GEEKINESS, WOMEN, POWER, AND CHANGE, ALL MIXED IN
Here is an interesting excerpt from a recent computing event keynote speech. In this segment of the speech, reported by Barr (2010), the speaker was addressing the interconnectedness of data. “People at Google have been generating real-time information about the spread of flu. They have used search logs to predict flu rates, based on the belief that the first thing people do when they get sick is start searching the Web. It turns out that they are 89% accurate on seasonal flu rates, based on verification with U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. The benefit of this data-mining work is that Google can actually give the CDC real-time information more quickly than the CDC gets it from doctors and hospitals.”
Can You Spot What’s Different?
There are two very important messages in this excerpt. First, the conference was the ninth Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. In line with the nature of the conference, the speaker was Megan Smith, vice president of new business development and general manager of Google.org. Second, the excerpt points to the complete inversion of process: evolutionary changes have outpaced the capability of traditional systems.
Wisdom Expires? You Don’t Say!
Now by no means should anyone assume that the tried and true should be thrown out. We would all become very uncomfortable very quickly, if an edict was passed (assuming anyone has that power) to make Google search patterns the new official disease tracking mechanism. What the comment does point to is the need to continually assess the effectiveness of all methods we employ, especially those that have been in place for a long time and go almost unquestioned. One of the subtle but broad social paradigm shifts we have experienced is that the context in which much established wisdom was formulated has been eroded extensively, to the point that these very wisdoms now need to be taken with some caution. What use is it to think “if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it,” when the very definition of ‘ain’t broke’ has been forever altered.
Are You Like Really Sure?
The pace of change coupled with the unexpected results of technological change means that complacency can be one of our biggest weaknesses. Worse, the reliance on old truisms can create a false sense of proactiveness–you are relying on something proven, right?–that ends up being a deadly blind spot. That blind spot can easily extend from the individual to the business, if the organization does not take very deliberate steps to assess its own decision making processes.
You’re either It, or Out of It
The definition of what constitutes knowledge needs to evolve to embrace both classical models and a modern dynamic model. All businesses need to continually monitor what that complement of skills is, so they can keep pace with change, at both the individual and organizational levels. Ideally, that monitoring discipline is instilled in each employee to remain proactive and embrace lifelong learning, as opposed to being ordered into it. In the latter case, though the business may not care to admit, it is still very much the babysitter to such employees–not good. Every business must fully assume its responsibility to facilitate the evolution of worker competence; employees must then step up to the skill buffet to feast and grow.
Mating Season of A Different Kind
And on the point of evolution, we go back to first item of significance: women in technology. What has been a largely male dominated field now has to deal with social change on two fronts: more women in such roles and the predicted shifted to a female majority North-American workforce by mid-year, according to the Economist (2010). That shift is not only an issue of organizational power, it also matters from a customer standpoint.
The Outcome Will be Better, For Sure.
A majority of female workers translates to more female customers. The more agile business will get it and adapt accordingly both within–in their employment make-up to tap into an indispensable talent pool–and without–in terms of their customer orientation, and products and services offered. That’s where the modern dynamic dimension of knowledge plays a significant role. Great PHP coding or nifty Smartphone app design isn’t going to cut the mustard if it comes out of the same dated thinking box and hits the customer satisfaction table with a thud. Knowledge has taken on a very different look indeed.
Barr, V. (2010). Connecting Women and Technology. Communications of the ACM, 53(2), 10-11. Retrieved February 7, 2010
The Economist. (2010, Jan 2-8). In Leaders: We did it!
