1/ Generalists are obsolete in a fast-changing world.
Once upon a time, they probably helped to ‘see problems & opportunities’ because they could ‘connect the dots’ unlike specialists.
But then the pace of change was slow enough for them to have enough context.
Once upon a time, they probably helped to ‘see problems & opportunities’ because they could ‘connect the dots’ unlike specialists.
But then the pace of change was slow enough for them to have enough context.
2/ Knowledge of 1 area can be made relevant to another e.g. Babbage-from silk weaving cards to computers
Without enough knowledge of 1-2 areas, the generalist’s understanding is too superficial to connect the dots.
Specialists too cannot connect the dots outside of their areas
Without enough knowledge of 1-2 areas, the generalist’s understanding is too superficial to connect the dots.
Specialists too cannot connect the dots outside of their areas
3/ Who will connect the dots then? We badly need the connectors.
“If we spend our whole life in a silo of a single discipline, we will not gain the imaginative skills to connect the dots where the next invention will come from.”- Andreas Schleicher, OECD
“If we spend our whole life in a silo of a single discipline, we will not gain the imaginative skills to connect the dots where the next invention will come from.”- Andreas Schleicher, OECD
4/ Peter Drucker said- The only meaningful definition of a “generalist” is a specialist who can relate his own small area to the universe of knowledge.
It is 'T-shaped individuals' who can connect the dots- to see problems & opportunities. The story of one such individual...
It is 'T-shaped individuals' who can connect the dots- to see problems & opportunities. The story of one such individual...
5/ Eligible, a leader in healthcare billing tech, was founded by a theatre major @katgleason
As a struggling actor, she learnt persuasion, persistence through rejection...
Sales at Dr. Chrono helped her learn about healthcare & see the inefficiencies in insurance checks
As a struggling actor, she learnt persuasion, persistence through rejection...
Sales at Dr. Chrono helped her learn about healthcare & see the inefficiencies in insurance checks
6/ Connecting the dots and 'seeing the opportunity' required the context she was immersed in.
Developing & pitching the solution to investors required taking risks, believing in self, learning tech on her own (MOOCs, Stack Overflow), storytelling
Such people are 'versatilists'
Developing & pitching the solution to investors required taking risks, believing in self, learning tech on her own (MOOCs, Stack Overflow), storytelling
Such people are 'versatilists'
7/ Specialists were very much needed to bring Eligible’s plans to fruition. They were engaged as needed.
But was there a role for generalists at all? To summarize...
But was there a role for generalists at all? To summarize...
8/ Versatilists have depth in 1-2 disciplines and breadth in multiple disciplines. This characteristic allows them to see problems and possibilities far more clearly than either generalists or specialists.
9/ Versatilists can also co-opt relevant specialists/ versatilists needed to tackle a challenge. e.g. an ecologist working on clean water may see water seeping through cracks in rocks & seek out a mathematician to study crack patterns in natural ‘filtration systems’.
10/ The Great Tit is the versatilist of the animal world.
Behaviourally versatile, it lays eggs at the optimal moment based on the conditions around it. The species evolves rapidly, keeping pace with environmental changes.
Education must equip us to be like great tits.
Behaviourally versatile, it lays eggs at the optimal moment based on the conditions around it. The species evolves rapidly, keeping pace with environmental changes.
Education must equip us to be like great tits.
11/ Some of us are better off as specialists, but most of us are better suited to be versatilists. The education system needs to nurture versatilists.
Let's discuss how this can be done on another thread.
More about my case against generalists at learningandlife.substack.com/p/no-generalis…
Let's discuss how this can be done on another thread.
More about my case against generalists at learningandlife.substack.com/p/no-generalis…
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