John Z Langrish wrote:
> A former
> accountant, for example, was responsible for the success of Beechams in discovering
> semi synthetic penicillins.
> So whats all this fuss about disciplines
I agree with quite a lot of what John is inferring here but here is an
illustration of why I don't go all the way with him...
a few years ago I was at an experience-sharing workshop for engineers
and industrial designers who had a specialist interest in computer aided
design. (hosted by a software company)
In that arena individuals were willing to put aside company interests
and discuss shared problems, even reveal their employers' difficulties
in the interest of advancing their discipline to the benefit of all
participants and (as Eric Von Hippel never tires of pointing out) to the
long term benefit of all their employers. That's what disciplines do and
the great thing about universities is that they understand that and
foster it.
My university, like many, is in the middle of a big upheaval aimed at
developing interdisciplinary thinking. Now that the initial euphoria has
faded it is recognising (luckily) that it has to hold on also to the
qualities that make the different disciplines effective - what makes
most accountants able to make their particular, accountantly,
contribution to society while a few outstanding maverick accountants are
doing scientific discovery or running opera houses. My father was an
accountant and his former boss and colleagues told me that he brought a
particular kind of clarity and moral insight to their business as well
as practical techniques that made the company work well.
John Z is, of course, a great one for taking on different disciplines
but we lesser mortals are lucky if we can understand just one.
best wishes from Sheffield
Chris
*********************
Professor Chris Rust
Head of Art and Design Research Centre
Sheffield Hallam University, S11 8UZ, UK
+44 114 225 2706 (direct)
+44 114 225 2686 (admin)
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