As I've written here before, I Harvard Business Online has recently revamped their website and, as part of the changes, have brought in several of us to blog about various topics. I write on The Working Life. I just sat down and read through a bunch of them and was especially struck by several of Tom Davenport's posts about The Next Big Thing. I have always been a big fan of Tom's many books, like Working Knowledge (with Larry Prusak) and his latest -- evidence-based argument -- in Competing on Analytics. I was delighted to read the range and spirit of his posts, especially check out his latest post, which argues "I believe there is a power shift taking place within and across organizations from producers of information to consumers." Tom, as someone who has spent big chunks of time as both an academic researcher and in corporate roles, has always impressed me with ability to weave together evidence, theory, and his practical experience to recognize trends and to solve real problems. He is also one of those people who tells people the facts and opinions that he believes will help them most, rather than help them feel as good as possible -- for now.
Also, check-out Gil Corkingdale's latest post on "A Question of Style" in her Letter from London. I found her observations about the costs that women face for "fashion errors" rang all too true.
In advance, I shall yield to Mr. Daily, that he is more educated and intellectual than I, thow I have no other evidence that that is true.
I have found this book to be an exceptional work and highly beneficial. For those of us in the workplace the charge that "The No Asshole Rule" is anecdotal is meaningless because we live the validating evidence.
A complete and compelling message has been delivered in this reader of this book for which I am grateful. That, in my judgement, is successful writing.
To borrow from Kurt Vonnegut Pg 111, "I have the knowledge that I've got enough".
Tom
Posted by: Thomas A. Coss | May 27, 2007 at 03:13 PM