I wonder if the metaphor selection may be as important as the process
covered by the metaphor--I hadn't thought of it that way before. For
example, if Aikido is seens as too "aggressive" because of its "martial"
context, or "manipulative" due to meeting and blending with the force of
their model...then would a marketing model be more familiar and less
objectionable? For example, in marketing, the clients frame and needs
become the target--I know of few executives who would say that meeting a
customer's model is manipulative (in the negative sense) and proceed to
dispense with marketing. I wonder if there was some other dynamic they
were reacting to?
Dave
On Mon, 3 Apr 1995 12:31:24 -0500 (CDT, Tobin Quereau wrote:
>Your post is a fascinating example of how the "frame" or metaphor can
>affect the communication of a message. Whereas, given my particular
>background, I think of the "Aikido" example as particularly appropriate,
>apparently the executives you were working with did not. I am not
>convinced it was the concept--that of meeting your customers needs in view
>of their mental models--that was the stumbling block, but the unfortunate
>association with "manipulation" which seemed so hard to shake. In some
>models it would be very easy to label this as "resistance" on the part of
>the executives!
[...quote of previous msgs shortened by your host...]
David X. Swenson Ph.D. (dswenson@css1.css.edu)
Associate Professor of Management
College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
(218)723-6476