Replying to James La Trobe-Bateman
>I like Eli Goldratt's definition of Information: "the answer to the
>question asked". But on what basis do you ask questions? It seems to me
>that our questions are based on our own (tacit) knowledge. The
>consultant, then, uses his knowledge (about manufacturing, say) to get the
>client to pose questions which he has led the client to pose, so that the
>appropriate DATA is collected. Armed with this INFORMATION, the client
>then UNDERSTANDS (explicitly) and takes WISE action. However, it all
>started with the consultant's KNOWLEDGE.
Eli Goldratt's definition of information infers a key characteristic of
information, and that is relevance to the recipient of the information. I
consider this to be the key differentiator between information and data.
I agree that it takes some knowledge to be able to ask the right
questions, but I would say that it leads to INFORMED action, not
necessarily wise action. For example, have you heard of kids who had
obtained the knowledge of building pipe bombs, and used that knowledge
with disastrous consequences?
>Sounds like leading them on. Should the consultant feel guilty? Does it
>make him/her a Knowledge Manager?
I don't see how this necessarily leads the client on. Also, I don't see
how it makes the consultant a knowledge manager. I would be interested in
understanding your point of view.
Regards,
Patrick
--"Patrick Sue" <psue@inforamp.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>