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An Exercise in Observation: Practicing Your Genchi Genbutsu

Look at this!

Matthew E. May
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:40
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One of my all-time favorite quotes is from UK-based urban designer Ben Hamilton-Baillie, a master of designing shared space intersections: “If we observed first, designed second, we wouldn’t need most of the things we build.” 

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The Japanese phrase for what Hamilton-Baillie is talking about is "genchi genbutsu," which roughly translated means “go look and see.” It is a principle widely practiced in many Japanese organizations. The goal is to build skill in viewing problems and challenges from different perspectives, much like artists, sculptors, and photographers do when they look at their subject from every possible angle to enhance their ability to artistically render “the truth.”

I believe that the ability to survive and thrive in this world of increasing excess and unnecessary complexity lies in our ability to make sense of it, and to craft elegant solutions and stories through the tools and skills at our disposal. To do that, we must become better observers, better fact-finders, and better detectives.

To become better detectives, do what New York’s finest do: analyze art.

 …

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Comments

Submitted by umberto mario tunesi on Thu, 06/19/2014 - 17:12

De-Regulation

Some twenty years ago or so, de-regulation was a principle in force throughout the economical and financial world: I wonder why, among the so many innovation-oriented words we use today, de-regulation has been ablated from any management dictionary. There's no need to use japanese expressions to describe what we know since we were born: The Mabinogion, an ancient cycle of celtic legends translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, is based on the principle "listen, learn, read on". There's reallly nothing much new under our Sun. Therefore, I have to repeat my suggestion: let's study History before putting forward ideas that seem new but that are not, instead.

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