RE: How does one explain cooperation in a world where competition

["Alan Meekings" <alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk>]

Perhaps this article about Ivan Illich only serves to illustrate that
some supposedly "weird" ideas may be useful but not all "weird" ideas
are necessarily good.

I'm reminded of the argument that all pigeons are birds, but not all
birds are pigeons.

For instance, in April next year in the UK, Tom Peters (supposedly "The
World's Leading Management Guru") will be speaking to a massive European
Conference on Customer Management about:

"Getting Weird and Staying Weird: standard deviation is a measure of
Weirdness. Organisations that will thrive in Weird Times will
systematically adopt Weird Practices. That is: Hang With Weird Customers
& Suppliers, Recruit & Promote Weird Talent. Etc. Etc. Innovation is
"easy": Force yourself/organisation into Constant & Intimate Contact
with The Weird Ones (It is that EASY!)."  

I quote verbatim.

Perhaps it's a pity that more people have not previously come across the
Funnel Experiment (with particular reference to Rule 4 - copying the
previous outcome).  Otherwise they might be less inclined to spend over
$1,500 to hear Tom Peters speak about his
in-search-of-copying-excellence-without-any-reference-to-underpinning-th
eory-approach to "weird" ideas.

Others may warm to Tom Peters' thinking, but I'd prefer to stick to what
I'd call the principles of lean thinking, systems thinking, and change
management thinking - which, collectively, are sufficiently "weird" for
me.

Fortunately, we all have the luxury of choosing our own thinking.  Phew,
what a relief!!

Regards as ever,
 
Alan
 
Mobile: +44 07785 258 741
Email: alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk