Week 6 discussion
Dq1
Leading Change
In his book Leading Change (HBS Press 1996), John Kotter
states:
“A strategy of embracing the past will probably become
increasingly ineffective over the next few decades. Better for most of us to
start learning now how to cope with change, to develop whatever leadership
potential we have, and to help our organizations in the transformation process.
Better for most of us, despite the risks, to leap into the future. And to do so
sooner rather than later.”
Do you agree with the author? If he is correct, how can we
apply that to our own career plans?
Dq2
Learning To Keep Learning
In an article titled “Learning To Keep Learning”
in the New York Times, dated December 13, 2006, Thomas L. Friedman states:
“I listened to this with mixed emotions. Part of me
said ‘Gosh, wouldn’t it be nice to have a government that was so focused on innovation
— instead of one that is basically anti-science.’ My other emotion was
skepticism. Oh, you know the line: Great Britain dominated the 19th century,
America dominated the 20th and now China is going to dominate the 21st. It’s
game over.
“No question, China has been able to command an
impressive effort to end illiteracy, greatly increasing its number of high
school grads and new universities. But I still believe it is very hard to
produce a culture of innovation in a country that censors [Google] which for me
is a proxy for curtailing people’s ability to imagine and try anything they
want. You can command K-12 education. But you can’t command innovation. Rigor
and competence, without freedom, will take China only so far. China will have
to find a way to loosen up, without losing control, if it wants to be a truly
innovative nation.” (access through ProQuest Data Base in the Keller
library-article 94 of 239 listed therein for that issue)
Comment on how one can stay abreast of changes that will
likely affect a career plan. How will we keep up to date in time to make
effective career transitions?
