Plants use 4-pronged strategy to deal with the scarcity of water. Businesses who face the scarcity of talents, resources, time and other types may learn a lot from desert plants.

1. 4-Pronged Strategy to Scarcity
Ali Anani, PhD
Ali Anani, PhD

2. Scarcity is
problematic for
businesses

3. Scarcity of talents

4. Scarcity of loyal and profitable
customers---and the trend is
growing

5. Scarcity of talents and
purposefully-daring disrupting
minds

6. Fast disruptive technologies and rapidly
changing business environments

7. Desert plants serve as good metaphor for
businesses thirsty for success in the heated sun
of competition…

8. And the sinking sand below their feet

9. Desert plants use 4p-ronged approach realizing
water is their critical survival factor
Desert
Plants
Strategy
Collect
Water
Conserve
collected
water
Structure
adaptation
Behavior
adaptation

10. The four strategy approaches work together and not in
isolation- they integrate and harmonize to reduce the
problem of water scarcity
Desert
Plants
Strategy
Collect
Water
Conserve
collected
water
Structure
adaptation
Behavior
adaptation

11. Collect Water
Desert plants collect water through their massive
roots whether in shallow or deep depths

12. Desert plants
replaced leaves
with thorns or
spines to reduce
water
evaporation
Conserve
collected
water

13. Structure
adaptation
Taking the
shape of a
ball allows
collected
water to flow
down near
the roots to
be collected
by them

14. Behavior
adaptation
Plants may go dormant for long periods underground to conserve
water. They only become active once their roots senses the rainfall

15. Businesses may consider using a 4-pronged
strategies in emulation of plants.