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Observe, Wonder, Experience and Reflect, and only then claim to have understood the world



And the children said unto Halcolm, “We want to understand the world. Tell us, O Sage, what must we do to know the world?”
“Have you read the works of our great thinkers?”
“Yes, Master, every one of them as we were instructed.”
“And have you practiced diligently your meditations so as to become One with the infinity of the universe?”
“We have, Master, with devotion and discipline.”
“Have you studied the experiments, the survey, and the mathematical models of the Sciences?”
“Beyond even the examinations, Master, we have studied in the innermost chambers where the experiments and surveys are analyzed, and where the mathematical models are developed and tested.”
“Still you are not satisfied? You would know more?”
“Yes, Master. We want to understand the world.”
“Then, my children, you must go out into the world. Live among the peoples of the world as they live. Learn their language. Participate in their rituals and routines. Taste the world. Smell it. Watch and listen. Touch and be touched. Write down what you see and hear, how they think and how you feel.
“Enter into the world. Observe and wonder. Experience and reflect. To understand a world you must become part of that world while at the same time remaining separate, a part of and apart from.
“Go, then, and return to tell me what you see and hear, what you learn, and what you come to understand.”

-          From Halcolm’s Methodological Chronicle

As quoted in the book ‘Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods’ 4th Edition by Michael Quinn Patton.

 

Inferences from the above quote:

1.       It is essential that we make the best use of the two poles: “expertise knowledge” and “experiential observation”. This enables us to remain closer to the reality of us, our teams, our organizations and our markets.

2.       Academics promote research/expertise, and industries promote practice/observation. Nevertheless, both by themselves are incomplete and handicapped. Integration of both makes it complete and holistic.

3.       Excellence in value proposition and its delivery to our customers comes from our unattached observation, wonder, reflection and conception of products and services. They do not know what they want till the time it is given to them, in a way it adds value to the world they are part of. This is exactly what meeting the unsaid needs of customers means.

4.       It is perhaps high time we rekindle the spirit of observation & wonder that we possessed as children, but are now domesticated hopelessly.

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