Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

converses with the 'mobility guru'. The best bit:

"Stated goal (cribbed from the Strategic Plan for IT) - "Lead the Mobility Expectations for the Organization".  Apparently, this is defined as the following:

    • Improve mobile access (which I guess means get rid of dead spots in our physical space)
    • Engage in outreach (no idea what this means)
    • Content-focused  (which is probably "get our existing stuff mobile-friendly")

Real goal - Not have the Super Muck get yelled at by VP and board member types. I can respect that."

It's always wise to recognize that different people in an organization have different goals (and often very personal goals). That's why advice like that offered today by Harold Jarche is well-meaning but misleading. On the one hand we hear that we should "draw on as many different perspectives as possible; diversity is non-optional," and similar such things. But "a compelling vision which is shared by all partners in the whole system" is the exact opposite of that. Embrace the different visions people have and understand your role in shaping and influencing them - even to the point of not having people dread going into meetings with you.

What does this have to do with mobile learning and working? Everything. Mobile is deeply personal - homogenizing it breaks it. Authoritarianism undermines it - and is undermined by it.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 1:29 p.m.

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