"If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."
—Albert Einstein

I suspect most of our ideas rarely survive Einstein's level of scrutiny. However, as we architects continue our quest toward being a knowledge-based profession, the point of departure of our thinking should be no less expansive and optimistic.

Recently, at the AIA's ambitiously titled "Knowledge Summit" (San Diego, April 8–9), I had the opportunity to meet knowledge-management expert Stephen Denning, author of The Springboard. In his writings, Denning admits to being highly criticized for his reversion to storytelling as a means of knowledge development and sharing, because the knowledge of storytelling is neither scientific, analytic, nor statistically based.

A virtual journey
Denning defines storytelling as, "A springboard which is a point of departure for new stories that the listeners will generate in their own minds, for their own environments, from their special context, from their own experience of problems." He goes on: "What is memorable for the listeners on such a journey will not be the moment of embarkation when they set out by way of an explicit story, but rather the virtual journey that they make of their own accord to a destination that they themselves generate."

I swallowed hard when I read that. After all, I've spent a lifetime learning how to be analytical, logical, and yes, linear in process development. It all made sense as a way to discover knowledge. Best of all, I had the process pretty well figured out!

Now, however, along comes the computer and with it the ability to think in nonlinear networks. The effect has been to shatter how we turn data into information, information into knowledge, and, finally, knowledge into wisdom. Now, more than ever, it seems apparent to me that the old adage "what got you here is not what will get you there" needs to be embraced by both our heads and our hearts.

Are we being nonlinear?
How has the AIA fared in this revolution? Linear as usual, or is there something new and more hopeful going on as we write the story of our profession?

No single action or event turns an aircraft carrier such as the AIA, but look at the aggregate activities of recent years and you can begin to feel proud about our push to advance the role and influence of the architect in an ever-changing world. How? By raising awareness and engagement as we provoke, challenge, and ask unflinchingly the difficult questions in pursuit of our own form of storytelling!

Examples? Some that come immediately to mind include the Grassroots Forums of the past few years that have dared us to engage some of the toughest issues facing our profession; Tom Peters' assault on our complacency last month at the Charlotte Convention; and our increasing collaboration with NCARB, NAAB, ACSA, AIAS, NOMA, the National Associates Committee (NAC), IIDA, ASID, AGC, and a multitude of international affiliates—all toward the end not of adversarial stonewalling, but honest communication and results-oriented collaboration.

This is new.

The breadth and depth of education at the academy, the responsibilities of firms for continuing education and intern training, studio culture, gender and ethnic diversity in practice settings, interior-design registration, international reciprocity, design/build protocol—these are not easy issues. They don't offer single, simple answers. Rest assured, however, the AIA is not ducking them but is, instead, pursuing opportunities to listen carefully and innovate creatively.

Finding creative options
More examples? Given the membership mandate voiced last May at the convention, the national AIA Board will welcome an associate representative to the Executive Committee. I have no doubt that the associates, who represent the future of our profession, will enrich the discussion and leadership of the executive committee just as the addition last year of a CACE member has. Another page in our commitment to inclusiveness has been turned, and time will prove the boldness and wisdom of this move.

In addition, in the months ahead, the opportunity to explore, innovate, model, and test advanced ideas by initiating pilot projects at various state and local components will be under way. Here, too, I have no doubt that what we learn will greatly benefit our members as we discover creative options in addressing some of the most challenging issues facing our profession and the society we serve.

The expanded Executive Committee, the pilot projects—each takes its place in the growing inventory of springboards to knowledge development and sharing in a world dominated by data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. Both are bold initiatives that a short three years ago would have seemed absurd.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.