The Power of “In A Sense”:Topical Thinking For Organizations

October 29, 2013Progressive Insurance, Studio 96

Kipum (Kip) LeeInstructor & Doctoral CandidateWeatherhead School of ManagementCase Western Reserve University

© 2013 Kipum Lee, personal collection

What solid systems and SOPs do is nip common problems in the bud so that staff can focus instead on solving the uncommon problems that come their way.”

Mr. Marriott

“

And by providing a stable background in which human activity may proceed with a minimum of decision-making most of the time, it frees energy for such decisions as may be necessary on certain occasions. In other words, the background of habitualized activity opens up a foreground for deliberation and innovation.”

Berger & Luckmann

“

Common Uncommonor

Background Foregroundor

Left brain Right brainor

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/mercedes_benz_left_brain_right_brain_paint

Left brain Right brainor

Left brain Right brainand

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-26/b-schools-are-starting-to-look-more-like-d-schools

B-school D-schooland

B-school D-schooland

is in a senseB-school

Management Designand

Designand

Management

Management

Design

Designand

Managing

Management

Designing

Left Rightand

Four ways of integrating the:

Inspired by Richard McKeon’s essay, “The Future of the Liberal Arts”

Facts Valuesand

1. What are data?

Valuesand

Facts

Facts

Values

Valuesand

Facts

Facts

Values

Cultivate an environment that invites a multiplicity of interpretations; data is not

unambiguous

Valuesand

Facts

Facts

Values

Cultivate an environment that invites a multiplicity of interpretations; data is not

unambiguous

Find data that has not yet been detected by the organization, a.k.a. “the unexpected,” or insight

© 2013 Kipum Lee, personal collection

Already existing Yet to be madeand

2. What is your product?

Yet to be madeand

Already existing

Already existing

Yet to be made

Yet to be madeand

Already existing

Already existing

Yet to be made

Have to be open to new expressions of product

that fit new situations yet sustain the essence

Yet to be madeand

Already existing

Already existing

Yet to be made

Have to be open to new expressions of product

that fit new situations yet sustain the essence

Consider the taken-for-granted “products” in system, destabilize them, looking for possibility

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/ksC9rMcpjHE/maxresdefault.jpg?feature=og

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/ge-adventure-series-ct-scanners

Here-and-now Indirectand

3. What are consequences of your product?

Indirectand

Here-and-now

Here-and-now

Indirect

Indirectand

Here-and-now

Here-and-now

Indirect

Understand the value of indirect interactions as they have potential to

impact direct interactions

Indirectand

Here-and-now

Here-and-now

Indirect

Understand the value of indirect interactions as they have potential to

impact direct interactions

Figure out ways to fuse the “human touch” in artificial things, e.g. digital products and touchpoints

© 2013 Kipum Lee, personal collection

Parts Wholesand

4. Why do your products exist?

Wholesand

Parts

Parts

Wholes

Wholesand

Parts

Parts

Wholes

Move from abstract principles of organization to the realm of concrete

in lived experience

Wholesand

Parts

Parts

Wholes

Move from abstract principles of organization to the realm of concrete

in lived experience

Organizations are products, products are principles; how might we think in “themes”?

http://thelostcoaster.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/moreys-jumbo-jet-bw.jpg

http://www.extravaganzi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Wizarding-World-of-Harry-Potter-Harry-Potter-Theme-Park-1.jpg

© 2013 Kipum Lee, personal collection

Facts Values

and

Parts Wholes

Already existing Yet to be made

Here-and-now Indirect

Thanks!

KML61@case.edu

http://placesofdesign.com

Twitter: @kipum