I’ve been thinking about Trust. That most elusive quality in our world and yet that which must underlie all our social worlds. I’ve also been reading some odd things this summer and thought that this would be a good time to put them down, in absolutely no particular order.
Structured Process vs. Drift: A Question of Worklevel?
Claudio Ciborra, who unfortunately died too early recently, left a rich quantity and breadth of writings on information systems from a sociological perspective. Here I look at one of thisClaudio Ciborra. 2002. “Design, Kairos and Affection“. From Managing as Designing: Position Papers [?], Cleveland: Case Western Reserve University. … if speed is the main characteristic of this activity, then in …
In Which We Announce Our Return From Summer Holidays
The Manasclerk Company, hosts of this blog, took some time off (as they are wont to do) this summer to do some analysis and other business-y stuff. Good that I don’t actually make any money off of this or I would have to care. I’m just glad to have this space back. Administratively, updates have been done to the various …
Signaling, Legitimacy and Reputation: Another Problem High-Potentials Must Overcome
Everything that you do, say and show signals information about you to others. This idea of Signaling comes from zoology / biology. It’s about how a fit male peacock (for example) lets potential mates know that he has the goods, moreso than others. The signal is his extensive plumage. The trick to signaling is that it has to cost you …
Revamping: Back Soon
The Manasclerk Company, the hosts of this blog, is undergoing a reboot. We’ll be back by the end of the summer. Enjoy the break.
!["Bessemer converter (iron into steel) Allegheny Ludlum Steel e Corp Brackenridge, Pa (LOC)" [crop]. Ca. 1940. Alfred T. Palmer via Library of Congress](https://i0.wp.com/www.manasclerk.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/1a35063u-Bessemer-converter-iron-into-steel-Allegheny-Ludlum-Steel-e-Corp-Brackenridge-Pa-LOC-1600x995.jpg?fit=862%2C536&ssl=1)
Use Time Spans Instead of “Strategic”, “Long-term”, “Short-term”, etc.
One thing that I have learned: never use the words “strategic” or “tactical”. Much less such terrors as “long-term” or “short-term”. The problem is that these are relative terms. What is strategic in one context is tactical in another.
How Standardization Creates Dis-Order
What happens when you move to standardization? In IT, we’re pushed to do single server loads, unified single-sign on systems, international PKI based Role Based Access Control, and all types of other forms of simplifying, rationalizing and standardizing. But no one ever stops to ask, Does standardizing in IT really make life easier? Not “no one” exactly. Because two researchers …
Communicating at the Right Level
I’m helping out a European bank with some communications work. I know that the secret will be to communicate at the right level. The right level for the role, sure, but also the right level for certain people. It’ll be tough. I know that in the meetings to communicate the vision across and down the organization’s organizations (it’s a bank …
Change Management, IT, Improvisation and What Work Really Is
After recently finishing a gig with a company that has hit a spate of bad luck, both self-inflicted and environmental, I have taken to reading. And as always when I read, I like to meander aimlessly through the thoughts of disparate thinkers who have nothing in common except that they caught my fancy for the moment. So my apologies to …
Site Maintenance
On Monday, 2006 March 20, we will be doing some minor site maintenance from noon to 14:00 GMT. We apologize for the inconvenience.