Tom Davenport, in October 2003, wrote:
I’m more confident than ever about the importance – and the difficulty – of addressing the topic of knowledge worker productivity. Just remember: It’s the Next Big Thing, and you heard it here first.
This sort of statement drives me mad. CIO magazine may be more glamorous than, for instance, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Monsieur Davenport a well-known figure, but please … shouting loudest just isn’t the same as being first. The ideas may well be great ideas, but a little bit of humility, a little bit of “there are lot’s of people cleverer than me”, and a little bit of attribution will always be preferable to “ME! I WIN! I THOUGHT IT FIRST!”. But, sigh, I suppose it won’t always get you fame.
Tea, one lump, please. Make that two lumps.
History and humility
Quote for the day:”A man who does not know what has been thought by those who have gone before him is sure to set an undue value upon his own ideas” – Source: Mark Pattison, MemoirsI don’t really know how…