Local Multipliers

Adam Wilkinson is doing some great work with local authorities in England, on the way developing a number of useful tools to help decision makers get a better feel of the power of the local multiplier. His latest news follows:

"This tool allows commissioning organisations to forecast quickly the likely economic impact of a project on the local community, or to compare differing impacts of various options. The tool is equally valuable for tenderers and service delivery organisations that need to demonstrate the business case for the delivery of best value. Different kinds of spending for example capital, revenue, or visitor can be used in combination.

The model is based on LM3 (local multiplier) methodology and uses data accumulated from analysing over GBP 11 billion of spending across public, private and not for profit sectors.

The basic model is free of charge. Bespoke versions are also available.

To try the tool visit impactpredictor.com, email adam@impactpredictor.com; for the full range of products go to impactmeasurement.net.

High childhood IQ and vegetarianism

Interesting academic link via Stumbleupon:

"Higher IQ at age 10 years was associated with an increased likelihood of being vegetarian at age 30"

Failure or learning?

The difference between a failure and a mistake

A failure is a project that doesn't work, an initiative that teaches you something at the same time the outcome doesn't move you directly closer to your goal.

A mistake is either a failure repeated, doing something for the second time when you should have known better, or a misguided attempt (because of carelessness, selfishness or hubris) that hindsight reminds you is worth avoiding.

We need a lot more failures, I think. Failures that don't kill us make us bolder, and teach us one more way that won't work, while opening the door to things that might.

School confuses us, so do bosses and families. Go ahead, fail. Try to avoid mistakes, though.

via Seth Godin



Counting the cost

Puma is one of the largest business brands to date to publish the estimated cost to nature of a year's trading - which they've estimated as EUR94 million for water and CO2 and an additional EUR51million for land use, pollution and waste.

It's a bold, important move that they've taken, and one that in time, must be followed by many if not most large businesses as we start to count the true cost of living the way we do. As Wales develops the Natural Environment Framework, Accounting for Sustainability and TEEB publish their data, the legislative and operational frameworks needed to make change will become clearer, stronger and more compelling.