On January 8, 1999,
John Gunkler wrote:
>I contend that what we need most in knowledge management is "recipes." [I
>don't mean that everything is reducible to step-by-step instructions, I'm
>just using the language of the example. I mean we need process, or
>dynamic, descriptions.]]<
I'm not sure what my problem is with comment, because I think I know what
you are offering as a solution. But, I am and have been for some time
very down on descriptive efforts in producing good management techniques.
And, a recipe is a description on how to make a cake. I do believe in
"process" as an important element management. And, I certainly give my
support to process- driven efforts. But, when we start telling one
organization how to best drive their process by setting up structural
support, then the process becomes stagnant and relies on the structure
rather than the relations between the individuals involved in the
organization.
I remember listening to Tom Cummins state that the way you change the
structure of an organization is by changing behavior. I am not sure why I
bring this up or what relevance it might have, however, it just comes to
mind.
Anyway, I have always enjoined John's contributions and this is in no way
a critique, just some vagaries crossing the mind.
Alonzo Villarreal, Jr.
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