Application of Knowledge LO4366

Bernie (meetings@global.california.com)
Wed, 20 Dec 1995 13:31:28 -0800 (PST)

Responding to LO4323, following the Paradigms and Shared Visions thread:

On Tue, 19 Dec 1995, Bo Newman wrote:

(snip)
> IMHO, far to often it happens that the _thinkers_ within a company that
> seem to be getting _paid_to_play_ and are subsequently released as part of
> overhead cost cutting action, end up in that situation because the
> _knowledge_ products_ they deliver are not seen as being directed toward
> the satisfaction of actions and decisions deemed critical to the success
> of the company.
>
> (I wonder how many of us on this list have found ourselves in that
> situation)
>
> Within that long winded statement I think there are a couple of things
> worth examining. First of all I agree with what I think Bernie DeKoven is
> getting at when he says that the best of our knowledge creators (the
> thinkers), who always seem to be having too much fun to be 'really'
> working, need to be rewarded rather than being systemically punished for
> their "playfulness." I think I can safely say that we all agree on the
> need to encourage and reward those who have the talent to discover new
> knowledge.
>
> The challenge comes in matching the knowledge products the thinkers
> develop to the needs of the people who must perform the activities
> critical the success of the organization. This is where we can help. As
> we work with our customers we need to help them realize that each and
> every action or decision has, among its inputs, specific knowledge
> requirements, not just information, but knowledge. When this is
> appreciated, the organization is in a better position to start examining
> and identifying the sources of the knowledge critical to its operation.
>
(end snip)

Another part of the challenge, then, at least from my Paid to Play
perspective, is how we can can create conditions for playfulness "all the
way down the line" to the less creatively gifted workers, as well as to
customers, suppliers and stakeholders. Any ideas? Or is it that our
organizations are so structured that only the few can, or should be
rewarded for their playfulness?

--
Bernie DeKoven
DeKoven@aol.colm
http://www.california.com/~meetings