plants, the climate, and the local rabbit population. Once conditions are right and seeds are in the ground, the plants grow themselves—bottom up, as Boyd used to emphasize. With seeds planted, and favorable climate and soil conditions, the “system” implements itself. The gardeners must work the plot, checking the condition of the plants, and always ensuring that conditions for growth are as favorable as possible—even a moment’s inattention can mean disaster. And most important, weeds must be removed, no matter how tall they grow.154”
“The duty of senior managers is to design the garden, decide what they want to grow, and prepare the proper conditions. Obviously to do this well, they must be highly experienced gardeners, with a sure feel for the soil conditions, the nature of their plants, the climate, and the local rabbit population. Once conditions are right and seeds are in the ground, the plants grow themselves—bottom up, as Boyd used to emphasize. With seeds planted, and favorable climate and soil conditions, the “system” implements itself. The gardeners must work the plot, checking the condition of the plants, and always ensuring that conditions for growth are as favorable as possible—even a moment’s inattention can mean disaster. And most important, weeds must be removed, no matter how tall they grow.154”