Comments on: Knowledge management: the newest battle between the neats and the scruffies http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/ "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." - Dorothy Parker Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:20:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: McGee’s Musings : About McGee’s Musings http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-102814 McGee’s Musings : About McGee’s Musings Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:06:21 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-102814 [...] Knowledge management: the newest battle between the neats and the scruffies [...] [...] Knowledge management: the newest battle between the neats and the scruffies [...]

]]> By: Jim http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99945 Jim Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:25:19 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99945 Ian, I suspect that you are right on the importance of the "meta" level. It reminds me of an observation that Alan Kay once made. which was that every important advance in computer science came by introducing a new layer of abstraction or indirection. Ian,

I suspect that you are right on the importance of the “meta” level. It reminds me of an observation that Alan Kay once made. which was that every important advance in computer science came by introducing a new layer of abstraction or indirection.

]]> By: ian glendinning http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99935 ian glendinning Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:41:11 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99935 Ditto, thanks for the Benchley quote ... I'd lost track of where that came from. This "loose-vs-tight" management paradox is as old as the hills - applicable to knowledge management as much as any other kind od management. A few years ago .. the turn of the millennium - I thought people had got it at last when the word "meta" became popular. People mistake management for control ... and in environments where creativity is important, control is the worst kind of management. Knowledge is a classic case ... trying to extract / create more than the eum of the parts .... what needs managing is the meta-model, the meta-content, the meta-processes. Attempting to manage the knoiwledge model, the content and the processes / the people directly is the kiss of death to the objective of the exercise ... creativity. It's not a new idea, just that knowledge is the latest fad to have to get up this learning curve. The US Auto industry milked mass-production to death, it's own death - by focussing on managing the process itself. Toyota focussed on the meta-processes of change and renewal, not the manufacturing processes - look where they are now. I hope the knowledge industry learns sooner. Ditto, thanks for the Benchley quote … I’d lost track of where that came from.

This “loose-vs-tight” management paradox is as old as the hills - applicable to knowledge management as much as any other kind od management.

A few years ago .. the turn of the millennium - I thought people had got it at last when the word “meta” became popular. People mistake management for control … and in environments where creativity is important, control is the worst kind of management. Knowledge is a classic case … trying to extract / create more than the eum of the parts …. what needs managing is the meta-model, the meta-content, the meta-processes. Attempting to manage the knoiwledge model, the content and the processes / the people directly is the kiss of death to the objective of the exercise … creativity.

It’s not a new idea, just that knowledge is the latest fad to have to get up this learning curve.

The US Auto industry milked mass-production to death, it’s own death - by focussing on managing the process itself. Toyota focussed on the meta-processes of change and renewal, not the manufacturing processes - look where they are now. I hope the knowledge industry learns sooner.

]]> By: frank patrick http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99925 frank patrick Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:40:04 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99925 "neats and scruffies" - kind of reminds me of the demarcation between the suits and the dungarees at WKRP in Cincinnati “neats and scruffies” - kind of reminds me of the demarcation between the suits and the dungarees at WKRP in Cincinnati

]]> By: Jim http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99924 Jim Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:25:22 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99924 Interesting way to think about it. I'm coming to the view that the scruffy category incorporates the neat, which sort of compares to your "neat scruffiness" notion. Maybe it is about greater maturity in conceiving and managing complex change. Interesting way to think about it. I’m coming to the view that the scruffy category incorporates the neat, which sort of compares to your “neat scruffiness” notion. Maybe it is about greater maturity in conceiving and managing complex change.

]]> By: Sara http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99923 Sara Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:18:41 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99923 Great post, great quote! I find that most very intellectually active people gravitate towards more 'mental tolerance' with time - become more liberal in moral views, become more tolerant of people around them, and, yes, become more 'scruffy' thinkers. Yet I am puzzled as I remember, as a child, I used to think we, the young, were the 'scruffy' thinkers and the older people were prohibitively 'neat'. I tend to think what's needed is a new type of 'neat scruffiness' - mostly making sure that all of the relationships are in place. The kind of 'neatness' that's annoyed if something does not link to where it should be, if something is categorized in a limiting manner and not tagged in all of the useful and necessary ways, that is able to mentally hold complex webs of relationships and ideas. Great post, great quote!

I find that most very intellectually active people gravitate towards more ‘mental tolerance’ with time - become more liberal in moral views, become more tolerant of people around them, and, yes, become more ’scruffy’ thinkers. Yet I am puzzled as I remember, as a child, I used to think we, the young, were the ’scruffy’ thinkers and the older people were prohibitively ‘neat’.

I tend to think what’s needed is a new type of ‘neat scruffiness’ - mostly making sure that all of the relationships are in place. The kind of ‘neatness’ that’s annoyed if something does not link to where it should be, if something is categorized in a limiting manner and not tagged in all of the useful and necessary ways, that is able to mentally hold complex webs of relationships and ideas.

]]> By: Leonardo Mora http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99921 Leonardo Mora Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:47:35 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99921 Great post.. you touch the very two elements of the problem, technology and management. My view is that yes, it is complicated the " neat" way, but the what ever works approach, sometimes need a little structure behind. In general, very good article. Thanks. Great post.. you touch the very two elements of the problem, technology and management. My view is that yes, it is complicated the ” neat” way, but the what ever works approach, sometimes need a little structure behind.
In general, very good article.

Thanks.

]]> By: AKMA@disseminary.org http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99919 AKMA@disseminary.org Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:03:54 +0000 http://www.mcgeesmusings.net/2007/07/02/knowledge-management-the-newest-battle-between-the-neats-and-the-scruffies/#comment-99919 Thanks for reminding me about the Benchley quotation. I'd had that rattling around the back of my mind for years, since the first time I hear the "10 kinds of people" version of the line, but the connection with Benchley had eluded me. Thanks for reminding me about the Benchley quotation. I’d had that rattling around the back of my mind for years, since the first time I hear the “10 kinds of people” version of the line, but the connection with Benchley had eluded me.

]]>