Comments on: Misreading Adam Smith (and, why we love technology)

By: PippaLyons

PippaLyons — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:36:33 +0000

The Theory of Moral Sentiments is a good read, although in my opinion, The Wealth of Nations was far more influential. The ideas outlined in this book laid the foundation for the free market economies of the 21st Century, and although conceived over 300 years ago, adam smith’s ideas are as significant and relevant today as ever.

You are able to view a free online version of this masterpiece at http://www.adam-smith-wealth-of-nations.co.uk

I hope this is of some use to you

By: Knowledge Problem

Knowledge Problem — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 10:04:32 +0000

“Nice work, Mr. Smith”

Michael Giberson Grant McCracken finds an Adam Smith passage in The Theory of Moral Sentiments that adroitly captures the dynamic between our gadgets, our worlds, and ourselves….

By: Ed Brenegar

Ed Brenegar — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:21:46 +0000

As a consultant, I agree with Peter. Part of the enablement that I’ve begun to recognize is the rise in self-confidence my clients gain. I think it comes from someone from the outside who comes in, and sees the value, the opportunities and the potential. The excitement I get gets translated to the client. Of course, that only happens when they want more than a sounding board.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:57:59 +0000

As someone who spent a lot of years as a management consultant, I have to admit that I saw many clients who purchased management consultancy for similar reasons. A company calls in McKinsey or Bain, not only to advise on a problem that the company (perceives) it has, but to create (and advertise to the world) a new sense of enablement in an uncertain world, a sense which arises from being advised by such clever people. And often, this new capability was indeed created, merely by having consultants: Sparring with the unremitting Jesuits of McKinsey did, indeed, increase the abilities of the company’s managers even when — perhaps, especially when — the consultants’ advice was not adopted.

My company had repeated engagements with a client who almost always ignored our advice. When I asked him about it once, he said that it was the dialectical process of disagreeing with us that he found most valuable, not our advice.

By: Leading Questions

Leading Questions — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 22:50:38 +0000

Simplicity and Enablement, at the Intersection of technology and my calendar

Grant McCracken writes on the intersection of antropology and economics. I’d like to suggest that he writes on the cultural intersection of the two, rather than the abstract theoretical intersection of them. However, that is beside the point. This inte…

By: 139

139 — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 21:37:37 +0000

Not much content to offer here as I’m ‘on my way out’ (the door that is, not into the grave.) But I wanted to let you know I’ve been really enjoying reading this blog.