Business Lessons and Incredible Insights from the Octopus

The octopus

(Article dedicated to Honorable Makahamadze’s octopus’ prowess for winning a philanthropic award in Bulawayo over the weekend)

In the business world, we often look to nature for inspiration. The octopus, for instance, with its remarkable intelligence, adaptability, and unique abilities, offers valuable schoolings for entrepreneurs and leaders. In this article we dissect and interrogate fascinating attributes of an octopus and apply them to the world of business.

Curious Facts about the Octopus

The Biological Blueprint

To understand the business application, we must first interrogate the fascinating attributes of this cephalopod:

• Distributed Processing: A central brain coordinates, but eight "mini-brains" in each arm allow for independent action.

• Fluid Adaptability: Lacking a skeleton, they can squeeze through impossible gaps—the ultimate "pivot."

• Regenerative Capacity: If an arm is lost, it regrows. In business, this is the epitome of a modular, resilient supply chain.

• Cognitive Mastery: They solve puzzles and recognize faces, mirroring the need for high-level Data Intelligence and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

 Application of the Octopus Concept in Business

There are fundamental insights that can be gleaned from the octopus. The following is a useful summary:

1.     Distributed Intelligence: Like an octopus's decentralized arms, decision-making is distributed across autonomous teams or units.

2.     Adaptive and Flexible: Octopuses adapt to environments; businesses respond quickly to market changes.

3.     Multi-skilled and Versatile: Octopus arms can perform various tasks; teams develop diverse skills.

4.     Connected yet Autonomous: Arms operate independently but connected to the central 'brain'; business units are interconnected yet empowered to decide.

5.     Problem-solving and Innovative: Octopuses are problem-solvers; businesses encourage creative problem-solving.

Critical Business Insights

Likewise, businesses needing agility, innovation, and adaptability in fast-changing and disruptive markets. Be adaptable. Octopuses change color, shape, and texture to blend in. Businesses must pivot quickly in response to market shifts. Multi-task. With eight arms, octopuses handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Delegate and manage various projects efficiently. Problem-solve. Octopuses are clever escape artists. Encourage creative problem-solving and innovation in your team. Encourage people to think different, think wild and think wild! Collaborate. Octopuses use camouflage and cooperation to hunt. So in business build partnerships, networks and synergies to achieve shared goals.

Be Flexible. Octopuses squeeze through tight spaces. So in business stay agile and adjust your strategy as needed. Use Intelligence. Octopuses are highly intelligent. Business should invest in learning, data analysis, and strategic thinking. Defend strategically. Octopuses release ink to escape predators. Know when to attack, retreat and regroup. Innovate relentlessly. Octopuses have evolved unique innovative capabilities. Encourage experimentation and disruptive innovation in your business. In short, octopuses are epitomes of adaptive and distributive intelligence.

Professor Mufaro Gunduza coaches and mentors Business Intelligence at Mount Carmel Institute (Harare), Indian School of Management, (New Mumbai), and UNISA, among others. He is the SADC Investments Advisor for the Future Trends Group. He has written several books, including Unleashing Blue Sky Thinking, Spotting Business Opportunities, and Big Picture Thinking (Bookboon Publishers, London & Denmark). He has just assumed the Presidency of the Southern African Chamber of Commerce. He can be contacted on WhatsApp: +263774868896 Phone: +263718925350 Email: mgunduza@yahoo.co.uk

Octopus concept in business intelligence