Paradigm shifts (1)

Citation

(2005), "Paradigm shifts (1)", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 54 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2005.07954aaa.004

Paradigm shifts (1)

Recently, I attended the e–ENGDET (e-Engineering and Digital Enterprise Technology) conference. As often happens, thoughts in one arena spark off thoughts in others. One of the session papers was on superplastic forming to create material forms and shapes that are lighter, stronger and cheaper than those formed by more conventional manufacturing processes. The speaker (Diane Mynors from Brunel University in the UK) made the point that many designers have difficulty coming to terms with such a change since their “design vocabulary” relates to these traditional manufacturing processes; they therefore start with shapes made conventionally and see how they might be made by superplastic forming. The point is, however, that superplastic forming allows new, different, innovative shapes.

There is a general lesson here, of course. Whenever there is a genuine “paradigm shift” (and the term is sprinkled around too liberally!), it takes time for people to adjust to the new world order; their logic processes are rooted in the old paradigm. Those who are more ingrained in the old paradigm (more expert in their field?) may be amongst this slower cohort. Sometimes we need to take the time and effort to force ourselves to dismantle old structures.