Friday, June 5th, 2009
A Few years ago I had the unique pleasure of creating a role in a sort of amorphous multimedia project which explored the concept of Firsts entitled Orange Clouds. As a culture, a society and perhaps even as a species we are obsessed with Firsts. My experience illuminated quite a few challenges and some outstanding rewards associated with that oft sought position, First. From our historical vantage point we usually elevate the achievement and relegate the all important journey to the footnotes. In tracing the journeys of the pioneers featured in Orange clouds I was struck by the phenomenal risks they took. It seems that road of a trailblazer is necessarily fraught with risk and therefore often connected with youth. My greatest learning was that being first is always a journey defined by fear.
In reading A conversation with Lowell Bryan and Richard Rumelt I found myself constantly nodding in agreement and again contemplating the miraculous series of firsts that seems to have defined 2009. Management in this environment is unprecedented. Everything in this environment is unprecedented. Earlier this week Samir pointed out that Brian Deese is heading up the monolithic dismantling of GM. Hummer was purchased by a Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer. A development which North American auto industries are watching with the baited breath of an adolescent virgin about to experience his first kiss. One can almost hear Lewenza and his friends giggling as they whisper “Do you think that this means we get to sell our cars there?”
We have allowed ourselves to float along comfortably taking modest liberties thinking someone else is looking out for our best interest, but why should they? In fact often one should question how could they? As I have been known to say you get what you pay for. People always assume that this means that quality costs more and while effectively that is oft true it is not a natural conclusion that cheap is bad. You see antiquated though it may be I am a huge proponent of an apprentice based model of hierarchy. While you may not be most proficient at jobs you hire other people to complete you really need to know how those jobs are accomplished to truly assess if they’re being completed well. I still think that the knowledge garnered from consistent daily practice is invaluable. Translation: if management doesn’t really know how what the make/sell/do gets done they cannot replicate performance in changing environments. Well it seems the economic climate has drastically changed and the pervasive messages for me are elemental. First what an extraordinary time for all of us but young people in particular. We are become like that proverbial phoenix watching the ebb of the flames and preparing to rise from the ashes.The truth is that no one knows what comes next; we’ve shattered our own economic theory models and now we’re faced with that most dreaded of all economic and political woes – instability. The most interesting thing is that the volatility that created this mess is exactly and the fear it spurs is likely what we need to get out of it. From the 31 year old currently effectuating the largest bankruptcy in American history to fledgling chefs walking out on Canadian chef David Adjay over his refusal to source equitable trade coffee the marketplace is being redefined.
Next is the message I hear time and again and it is as old as the hills Keep It Simple Silly. We’re all afraid. Fear is life affirming. The upside of this economic situation is a levelling of the playing field where the experts may well be those people who see the problem and simply have the courage to offer a simple solution to a problem we are all afraid to face. Seems to me those cocky head strong whipper-snappers may have a leg up on that one.
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Category Citizen, Employee, Financial Services, Leadership, Social Networking, Voting | Tags: Tags: Attitudes, Canada, Financial Services, Leadership, U.S., youth,
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
The great thing about an economic hardship is that it forces us re-evaluate our lines in the sand. Over the last little while I’ve read many articles and blogs on the impact of high unemployment and grim earning prospects for recent graduates (and eminent graduates). I should say it seems that we have ceased to see the education for the degrees.
First, what is the purpose of higher education? Second, let us try to extract the value of an education. A valuable exercise in this economic climate where the average undergraduate student leaves school with a debt load of $20,000.00 in Canada.
The reality remains that colleges and universities are rapidly losing their iconic status as places of burgeoning intellect where the brightest young minds are guided to ever greater levels of plasticity through the strenuous acquisition of complex heuristics. Rather they have for all intents been transformed into Ford Model-T style factories producing homogeneous workers with ever increasing efficiency. Our own research tells us that the most prevalent reason young people cite to pursue undergraduate degrees is “to get a good job”. Less that one in five even ranked broader education as a consideration. This does not seem really logical considering the facts. Auto mechanics, plumbers, electricians or any skilled trade person on average earn more in entry level positions than an entry level white collar worker graduating with a general arts and science degree. Should we then just advise young people to look for work in the trades and forgo the high priced letters (and seemingly about $20,000.00 in consumer credit)? Is this simply a case of buyer beware. Should students simply ensure that they are better informed about the long term implications of funding their education before considering debt financing?
Now to the a paraphrase of the second question does society still value an educated citizenry? Under the antiquated model of a broader education presumably this would be a magnificent opportunity for students to really differentiate themselves by diversifying their tool-kits and branching out to complementary and challenging fields of study. The sad reality is that in a society where linear measurement is valued to the point of absurdity this is simple not feasible academically (nor usually financially). In other words our young scholars cannot afford to risk losing a grade point gaining pursuing a more challenging path. Instead they are rewarded socially, academically, and financially for looking for the least challenging path through their education. Does it portend a general erosion of the underlying foundation of the system of education as it is currently constructed.
Many people foresaw this economic downturn and were summarily dismissed as naysayers until the unthinkable happened. Wall street collapsed and for all intents and purposes so did every major market in the world. Will education suffer the same fate as the market place is flooded with more and more educated unemployed young people fighting for entry level positions which they intend to leave the instant they find a more promising opportunity or one that is better aligned with their skill set? Markets are by definition efficient and the more protracted this downturn becomes the less tolerant employers will be of a volatile overqualified workforce. Maybe they will start hiring only qualified candidates and leave the overqualified ones to fend for themselves. Is an educational downturn eminent for our institutions of higher learning?
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
Interesting confirmation of what we would assume to be the effect of the economy on the diets of North Americans. While this particular study was done with our friends south of the border I wonder is some of Canada’s economic resiliency is tied to similar behaviour? Interesting times for packaged goods manufacturers of Food and Beverage in this troubled economy. Do they do what is ethically right and try to produce nutritionally sound lower cost sustainable food products? or continue with the status quo and take their money and run?
Friday, March 27th, 2009
Emily Bazelton of Slate has collected a smattering of commentary from Gen Y letter-writers about how the recession is impacting them. It’s a surprisingly empathetic piece. The anxiety of the sudden change of fortune is beginning to have a real-world impact for a group that has grown up only knowing prosperity.
