I think that 99% of people who are alive today would say that both the Agrarian Revolution and the Industrial Revolution were worth it. However, these "revolutions," while their benefits have far outweighed their costs," caused an enormous amount of suffering and angst for people during their early development.  

The AI and robotics revolution also will have its costs, and they will be high for some. Many people will lose their jobs, and a larger number will struggle mightily with finding purpose in their lives. Everyone who lives through this time will have to deal with challenges to their dearly held norms, customs, and beliefs. 

With that said, the AI and robotics revolution, just like its predecessors, will create benefits that vastly outweigh these costs. 

As important, unlike our ancestors who lived through the first stages of those previous revolutions, we can achieve these benefits without having to deal with increased violence, periodic starvation, and prevalent pandemics... We, unlike them, have the requisite maturity, scientific knowledge, and historical perspective to avoid these pitfalls. 

Finally, we can achieve this without regulating AI companies...at least for now.

My Book on Continuous Improvement (CI) Methods and Leadership Strategies Will Be Available in Late February

I have not had much of an opportunity over the last couple of years to post messages on this blog. Instead, I have devoted most of my time to completing work-related projects and in writing my second book. I have now finished crafting the book, which is targeted to front-line administrators in healthcare organizations (and to some extent, all first-level managers). The text, 'Continuous Improvement Strategies: How to Manage, Motivate, and Retain Staff,' will be published by CRC Press (Taylor and Francis Group) in late February.

 Continuous Improvement Strategies: How to Manage, Motivate, and Retain Staff

Why All People Should Strive to Become Good Writers

Most people would probably agree that there is a strong correlation between someone’s composition skills and his or her ability to communicate ideas (at least on paper) to others. However, some writing averse souls might ask, “Why should I care about developing these capabilities if I work in a field, which does not require me to craft lengthy communiques or other documents?” In answer to this question, I believe that all individuals should attempt to become proficient writers because, by doing so, they might also be able to develop business-savvy traits related to the identification of key elements in a process, the ability to see the big picture, and the mastery of root cause analysis concepts. As such, even workers who rarely draft memos, much less essays or business plans, should take the time to learn the ins and outs of good composition.

Learning to “Separate the Wheat from the Chaff”

Good writers are usually adept at, to borrow an old cliche, “separating the wheat from the chaff.” They are able to identify and use relevant supporting information. Likewise, they can readily ascertain and remove data that is not germane to the topic. As it turns out, a person who wants to run an efficient enterprise needs to possess these same traits. After all, one must have a knack for zeroing in on the most productive elements of a process or product (and eliminating "waste") if he or she wants to get the most out of it. Therefore, individuals might be able to enhance their efficiency-related skills by working to improve their writing skills. I believe that these men and women sometimes can also use this training to help them strengthen their abilities to grasp big picture concepts.

Writing Skills and Big Picture Thinking

Usually, people who want to move up the corporate ladder need to be able to recognize and understand the meta-trends and meta-narratives, which are pertinent to their particular line of work. While the ability to ‘see the big picture’ is to some extent innate (eg. related to one’s I.Q.), some studies show that an individual can improve his or her abilities in this area by mastering writing-related concepts. To wit, if one is going to create a viable narrative, he or she needs to be able to craft a strong thesis and ensure that all of the components in the paper logically refer back to this main argument. In order to pull this feat off, the person will need to be able to think strategically—to be cognizant of how each piece fits within a larger pattern. In this way, someone who works to master the P’s and Q’s of good composition might, as a byproduct, also tend to see an improvement in his or her meta-analytical skills.

The Flip Side of the Coin – Root Cause Analysis

People who spend time developing their writing skills might also enhance their abilities to ascertain the root cause(s) of a phenomenon. In my experience, individuals who are adept at crafting strong essays are also good at zeroing in on a narrative’s underlying argument or idea. Translating this skill to the business world, they are able to identify a corporate infrastructure’s key weaknesses or ascertain the primary causes of a problem. Most readers would probably agree that companies covet men and women who possess this skill.

Summing Things Up

In short, I believe that all people, even ones who rarely have to create any type of document, might derive benefits from learning how to write well. That is because individuals who seek to master grammatical techniques can sometimes, as a byproduct of this process, strengthen their abilities to pinpoint the important elements in a process, improve their meta-analytical skills, and enhance their capabilities to identify the root cause(s) of a problem or issue. In this way, men and women who work hard to master composition-related concepts will not only become better communicators, they will also develop other important skills, which will likely improve their chances of moving up the corporate ladder.

#writing #learning #skills #business #education 

-- Anthony Matthew Hopper

Note: I originally published this post on LinkedIn. All citations are embedded as links within the text. 

Photo: The photograph is mine (taken on 12/20/2015)

Rosie the Riveter on the $10 Bill: Adding to the Discussion

In January, the U.S. Mint announced that it would “feature a notable woman” on a newly designed $10 bill (set for release in 2020).  As a part of the vetting process, Jacob Lew, the U.S. treasury secretary, has asked the public to chime in with suggested candidates for this honor.  In an Asbury Park Press article, Gerald Thomas argues that the U.S. Mint should place an image of Rosie the Riveter on the $10 bill.

Thomas makes a number of good points in advocating that the U.S. Mint replace Alexander Hamilton with this World War II era image.  He is spot on when he states that Rosie the Riveter, “demonstrates the perseverance, fortitude and strength of the nation, exemplifying the wartime contributions of women coast to coast.”  He also makes a valid point when notes that the picture speaks not only to the accomplishments of women, but to the perseverance of Americans in general (military veterans and others) during times of war and strife.

Thomas does an excellent job in advocating for Rosie’s inclusion on the $10 bill; however, I think that an individual, by delineating a few other key points, can strengthen the case for her inclusion on the currency note. With that in mind, here are my thoughts on the matter:

• The Person Who Portrayed Rosie the Riveter is Deceased: The U.S. Mint will not place a living person on a currency bill.  Mary Keefe, the model who portrayed Rosie the Riveter on the government billboards and posters, passed away in April of this year (2015).  Hence, the government could place Rosie on its $10 bill.

• Excellent Way to Transmit Values/Ideals: I would imagine that almost every American will use these new $10 bills and thus view the portrait, located on this note.  Most of these people will see the image numerous times.  As a result, the federal government has an opportunity to use the currency to convey important values and beliefs regarding women.  I think that it can more clearly and effectively transmit these messages by using the image of Rosie the Riveter than it could via utilizing the portrait of a notable American woman.  In the former case, a viewer, even one who does not know anything about American history, will clearly understand that Rosie the Riveter is a symbol of empowerment for working class women (and indeed all women).  The image conveys this message through her rolled up sleeves, her flexed biceps, the serious face, the work shirt, etc.  I do not think that a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, or any other woman would convey such clear, symbolic messages. 

• Add a Little Flair: I also think that the government could add a little flair to its overly staid paper currency by opting for Rosie the Riveter over a formal portrait.  Perhaps the U.S. government could follow in the footsteps of Canada (and other countries) and even add a little color to the bill.

-- Anthony Hopper (author of Using Data Management Techniques to Modernize Healthcare)

#TheNew10 #money #politics #womensrights #history