October 2007 Archives

On aethestics
I met with Amit Chand yesterday. He is a former MGMT 301 student. Since then he has worked with Unilever in Australia and with Telecom New Zealand (in New Zealand). Anyway, he starts work in a few weeks time at McKinsey. He will start his training in Chicago, but will return to--and be based--here in New Zealand.

Over coffee, we talked on to the topic of the disinterest--i.e. not pushing a particular agenda--of consultants. In summary, I asserted that whilst the consultant may be (should be/likely to be?) disinterested, the nature of consultants results in the 'solution' the present will come from a particular set of solutions. Specifically, the practices (Reckwitz, 2002; Schatzki, 2001; Turner, 1994) they draw upon bounds the type of solutions offered to the client.

For example, a consultant/consultancy where economics practices loom large is likely to produce a solution that accommodates those type of practices. In this way, the 'biography' of a person shapes the solution. I don't think I want to go into the agent-structure debate here, so I won't dwell any further on that point.

Amit then asked me a very interesting question; "What shapes your solutions?"

Without thinking, I immediately said "For me, the elegance of the solution is important." Thus, finding a solution is an exercise in good judgement. This may be a folktale, but when asked "What is good taste?", the Queen responded, "I'm not sure, but it is important to have it."

I think elegance, is related to aesthetics (which takes me back to work and discussions I had with David Barry). As I write this now, and as I think back, what strikes me is the strong relationship between practice (and those who write about it) and aesthetics. Perhaps, at the EGOS conference next year, I'll catch up with Daved/David and explore this in more detail.

References

I've just come across Saku Mantere's blog, and I'm left wondering How does he do it?

He put's so much effort into his writing and research, and yet he manages to be so productive in other areas of his life (music, watches, astronomy, and so on).

Maybe I should stop being a lazy so-and-so, and just get on with things. Which is a timely thought as Giles Burch presented me with my NEO reports today.

For those who might be interested here are the edited highlights...

Problem solving skills
Ability to organise thoughts ... typical of the average person ...
Open-mindedness and originality ... curious and inquisitive you are usually comfortable in exploring new ideas and inventive solutions ...
Confidence in problem solving ... [you] proceed confidently through problems with only an occasional doubt ...

Planning, organising, and implementing skills
Action orientation ... easy going and slower to become frustrated than most ... often bored with the familiar and routine ... adventurous and versatile ... often involved in a wide variety of activities ... Some will see you as disinterested ... a realist who makes decisions based on logic rather than emotional appeal ... little sympathy for those who are unwilling to try .. Usually enthusiastic
Conscientiousness ... as competent and sensible as most people ...you are too easily discouraged and often quit trying much sooner than will the typical person¹ ...
Openness to possibilities and alternatives ... You are intellectually curious about a wide variety of topics ... somewhat idealistic.

Style of relating to others
Outgoingness ... on the reserved side .. somewhat detached ... more of a loner than a people person ... you like to be in control
Accommodation ... typically modest ... more results orientated than compassionate under most circumstances
Trust .. midway between skeptism and trust
Quality of relationships ... open-minded and tolerant of the views of others

Personal style
Level of emotionality ... typical ...
Patterns of emotion ... neither great concern nor optimism about the future ... seldom angry ... you retain a clarity of thought and action under stress and difficulty
Control of emotions ... typically procrastinate starting tasks ... [You] balance prudent deliberation with quick action
Outlook on life ... willing to question the way things are ... while you enjoy some art forms, you are unlikely to be artistically sophisticated ... you tend to view the glass as half full

Looking at the individual factors what stands out. On the big-five I am:

• Low on emotional reactions,
• Average on interpersonal patterns,
• High on openness to change,
• Average on agreeableness, and work ethic.

However, the individual facets tell a more wide-ranging story. I am:

• Very low on frustration/quickness to anger
• Low on sensitivity to stress, warmth, and outgoingness
• High on assertiveness, excitement seeking, and positive emotions, imagination, willingness to experiment, intellectual curiosity, tolerance for diversity.
• Very low in candour (I play my cards close to my chest), and sympathy. The full clinical report may well tell a different type of story.
• Low on need to achieve, and deliberateness
• Very low on self discipline¹

Anyway, I think this is good picture of me. Some (Giles) will be interested in what I haven't mentioned here.

¹ This is a bit of a surprise--the NEO doesn't seem to have picked up on my tendency to be somewhat mono-maniacal and focused. Maybe it's a reflection of the hole I feel I'm in at the moment with my PhD.