GBN Lays Out Road Map for Potential Energy Crisis
WITH RISING FUEL COSTS AND CONCERNS
about the long-term availability of oil, a
potential energy crisis is on the minds of
many a consumer. But what about C-level
executives and board members? An energy
crisis could spell disaster for any firm,
regardless of sector.
With this in mind, Global Business Network (GBN), a member of the Monitor
Group, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program developed a scenario-based report called
“Energy Strategy for the Road Ahead: Scenario Thinking for Business Executives and
Corporate Boards.” The report outlines four
potential energy-related futures so businesses can prepare now for what may lie
ahead in 2020.
Erik Smith, a senior practitioner with
GBN, says the report should get firms
thinking about “what would they need to
do to not only survive in that world but
also to thrive,” in the four situations, which
are entitled “The Same Road,” “The Long
Road,” “The Broken Road” and “The Fast
Road” and incorporate environmental,
economic and political events. Smith is
hesitant to endorse any one scenario as
being the most likely, adding, “I think all
are very possible.”
Prior to the report’s publishing, GBN
and Energy Star brought 20 companies,
including HSBC and Toyota, together in
November 2006 to determine the four scenarios the report now features. Companies
included the consultancy’s clients, but also
represented a range of firms in terms of
their energy savvy. And the result of such
a convening had immediate results. “It
really energized them to go back to their
companies and [try to implement] some of
these things,” he says.
Smith says there’s addi-
tional value to the method
used to create the report:
scenario development, par-
ticularly as a catalyst for
change and innovation.
Client Energy Star, Smith
says, is very happy with the
result of the research, adding
that the organization has ordered 5,000
additional copies to be distributed to CEOs
and boards. Of course, Smith is quick to
point out the 34-page report is printed on
100 percent recycled paper.
To download the report, view related
videos and learn more about GBN’s work,
visit www.gbn.com. —Jacqueline Durett
“It really energized
[leaders] to go back to
their companies and
[implement] some
of these things. Erik Smith, Global Busine”ss Network
Fred Thomas-
Out of Office
Fred Thomas-Dupuis used his
signing bonus from Oliver Wyman
to defer the start of his employment. It wasn’t that he wasn’t
thrilled to be joining the firm—
but he had a movie to finish. Thomas-Dupuis, now
an associate at OW, and his brother Marc’s work
“Places Everyone” wasn’t wrapped and delivered to
the Montreal World Film Festival until five years
after commencement.
Consulting: How did your filmmaking career start?
Thomas-Dupuis: My filmmaking “career” started while I
was working on my master’s in engineering at McGill University. I had the chance to spend time with my brother [Marc]
helping him with some film projects. I [got] lured in for a
bunch of reasons. Number one, the thought of doing something creative rather than analytical was very appealing.
Number two, I thought I could offer my brother some help
by putting a bit more structure into the work. Number three,
I thought it would be great for the resume!
Consulting: How did “Places Everyone” come to be?
Thomas-Dupuis: We [contacted] everyone we knew to tell
them about our [plan], and we were absolutely amazed how
many people wanted to participate. And then we were equally
amazed at how many of them dropped out as soon as we gave
them work. A few stuck around and helped (for free). The
production lasted 30 consecutive days in the summer of 2003.
I then received an offer from Oliver Wyman; I was thrilled
and accepted, but delayed the start of my consulting career.
Two months before I was slated to start work at OW, we got a
letter from Telefilm Canada (the film financing agency) stating it would invest in the project. It took another two years to
wrap up the editing. In 2006, the film was accepted at the Montreal World Film Festival.
Consulting: How do you balance your OW and film work?
Thomas-Dupuis: It would be impossible to work on the pre-production and shooting of a film while holding any full-time
job. However, given that the most demanding parts of the project were done before joining OW and that OW has been very
accommodating by allowing a leave when necessary, it has
been possible to balance the two. But in the distant future, I do
plan on working on another project.
