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"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 89), 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 affiliatesall
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 protocolthese
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 projectseach
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.
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