Nothing is completely irrelevant LO4942

Dave Birren, MB-5, 608-267-2442 (BIRRED@dnr.state.wi.us)
Wed, 17 Jan 1996 08:50 CST

Replying to James McGarrahan in "learning-org-digest V1 #429-33 LO4934":
[Host's Note: Sorry about the unclear Subject line in LO4934 -- My
fault.]

James said:

>Sometimes it seems like some of the topics (e.g. cross-species play, feedom of
>choice) are really wandering away from (what I consider) the main points of
>discussion, but as Rol Fessenden said, that's the only way to maximize ROE,
>"return on experimentation." Never know what "party noise" from the paradigm
>down the hall will turn out to be the Newest Revealed Truth.

Yes, we wander afield, and you're right in saying that one never knows
what will turn up. I've been part of those "tangential" conversations,
and I'll share the value that they have for me: simply, that when we
discuss human behavior we're in the domain of our own natures. There's
always something to be learned from that, and it usually has some
expression in our organizational settings. I'd also say that we learn
about ourselves through our study of and interaction with other species,
and these learnings too have something to teach us about organizational
life.

There's just no telling where the next insight will come from...

Dave

--
David E. Birren                          Phone:   (608)267-2442
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources     Fax:     (608)267-3579
Bureau of Management & Budget            E-mail:  birred@dnr.state.wi.us

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. (from T. S. Eliot's "Little Gidding")