Far Wise in Knowledge Management

Macintosh stories

This is great: a site with 117 Macintosh stories ("Anecdotes about the development of Apple's original Macintosh computer, and the people who created it").  For the Mac-lover and everybody else. (From Anecdote)

Further thoughts on Information overload

We are thinking a lot now about the issue of information overload, in preparation of a meeting/brainstorm where, next to our team, Ton is invited (who thinks information overload does not exist), as well as Suzanne de Bakker (who is finishing her PhD on this topic).

Yesterday, we looked at the pictures that were taken in our institutes, by many of my colleages who were asked to picture their information overload situation. Lots of pictures of full desks with piles of paper and computer screens with e-mail messages. I didn't get a camera, otherwise I would have pictured my "to-do list", which I see growing on days with meetings (and I have no chance to do something about it) and when the time is to reduce the list I just don't know where to start. Nobody pictured this type of lists, but I don't think I'm the only one.

Lilia agreed, as she wrote in her posting, referring to the task-related aspect of information overload, or rather multi-tasking. If you make a distinction between primary tasks (f.e. doing research) and secondary tasks (f.e. filling in time tables), I often have the feeling that those secondary tasks are pulling harder on me than the primary. More people complain when I'm late with those time tables than when I'm late with a paper or deliverable. So, I tend to do first the tasks I don't like (but pull harder): the secondary tasks. Well, it's not really information overload as such, but dealing information with relation to the tasks. I'd rather focus on information related to primary tasks, but somehow the info on the other tasks get priority.

There are a lot of questions we can think of looking at the pictures. For example e-mail: what is really the problem with e-mail? Is it the time it needs to read them? Or selecting the important ones from the not-so-important ones? Is it the careless sending by others "just to inform you"? (Then the sender should be more aware)

It's time to collect all those questions, or hypotheses.

Creativity and originality

Yesterday evening, I read the "How to be creative" book of Hugh MacLeod, which I mentioned yesterday. It's really worth reading, his experience with the business card cartoons (lots of them in the book) is interesting - how the idea came for drawing on such small pieces. Hugh also gives loads of tips, mostly based on his experience, illustrated with stories and pictures.

Many of the things are supported by what Mihaly Csiskzentmihaly writes in his book on Creativity, which is still in my reading list (I had to return it to the library, but now decided to order it and now waiting for it to be delivered). For example, it is hard work (Hugh: "Put the hours in"). Creativity doesn't come suddenly out of the air, it comes when there is a base (of expertise, knowledge) and you are able to see connections. Or, find your own style (in drawing, writing).

Which brings me to the question I have, and didn't find an answer on yet: the relation of creativity and originality. Can you be creative without being original, or does it have to be original what you do in order to be creative?

To give an example. Last year I saw Picasso's work in the Barcelona Picasso museum, things he painted from his younger years till his death. A really impressive collection. When he was young, his work was (technically) very good, you can see how talented he is, but it is not what you would call "original". The paintings could have been made by someone else as well. Later he develops the style he is famous for, which makes him original in my view. But was he only then creative? This is where I'm in doubt.

In the case of Hugh MacLeod, his creativity is not only in the business card format (which is a very original idea, but can be copied easily), also in his style of drawing cartoons. You can recognise the drawings are his.

So my (vague) feeling is then more that it is the personal style what makes someone original or creative. In writing, drawing, maybe even managing. In addition to the book of Hugh MacLeod: Tip 27: Develop your own style.

How to be creative

Hugh Macleod writes in his weblog that his book ("How to be creative") is off to the publisher. Hurray! I printed the PDF and it looks very nice (ok, I only looked at the cartoons). The frontpage says: "MacLeod highlights the value of authenticity and hard work, and reveals the challenges and rewards of being creative". Creative work is exciting; I wish I could do more of it. Maybe the book is an inspiration.

With Rogier I sometimes talk about the dangers of blogging, especially as employee. He is more sceptical than I am.

Via Inter-net-viewer, I saw a link to a paper about the costs of ethics. It is mainly about commercial weblogs (or being paid for blogging), but here are some principles that are more general:

• Disclose, disclose, disclose. Transparency – of actions, motives and financial considerations – is the golden rule of the blogosphere.
• Follow your passions. Blog about topics you care deeply about.
• Be honest. Write what you believe.
• Trust your readers to form their own judgments and conclusions.
• Reputation is the principal currency of cyberspace. Maintain your independence and integrity – lost trust is difficult to regain.

As an employee with a weblog, not fully supported by my employer, I try to avoid writing about the projects I'm involved in, about our customers, nor about my colleagues (or it is about something related to their weblogs) and certainly not in a negative way. I hope I'm safe enough with these rules.

Corporate blogs in The Netherlands

Fredrik Wackå wonders why there are so many corporate blogs in such a small country as is The Netherlands.  I have no idea what could be the reason, an often heard complaint here is that our country is not so innovative any more and a corporate weblog sounds innovative to me (my company for example doesn't have one, while our work is on the innovative side).

The list of corporate blogs in Europe that Fredrik presents is in my view a mix of corporate blogs (written by many people, like the Proven Partner's blog, though Ton is only author now - I could expect postings of his colleagues) and individuals in a company ("owned" by one person, like the Abvakabo-example in the list). For me, the latter don't fit in my definition of corporate blog (it's probably a matter of definition).

If it's not the innovative culture, I wonder what could be reasons why weblogs are popular here.

Thesis (2)

Hmm, I doubt if it is a good idea now to publish a summary of the thesis I mentioned from Suzanne de Bakker. I think it is fair to leave her with the premiere. Sorry.. later (I'll ask her when she thinks it will be finished).

Thesis on Information Overload

Via Anjo I received a few chapters of the thesis of Suzanne de Bakker (at Radboud University Nijmegen) who is writing her PhD thesis about Information Overload, in particular in the context of organisations. It's a very interesting study, though I only have the more theoretical parts (she did a survey in one or more companies as well). I am happy that she will join us at our meeting in March, in which Ton is also an 'expert speaker'.

In another posting I'll write more about this thesis and other literature findings.

Lilia, Henk and Ingrid (new member in the team, who asked me: "Do I have to start a weblog now?") are collecting other data on the same topic. They call it a "cultural probing experiment". They gave a few people in our institute a disposable photo camera and these people are asked to picture a few situations of information overload. One of them is our director (I have no idea whether he suffers from information overload; he has a secretary). I'm very curious to see the pictures!

Personal contact replaced by digital contact

In the Dutch Webwereld, I read that Internet is more becoming a subsitute for personal contact. And Dutch people seem to score highest in Europe on this. Well, I don't know how personal this contact is, because the example given next is about electronic banking. Before Internet banking I didn't have much personal contact with my bank; I withdrew money from an ATM, placed my signature on a bill for paying and complained by writing a letter. I never saw anyone from the bank. Exept from withdrawing the money, I now do this via Internet. What a world-shocking change of behaviour.

I do see a change in behaviour when it comes to sending cards or calling friends on the phone: I send an e-mail now. And they do the same. Maybe I'm just lazy and most of my friends now have kids so are tired and I don't want to disturb them. But the question is: do I miss the long telephone calls and funny letters? Sometimes yes, but I on the other hand like some efficiency as well. Sounds like wanting to go "back to the good old times, when everything was different".  Don't think so.

Dark sounds

We have a new friend in the neighbourhood: an owl. At night, when it is silent I can hear his "ohooo". It's a very strange sound echoing in the middle of the night but I like listening to it.

The most impressive dark sound I've ever heard was in a dark forest in Germany (Baiern). It was the same time of the year, first week in February, and I was on a walking holiday. Well, it was planned to be a cross-country (langlaufen) holiday but there was no snow. The dark forest gave me the feeling of being in a fairy tail. Maybe fairy tail writers were inspired here, I could really see the scene of a fairy tail there. "It was dark; the sun hardly came through the thick branches of the large trees. The girl was walking slowly, it was silent - she had the feeling she was the only living being in the forest. She kept on walking, on a path that didn't seem to end. Suddenly there was a low rasping sound. The girl stood still and looked around. She new it had to be a raven, the large crow she only knew from pictures. And there it was again, the dark sound of the black bird. A shiver ran down her spine."

Unfortunately we didn't see the raven. Later, in Canada, I saw a few, picking bread near the bench where I was sitting. I found them scary with their big beaks.