Please come have a look at my essay on (what I take to be) a new profession for people educated in the humanities and social sciences.
I am arguing that they can serve as “assumption hunters.”
Please come have a look. You can find the essay by CLICKING HERE.
Predictably enough, I love it.
I think this is the over-category into which the Chief Culture Officer (a fine creation) actually belongs – and as such maybe long term it will have more stickiness than the CCO position, which seems to be getting more acceptance in some industries than others.
I note the the essay is labeled as a year old. How do you feel about it now? Do the possibilities in it still strike a chord with you – or have you moved on?
I think that both the creation of a consulting firm as a pebble that causes ripples in the pond and the possibility of creating the profession, possibly in conjunction with some B-school are really fascinating.
Indy, thanks for your comment and kind words. Yes, this was written for C3 at MIT clients and under embargo until just now. I think I like it still and it may well be something that could serve as the principle value add of the CCO but I still hold out the hope that reading culture and the future of culture will be the more compelling proposition with this as “something you get with the package.” And yes, I think the two together are something some B or D school should be adding to the curriculum. Or, come to that, maybe it’s time for a C-school (a culture school) as a professional destination of graduates in the arts, humanities and social sciences. One can dream. Thanks again. Best, Grant
Fascinating piece.
Along with just about everyone I know, I’m reading Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” It’s stunning the myriad of assumptions we all carry, including many well past their expiration date. And to steal your words, you “dolly back” brilliantly in your article to expose how these assumptions can impact individual organizations and business writ large.
I hope that this kind of eyes-wide-open perspective arrives soon in the marketing strategy trenches where I live.
Thanks much.
Kevin, thanks for the ref, I haven’t had a look at Kahneman. It just jumped on my reading list. Thanks for this great comment. Grant
I think this is a good topic and that this raises a lot of various point of view!
I took a crack at this concept in regards to investment decision making, the area of my consulting work and writing: http://researchpuzzle.com/blog/2012/02/23/assumption-hunters/
Highly recommended!
Excellent post, Tom. Good luck in your fight against investment decision-making assumptions.