Comments on: The Power of Synthesis and the Problem with Experts http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:23:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-7458 Greg Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:24:03 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-7458 Thanks Ali! Have a great weekend! Greg Thanks Ali! Have a great weekend!

Greg

]]> By: Ali http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-7457 Ali Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:05:17 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-7457 I really like reading your blog. I have been fascinated by the concept of interdisciplinarity for a long time now. The examples provided really put the importance of crossing domains in context of creativity and innovation. Nanotechnology and Renewable energy development are my interests, which I think are pretty interdisciplinary! In context of development of orphan domains in emerging economies, I think interdisciplinarity holds the key as any single discipline has been ineffective for them so far. I'll probably cite your blog in mine in coming days! Thanks again :)! I really like reading your blog. I have been fascinated by the concept of interdisciplinarity for a long time now. The examples provided really put the importance of crossing domains in context of creativity and innovation.

Nanotechnology and Renewable energy development are my interests, which I think are pretty interdisciplinary! In context of development of orphan domains in emerging economies, I think interdisciplinarity holds the key as any single discipline has been ineffective for them so far.

I’ll probably cite your blog in mine in coming days!

Thanks again :) !

]]> By: Greg http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-5678 Greg Thu, 13 Jan 2011 06:30:21 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-5678 Well said, Ken! It's certainly important to have a focus. - Greg Well said, Ken! It’s certainly important to have a focus.

- Greg

]]> By: ken long http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-5677 ken long Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:30:38 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-5677 i'd echo the comment about developing an expertise before branching out; There is a quality of mind and spirit and intuitive knowing that can come from the development of discipline, thru hardwork, self doubt, struggle and breakthru that allows you the grace perhaps to see quality in others i’d echo the comment about developing an expertise before branching out; There is a quality of mind and spirit and intuitive knowing that can come from the development of discipline, thru hardwork, self doubt, struggle and breakthru that allows you the grace perhaps to see quality in others

]]> By: Greg http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-4676 Greg Sun, 07 Nov 2010 06:31:09 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-4676 That's very high praise. Thank you for it! One piece of advice: Keep a reserve and try to avoid posting the same day you write. - Greg That’s very high praise. Thank you for it!

One piece of advice: Keep a reserve and try to avoid posting the same day you write.

- Greg

]]> By: Venky http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-4675 Venky Sun, 07 Nov 2010 05:28:30 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-4675 Sure. Would check it out. I am really enjoying your blog. As a student blogger, I am working on my blog with your blog as the benchmark. Thanks! Sure. Would check it out. I am really enjoying your blog. As a student blogger, I am working on my blog with your blog as the benchmark. Thanks!
Venky´s last [type] ..Reflections up in the air about our connected age

]]> By: Greg http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-4672 Greg Sat, 06 Nov 2010 22:12:35 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-4672 Venky, I completely agree. A lot of interesting work is being done on how social networks affect innovation. Tim Kastelle, whose research focuses on this, writes an excellent blog. You can find it here: http://timkastelle.org/blog/ - Greg Venky,

I completely agree. A lot of interesting work is being done on how social networks affect innovation. Tim Kastelle, whose research focuses on this, writes an excellent blog. You can find it here: http://timkastelle.org/blog/

- Greg

]]> By: Venky http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-4669 Venky Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:36:07 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-4669 This article was personally uplifting to me, as I have been personally exploring various inter disciplinary fields to gain new insights. I think its becoming more of a necessity as we are moving towards an interconnected world. This perspective of synthesizing disparate ideas reminds me of Geoffrey Chew's Bootstrap hypothesis in Physics which states that nature cannot be reduced to fundamental building blocks, but through mutually consistent relationships, thus setting the ground for quantum aspects of matter. I am big fan of Quantum physics and I think some of its fundamental ideas about perception can give us amazing insights about this connected age. I think we need this bootstrap approach to management where several divergent fields are integrated to arrive at an networked mosaic of ideas and concepts. This article was personally uplifting to me, as I have been personally exploring various inter disciplinary fields to gain new insights. I think its becoming more of a necessity as we are moving towards an interconnected world. This perspective of synthesizing disparate ideas reminds me of Geoffrey Chew’s Bootstrap hypothesis in Physics which states that nature cannot be reduced to fundamental building blocks, but through mutually consistent relationships, thus setting the ground for quantum aspects of matter. I am big fan of Quantum physics and I think some of its fundamental ideas about perception can give us amazing insights about this connected age. I think we need this bootstrap approach to management where several divergent fields are integrated to arrive at an networked mosaic of ideas and concepts.
Venky´s last [type] ..Reflections up in the air about our connected age

]]> By: Greg http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-3694 Greg Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:01:48 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-3694 Rasul, Nice to see you again. Yes, I read the Medici Effect, but some years ago. I'll take another look. Btw. The 10 years rule comes from research by Anders Ericsson and was based on world class performers (and it wasn't any experience, but "deliberate practice"). You can find more info here: http://www.coachingmanagement.nl/The%20Making%20of%20an%20Expert.pdf (a short HBR overview) and here http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u81/Ericsson__Roring__and_Nandagopal__2007_.pdf (a bit more in depth). - Greg Rasul,

Nice to see you again. Yes, I read the Medici Effect, but some years ago. I’ll take another look.

Btw. The 10 years rule comes from research by Anders Ericsson and was based on world class performers (and it wasn’t any experience, but “deliberate practice”).

You can find more info here: http://www.coachingmanagement.nl/The%20Making%20of%20an%20Expert.pdf (a short HBR overview) and here http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u81/Ericsson__Roring__and_Nandagopal__2007_.pdf (a bit more in depth).

- Greg

]]> By: Rasul Sha'ir http://www.digitaltonto.com/2010/power-of-synthesis/comment-page-1/#comment-3692 Rasul Sha'ir Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:37:25 +0000 http://www.digitaltonto.com/?p=1946#comment-3692 Great post Greg, With respect to the research showing that it takes about 10 years to become an "expert" in a field. I always am of the mind of what does that exactly mean. . .an "expert" (I'd much prefer discussion about having expertise than being an expert). I think anyone will agree that the more you learn the less you know. So being an expert is relative. You might be an expert compared to Joe Blow but are you an expert compared to Einstein? What I strongly believe is that interdisciplinary is a heavy word should be looked at more in the sense of the spirit of the word vs. its literally meaning. Particularly in business (the academic world is an entirely different beast as the conversations of Einat and Robert speak more to). Interdisciplinary thinking for me means being aware of the broad array of dynamics at play that influence and determines customer behavior. I emphasize "being aware" because simply being aware of the existence of something that someone else is not aware of, puts you leaps and bounds ahead of others (you don't even have to understand it entirely. . .just be aware of it). Have you ever read the Medici Affect by Frans Johansson? If you have then I need not go further. If you haven't. . .I highly recommend reading it. He talks EXACTLY about your theme of synthesis and how innovation is powerful at the intersection of disciplines (but from a business perspective). In my top 10 of fave business books. Great post Greg,

With respect to the research showing that it takes about 10 years to become an “expert” in a field. I always am of the mind of what does that exactly mean. . .an “expert” (I’d much prefer discussion about having expertise than being an expert). I think anyone will agree that the more you learn the less you know. So being an expert is relative. You might be an expert compared to Joe Blow but are you an expert compared to Einstein?

What I strongly believe is that interdisciplinary is a heavy word should be looked at more in the sense of the spirit of the word vs. its literally meaning. Particularly in business (the academic world is an entirely different beast as the conversations of Einat and Robert speak more to). Interdisciplinary thinking for me means being aware of the broad array of dynamics at play that influence and determines customer behavior. I emphasize “being aware” because simply being aware of the existence of something that someone else is not aware of, puts you leaps and bounds ahead of others (you don’t even have to understand it entirely. . .just be aware of it).

Have you ever read the Medici Affect by Frans Johansson? If you have then I need not go further. If you haven’t. . .I highly recommend reading it. He talks EXACTLY about your theme of synthesis and how innovation is powerful at the intersection of disciplines (but from a business perspective). In my top 10 of fave business books.

]]>