Here are their definitions.

Fixation

A persistent concentration. Fixation is strategic in orientation, looking at the long term. Once a target/goal/objective is fixed, it sets the direction for the team.

The late Steve Jobs’ single-mindedness towards how Apple’s product should appear was as north as it could get. His pursued of perfection was relentless (Perfection was defined by Jobs’ own terms. He was famous for his non-market survey approach in an era where the consumers decide what is produced. He was always certain that he knows what people will want.). The company success has everything to do with Job’s fixation on perfection in product design. At times, his unbending belief frustrates those around him, but, his persistency was also a source of drive and determination that galvanized the organization.

With fixation, the goalpost doesn’t change!

Focus

Looking nowhere and everywhere is Focus without Fixation’ – Unknown.

A point of concentration. Focus gives us alignment and effective use of resources by minimizing deviation. It is like a single lane highway directing everything (time, energy, effort) towards the destination.

Allied forces D-day invasion of France offers a dramatic example on the effect of resource Focusing. The Nazis had a near 5000km stretch of coastline (Atlantic Wall) to defend.  Normandy, where the invasion took place, stretches a mere 70km of beach. Key to the invasion’s success was the penetration offered by the focusing of Allied troops within a pointed scope. In warfare, advantage always lies with the defenders. However, the Nazis forces were stretched too thinly across the Atlantic Wall, and could not maintain a sustainable resistance
during D-day.

Flexibility

“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.” – Everett Dirksen

Openness to change, capability to adapt. Flexibility allows us to evolve with time and maintain relevant. Instead of a contra, it should rather be view as a complement to Focus. In the field of engineering, flexibility is defined as ‘the ease with which the system can respond to uncertainty in a manner to sustain or increase its value delivery’. Similarly, in team-dynamics, any change must be for the better.

“… any colour so long as it is black” – Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company).

A great deal has been said and written about this quote. This belief was a symbol of the industrial age, mass market approach in early America’s automobile sector where organizations dictated consumer behavior and patterns. Economies of scale generate healthy profits because mass repetition reduces production cost. As a result, American automobile companies flourished. Much of this attitude was carried forward to present day America where consumers have little say in what the factories roll out

All this changed in 2008 when Toyota over took the big 3 (Ford, General Motors, Chrysler) to become the No. 1 automobile brand in America. The same year it becomes the world’s largest automaker. One of Toyota’s success factors is the execution of highly targeted marketing strategies, which comes from its ability to understand, anticipate and willingness to change according to market’s demand. Flexibility in its business model was key to Toyota beating their rivals on their own turf.

More recently, Ferrari announced its ultra exclusive ‘Tailor-Made’ customized service. This is in respond to the growing shift towards personalized service and goods consumption.

The table below contains a detailed description of the 3 disciplines: