Polymathic

Digital transformation, higher education, innovation, technology, professional skills, management, and strategy


January 2021

  • I don’t want to have an experience or a partnership with vendors. I just want to get my stuff done.

    We hear frequently, ever since The Experience Economy about designing experiences. We talk about the customer experience, the employee experience, and the student experience. Everything is an experience. Or, at least, everything is supposed to be an experience. It’s certainly not supposed to be a (mere) transaction. This reminds me of the term “partner” in… Continue reading

  • Teaching is like consulting

    It’s generally thought that teachers know everything and consultants know nothing. When you learn from a teacher, it’s through that you’re learning what they know. And when you get help from a consultant, you’re supposed to know that they are basically just project managing things, but they don’t really know more than you do. The… Continue reading

  • Defensive innovation: stop de-innovating

    It’s commonly thought that innovation depends on some sort of creative bursting forth. There certainly seems to be this sort of generative innovation where something new is deliberately made. I wonder whether this kind of innovation is really so special and unique. I’m suspicious of explanations where “something magical happens”. So, I wonder if “creation”… Continue reading

About Me

Digital transformation, including agile and devops, across many industries, most recently in higher education. Designed and built the Emory faculty information system. Working in continuing education to improve and expand career-focused learning, esp. in workforce development. Expanding the role of innovation and entrepreneurship. Designed, built, and launched the Emory Center for Innovation.

Favorite sites

  • Daring Fireball

Favorite podcasts

  • Manager Tools

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