Comments on: Community in a Box

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:32:32 +0000

CPT (like other productivity/performance designations) provides more value when interest rates are high. JIT specialist are in the same boat.

I have seen this in the field of industrial engineering. Low interest rates diminishes the need for efficiency. After many years of low interest rates our local university finally abolished their Industrial Engineering program.

By: Harold

Harold — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:18:35 +0000

I didn’t renew my CPT designation because not a single one of my clients recognized it. I still follow the code of ethics and stay current in my field, but the piece of paper has no value. With an over-abundance of credentials, will they all lose their value, except for those making money off the process?

By: Dave F.

Dave F. — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:31:47 +0000

Good point, Harold. We’d like to accept people for who they are and what they can do, but once we get beyond a couple of degrees of connection, the risk/reward balance seems to get tipped.

Look at the ever-expanding world of credentials offered at professional conferences. At this year’s conference, ISPI has five certificate programs, to say nothing of the CPT designation.

Soon members will have more letters after their names than real estate brokers or insurance salespeople.

By: Harold

Harold — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:17:02 +0000

But look how much credence our society still puts into little bits of paper. Once the new “guilds” are established it may be hard to dislodge them.

By: Dave Ferguson

Dave Ferguson — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:00:43 +0000

I wouldn’t read too much into “guild.” You’re right that to some extent, they morphed into a small community that kept away outsiders and at least tried to monopolize some craft — though that was in a time when many people believed in hierarchy, preordained roles, a great chain of being. With literacy at a minimum, you could only learn a craft by working in that craft.

We’re moving somewhat away from credentialism — having a PhD might not hurt, but it won’t necessarily help, in many endeavors. So the informal, voluntary collaborations are somewhat like guilds seen from the inside: communities of practitioners.

I have no doubt that in medieval guilds, you’d learn pretty quick that Wulf from Sussex, despite twenty years as a master, was full of crap, while your buddy Egbert from the neighboring shire told you you could rely on that young guy Jenkin to do a bang-up job fixing your masonry.

By: Harold

Harold — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:55:52 +0000

Not pessimistic, Matthias, just concerned that we may not realise all of the opportunities afforded by social networks. I would also say that the idea of open platforms is much more than one year old – at least on this blog.

By: Matthias

Matthias — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:46:23 +0000

I am surprised about your pessimistic outlook. For me it is a natural thing that most individuals “lag behind”. So they still come up with the idea of their own little community instead of thinking in terms of broader platforms.

The idea of open platforms is less than one year old. So I wouldn’t expect mainstream audience to reflect already on that level.