arndt@lymph.DEC (02/26/85)
PART II
In line with the position of my last posting on this subject (Since I am
the one ultimately responsible for my children's education, what should I
DO about it and how can I see that my children are taught to THINK?) I offer
the following two quotes.
First for executives in general (or ANYBODY in today's education mill):
"'Today's too narrowly focused and specialized executives will be obsolete by
the end of this century,' says L.B. Korn, chairman of the executive search
firm Korn/Ferry International. Korn believes that the business and academic
communities in the U. S. must start working now to develop a new type of
leader for the coming century.
'In addition to being a MASTER OF COMPLEX TECHNOLOGIES, the executive of the
future will need a THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE.
Furthermore, society will make increasing demands on business to be a corporate
citizen that is sensitive to rapidly changing social and political values.'
'The successful executive must also BE AS COMFORTABLE WITH ANTHROPOLOGY AND
HISTORY AS WITH CASH MANAGEMENT AND AS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND
HUMAN RELATIONS AS SECURITIES LAWS AND ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.'
Where are these leaders to come from? 'TOMOMRROW'S EXECUTIVE CAN BE FOUND
TODAY WITHIN OUR OWN BUSINESSES. WE MUST IDENTIFY THEM, TRAIN AND DEVELOP
THEM, AND BRING THEM RAPIDLY TO THE TOP.'"
From Productivity Newsletter, May, 1982.
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Even if some of the above is hyperbole and does not apply to every field
of work, it seems to me that it is indicative of a trend of the kind of
preparation and outlook needed in a vast range of occupations.
In the Hi-tech world companies like IBM are sending their executives back to
college for liberal arts cources - art, history, etc.
What does that suggest vis a vis what junior should study in high school,
tech school, or college??
From ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING TIMES, Feb.18,1985, p.57.
"The role of engineers as professionals is being redefined by rapid technical
advances and changing job functions, according to a panel of industry and
engineering educators who addressed the topic at a meeting of the College
Industry Education Conference."
William Miller Jr., associate dean of engineering at the University of
Tennessee, said, "Maybe we ought to pay attention to characteristics other
than an aptitude for math and science." He said engineers in the future will
be called upon to be more broad and less technical as the information
revolution progresses.
He noted that the changes will require better preparation in the academic
areas of the humanities and social sciences. These cources are now given a
low priority in most engineering schools.
[Hey, what's going on here??????]
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Regards,
Ken Arndt