Something's Happening Here
Interesting that Tom Friedman's "Something Happening Here" article in The New York Times
reflected yesterday's post in The Daily Riff - both addressing two paths - one optimistic, the other not so - as to what is next on the horizon (yesterday's video having more specifics). Below are excerpts from Friedman's piece, which he alternates with memes "The Great Disruption" and the "Big Shift."
reflected yesterday's post in The Daily Riff - both addressing two paths - one optimistic, the other not so - as to what is next on the horizon (yesterday's video having more specifics). Below are excerpts from Friedman's piece, which he alternates with memes "The Great Disruption" and the "Big Shift."
"Two master narratives -
one threat-based, one opportunity-based,
but both involving seismic changes."
"Yes, corporations now have access to more cheap software, robots, automation, labor and genius than ever. So holding a job takes more talent. But the flip side is that individuals - individuals - anywhere can now access the flow to take online courses at Stanford from a village in Africa, to start a new company with customers everywhere or to collaborate with people anywhere. We have more big problems than ever and more problem-solvers than ever.
So there you have it: Two master narratives - one threat-based, one opportunity-based, but both involving seismic changes. Gilding is actually an optimist at heart. He believes that while the Great Disruption is inevitable, humanity is best in a crisis, and, once it all hits, we will rise to the occasion and produce transformational economic and social change (using tools of the Big Shift). Hagel is also an optimist. He knows the Great Disruption may be barreling down on us, but he believes that the Big Shift has also created a world where more people than ever have the tools, talents and potential to head it off. My heart is with Hagel, but my head says that you ignore Gilding at your peril.
You decide."
I always here about how people have access to presentations from top universities. But does that make a person educated according to society's standards. Can I "complete" the coursework for a BA on iTunes and have that be "respected" anywhere? Can I print a transcript and get a job?
I think it's awesome to have the access, but until we change the "gate keeping" process, what is really different? And would we want to take away all of the gate keeping processes?