Return to Nationalism Because of Terrorism in the Future

Walter, thank you for taking time to share your perspectives.   Sadly, we have the 9/11 catastrophe that continues to haunt folks here.  Twice as many Americans died on 9/11 than at Pearl Harbor in 1941.  So, it is reasonable to know who is here.  Canada has done a good job, to date, except for the recent killing at the tomb of the unknowns in Ottawa, and the FLQ crisis of 1971, in keeping track of potential terrorism.  My view is, they are over here, because we are over there.  I grew up in a family with classic American Isolationist roots.  We will do business with you, but we want no foreign entanglements as George Washington advised in his now-forgotten Farewell Address.  Our oil wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, plus the Zionist lobby here, have embroiled us in the affairs of others, when there is oil in Alberta. 

What we are seeing is a return to "tribalism" and end of the Enlightenment's hope for a cosmopolitan world.  I just finished reading Robert Kagan's book The Return of History and the End of Dreams, published in 2009,  in which Kagan, who works for the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, argues this point.  I think it is safe to say that recent events in Europe align with Kagan's prediction, futuristic forecasting.  Of course, the mass media engages in drama to sell advertising, and this, in turn, leads to demagoguery, as you observe.  I want to be fair, but fear, fear of terrorism, can, and, sadly, is undermining fair, because terrorism is real and creates real fear, its goal.  There, those are my thoughts.  Hopefully the USA will return to its Isolationist roots and stop sowing the seeds of our own destruction.  Take care, and thank you for your honest sharing, again.  Paul   

Trend Toward Professional Dignity and Autonomy for Knowledge Workers

Hector, this is outstanding!  Your "business model" approach "hits the nail" on the head good and hard.  Yes, Rhee is applying it here, which, sadly, means she treats stakeholders as cogs in, on an assembly line, not professional Knowledge Workers who need respect and scope for providing input into improvements.  Your PLC example fits the Knowledge Worker perfectly.  You also are "street smart" to focus on data to guide OD planning and project management.  Data makes things impersonal and veers away from personalities and politics.  Yes, "structures," processes, are crucial, as you PLC shows.  You have an astute grasp of reality here.  In fact, today my neighbor and I had a talk about the erosion of professional respect more and more because of this trend to fully embrace and apply this kind of business model everywhere - plus in a time when our Knowledge Economy now favors keeping creative Knowledge Workers.  You are 100% on trend here!  We need more leaders like you!  Keep pursuing your doctorate!   Dr. Rux

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education

Here is a tip.  AI, artificial intelligence, also called robotics, is an option that is going to restructure education and "automate" it.  Our course focuses on human relations; in the future, OD, organizational development, must also factor human/AI interfaces.  This is going to be the next challenge, opportunity in OD.  You may want to explore it.  I am an active member of the World Future Society, and I encourage others to be alert to what is coming so they can seize "first-mover" career advantages.  Given your obvious passion for OD, you may want to consider this option.  Thank you for your kind words about me.  They mean a great deal.  Students like you are the main reason I love my profession.  Thank you.  Take care.  Dr. Rux

Americanization of Canada Trend - National Election 2015

Hi Paul,

 

If the "new conservatives" inspired by Rove and American wedge issue politics are out of power, we the people will win. If whoever forms the new government can start to address the country as a whole rather than special interest groups, we will be on a better course.

Maybe Canadians have become more engaged through the transparent lies they have been fed in this campaign, but I fear that as usual the majority of Canadian follow American 'snews' more than Canadian and as a result know more about Trump and are victims of American fear-mongering and militaristic attitudes.

My vote was easy since there is a strong local candidate whom I know well and respect both in terms of ability and character.

Our political system does need an overhaul. The PMO has evolved into a centralized seat of power that has no real checks if there is a majority in the House. Traditions of Parliament are ignored- omnibus bills like in the USA, the PM acting like a president rather than allowing the G.-G to perform the functions of a head of state. The Senate has become a reward system for party hacks rather than a chamber of 'sober' second thought, the kind of thinking we need desperately.

We, like the rest of western civilization (Gandhi's quip applies: western civilization, a good idea, if had ever been tried) have lost our way and become stupid since we now actually behave as though 'its only about the economy, stupid."

If you add in the atavistic tendencies of the religious right we have a recipe for global disaster.

Globally there are tectonic shifts  occurring that we cannot control- the rise and decline of nations, depletion of resources...........and few political leaders understand them and fewer can communicate them given our 10 second attention spans.

I'm hoping that our election has scrabbled the pieces enough so that we can start creating a new message for our society. What that will be and how it will work its way into action, I can only guess. I'm hoping we look at ourselves honestly and redress some of the real harm we have done in our past and build on the human and natural wealth we have already built.

Cheers,

walter

Sick Trend in America

Sharon, thank you for putting safety at the top of your "laundry list" for this case study.  Here in Wisconsin, right here in Dane County where I live, we had the entire De Forest, Wisconsin school system shut down because two students were planning a pipe bomb and gun attack.  One of the kids overheard them planning; the police were able to trace the bomb threat phone calls to their cell phones.  It is disgusting that we have come to this in America.  I would "throw the book" at them in adult court, e.g. terrorist charges, to make them a warning example for others who think it is cute to do this.  Dr. Rux

Coaching/Mentoring = Future of Management

Thank you, Jonathan, for this fascinating work product.  Your APA reference are superb, again.  What really grabs me is your story about finding a mentor, coach.  In fact, the new trend in management science is toward coaching, mentoring, and away from teamwork. 

The reason is knowledge workers respond best to coaching, one-to-one, instead of boring group teamwork stuff.  In fact, it strikes me that you have found your consulting niche here!  You have been a coach; now you can transfer your "lessons learned" into the leadership, management sides of the "house."  Wow, this field is wide-open, emerging, and you have strong credentials to enter it. 

I find it interesting how textbooks still focus on teamwork - the factory assembly line Industrial Age model - when we are no in the creative, innovate, individualized Information Age. 

Yes, per our previous communication about career direction, I would google Amazon for books on coaching how-to in business, industry, which are always ahead of education, and find websites for professional coaching associations for business, industry. 

Wow, I am excited for you!  You could be on the verge of a very exciting career move, and you could focus your dissertation on this opportunity too, which then translates into a how-to book or case study insights, or both!  I am really, really excited about this, for I have explored this field myself. 
Executive coaching is an example of this field.

What do you think?  Dr. Rux

Future of Trust Drives Future of Ethics

Walter, your discussion of trust reminded me of Plato's definition of ethics:  behaviors that do not harm others or ourselves.

In other words, ethical behavior means I trust you will not harm me.  I believe Plato got this right, in a "nutshell."

For instance, one of the Mafia rules is you cannot kill a "made man," member, without permission from the boss.  It is the same logic as Plato.  I do not want to belong to an organization that will harm, hurt, kill me.  Even the Mafia cannot function without truth, ethical behavior that does not harm others or ourselves. 

Note the emphasis on behavior.  It is about doing, not talking.  "Walk the talk."  Or, "Watch what I do, not what I say." 

Yes, you are right.  Minus ethical trust, hello hell.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts, again.  Paul