Daily Field Note · October 13, 2026
Name the Work That Must Survive Disruption
[!quote] Field Note Before expanding a program, decide which work must continue when its normal support breaks down.
[!summary] The Reader Promise Use four examples to identify essential work, accountable owners, support capacity, and evidence of use before expanding a program.
The Field Note
[!example] Practical frame Choose one service people depend on. Name its essential work, who can make decisions during disruption, and the support needed to keep it available.
An HBR article asks leaders to define a minimum operating core after a cyberattack. Its practical question reaches beyond technology: which decisions and processes must continue when normal systems cannot be trusted?
Three other sources help extend that question. The World Bank’s new Philanthropy Hub aims to connect capital, knowledge, and partners. Kauffman’s Red Tail Academy profile describes support for fundraising, curriculum, and steadier revenue. AACSB’s research-impact framework asks schools to examine how research contributes to practice, policy, education, and society.
Together, these examples suggest a useful exercise. List the work that must survive disruption. Then identify the partners, capacity, and evidence of use that keep the work valuable.
The sources do not prove a universal method. HBR offers survey-based advice; the World Bank announces a new institution. Kauffman describes a funded program, and AACSB proposes a framework. None guarantees that a particular expansion will succeed.
Mental Model Lens
[!tip] Thinking Tool Mental model: Watch What They Do
Useful idea: Actions offer a practical check on stated priorities.
Use today: Compare the work your plan calls essential with the work that receives time, authority, and support.
Use It Today
[!question] For Students Choose a service you use. Explain which work must continue if its normal tools become unavailable, and who could authorize a fallback.
[!question] For Managers And Founders Write a short disruption plan. Name the essential decisions, their owners, the dependencies, and a realistic test of the fallback.
[!question] For Educators And Advisors Define the intended use of one research or learning project. Identify the partners and support needed, then specify evidence that someone used the work.
Useful Copy
Signal Text
[!abstract] Social Copy Before expanding, name the work that must survive disruption, the people authorized to act, and the evidence that the work remains useful.
Vantage Circle’s Lens
[!sponsor] Sponsor Field Note Sponsor-supported editorial copy is separate from the neutral evidence above.
Explore the AIRe Framework (created by Vantage Circle) to be sure your employees feel recognized and rewarded for their valuable efforts.
Sources
Build Strength to Serve
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