praise for Dan Ward
“If I could ask my clients to read one book before we work together, it would be The Simplicity Cycle by Dan Ward….it’s simply brilliant.” –Peter Morville, President of Semantic Studios
“There is an immediate sense, as you begin reading F.I.R.E., that author Dan Ward knows exactly who he is, what his message is, and to what type of reader his book is going to appeal. As such, there is a confidence and conciseness to his book that inspires a kind of instant camaraderie.” Jack Covert, 800 CEO Read
“This is no ordinary book about product development. Sure, it draws on the wisdom of such great philosophers as John Cleese, Inigo Montoya, and Tom and Jerry. But it also makes a compelling case that none of us can design anything without revealing our values.” – Dan Pink
“F.I.R.E. will appeal to project managers, space enthusiasts, military and tech buff s, and anyone who’s ever hired a plumber or general contractor.” Success Magazine
Dan Ward is an author and consultant whose work focuses on reducing the cost, time, and complexity of delivering world-class innovations. His writing, consulting, and speaking draw on his more than 20 years as an engineering officer in the Air Force, during which time he specialized in leading high-speed, low-cost technology development programs, including space exploration missions with NASA.
His books, F.I.R.E.: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation (HarperBusiness, 2014) and The Simplicity Cycle: A Field Guide To Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse (HarperBusiness, 2015), use humorous and practical insights to introduce a powerful framework for managing complexity in order to produce world-class new products on time and under budget.
A popular corporate and conference speaker, Ward has delivered guest lectures at universities in the US, UK, and South America and testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the British House of Commons, and the White House. His fast-paced, story-based presentations showcase his trademark blend of fun pop-culture sensibilities and deep engineering expertise. His writing has appeared in a variety of outlets, including Fast Company, Forbes, Harpers, The Boston Globe, Armed Forces Journal, and the British Army Yearbook.
Ward holds three engineering degrees and received the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan. He is a Senior Associate Fellow with the British Institute for Statecraft and a Non-Resident Cyber-security Fellow with the New America Foundation.
Dan offers three types of talks and presentations based on the content of his books: conference keynote presentations, informal book chats, and hands-on workshops.
- FIRE: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained, and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation
- The Simplicity Cycle: A Field Guide To Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse
- Faster, Better, Cheaper – Revisited: Powerful innovation lesson from NASA’s low-cost space exploration missions
OBJECTIVES
These presentations aim to help clients:
- Reduce the time, cost, & complexity associated with delivering world-class innovations.
- Improve ability to manage complexity (organizational, procedural & technical).
- Improve the clarity, speed, and effectiveness of communication.
- Identify and establish effective values for their specific project teams.
The Simplicity Cycle
Keynote: We all make things every day, whether composing an e-mail, cooking a meal, or constructing the Mars Rover. Complexity is a necessary component of our work, but unnecessary complexity adds complications that should be avoided. This story-filled presentation shines a light on how complexity affects the things we make, for good or ill, and takes the audience on a journey through the process of making things, with a particular focus on identifying and avoiding complexity-related pitfalls. Dan introduces a powerful framework for managing complexity and equips the audience with a visual vocabulary to foster effective discussions about simplicity with clients, colleagues, and customers.
Workshop: This 2-3 hour hands-on workshop introduces a simple, practical framework to help participants make good decisions about complexity in the things we design and use. After a brief overview of the concept, participants are guided through the process of collaboratively applying the Simplicity Cycle to a specific project or problem set of their choosing. The workshop emphasizes learning to identify various phases within a project and introduces a collection of tools to use at each phase. Participants will come away with a specific plan for next steps to use on their current project as well as a better understanding of how to manage complexity in general.
Book Talk: This 1-hour session presents the basic principles and practices of The Simplicity Cycle in a casual, interactive session. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, share stories, and explore how to apply the Simplicity Cycle on their own projects.
F.I.R.E. – How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained, and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation
Keynote: Why do some programs deliver under cost, while others bust their budget? Why do some deliver ahead of schedule, while others experience endless delays? In this fast-paced, story-based presentation Dan uses his trademark blend of pop-culture and engineering expertise to answer those questions and to show that innovation does not have to cost so much, take so long, or be so expensive. Leveraging his experience as a military technologist and incorporating his extensive research into NASA missions, Dan offers humorous and practical insights into how to deliver best-in-class, world-class new products in a fraction of the time and expense of traditional approaches.
Workshop: This 2-3 hour workshop provides hands-on exposure to tools and techniques for reducing the cost, schedule, and complexity associated with delivering innovative solutions. The workshop uses memorable stories to present principles and practices of rapid innovation, followed by interactive sessions in which participants are able to immediately apply the practices to their specific projects. The workshop equips participants with a collection of FIRE heuristics and an understanding of their applications, limitations, and uses. Participants will come away with a better grasp of how to help their teams improve their performance by embracing speed, thrift, and simplicity.
Book Talk: This 1-hour session presents the basic principles and practices of FIRE in a casual, interactive session. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, share stories, and explore how to apply the FIRE method on their own projects.
The Simplicity Cycle – A Field Guide to Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse
F.I.R.E – How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained, and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation
Recent coverage for The Simplicity Cycle:
Simplicity Cycle #EMCDojo Meetup – video presentation
Microsoft Book Talk: The Simplicity Cycle – Dan Ward
Why we pursue complexity and when we should embrace it – MSNBC interview
The Power of the Simple – An Interview with Skip Pritchard
The Brainfluence Podcast with Roger Dooley
The Simplicity Cycle: An excerpt on UX Magazine
Government Executive
UX Magazine
The Meaningful Show – Dean Bokhari
“For those who seek a graphical tool to simplify or modify product design and consumer services, Ward’s book can become a valuable resource. The theory provides a structure to see where and why complexity goes awry and causes destruction instead of goodness.” BlogCritics
Coverage for F.I.R.E.:
FIRE was one of five finalists for the getAbstract International Book Award, and is on the Commander’s 2015 Reading List at US Special Operations Command.
FIRE was selected as one of the Top 30 Best Business Books of 2015 by Soundview Executive Summaries.
“There is an immediate sense, as you begin reading F.I.R.E., that author Dan Ward knows exactly who he is, what his message is, and to what type of reader his book is going to appeal. As such, there is a confidence and conciseness to his book that inspires a kind of instant camaraderie.” Jack Covert, 800 CEO Read
“…makes his points about project leadership crystal clear… Ward gives real-world examples of how to put his leadership strategy into action.” 8 Must Read Books For IT Leaders (CIO.com)
“Every day my writing getup provides a funny little reminder to play boldly.” Wear A Star Trek Bathrobe (Fast Company)
“…scaring people into taking desperate measures is not leadership. It’s bullying, and should not be tolerated.” Changing Cultures Without Burning Platforms (Forbes)
“Death Star bad. Droids good.” Death Stars Are Overrated (Boston Globe)
6 Ways To Reduce Bureaucracy (Inc.com)
AdPulp
ConverStations: Part 1 | Part 2
Dan Ward on Defense News (requires Flash)
Dan Ward testimony on Acquisition Reform at the Senate Armed Services Committee – December 1, 2015
