Viewpoint
» On "Teaching"
» On "Learning"
» On "Knowledge"
» On "Goals"
» On "Time"
» On “Management”
» On “Reading”
» On "Committees"
» On "A Place to Visit"
» On "Human Resources"
» On "Progress & Development"
» On "History"
» On "Public Speaking"
» On "Organizing"
» On "Motivation"
» On "Teams"
» On "Communication"
» On "Management Coaching"
» On "Traveling"
On "Knowledge"
By Adel J. Helou
“Knowledge” … this ever-expanding domain that has been linked to “power” in the well-known expression … “knowledge is Power”, has its origin in the early history of people. It all started when people identified the need to survive which triggered for the “pursuit of knowledge” movement that followed and still continues today.
Knowing What, Where and When to hunt game, as well as gather vegetables and fruits gave people an advantage which helped them survive. Knowledge of what can be considered a shelter or where to find a shelter gave people protection against the element (storms, wind, sand, rain and snow) and dangerous carnivorous animals (a safe place to sleep). Awareness of the need for clothes to keep them warm and protect them against cuts and wounds as they moved in forests and rough or rocky terrain, encouraged people to acquire knowledge on “What” makes suitable material for clothes, "Where" to find that material and "How" to make such clothes.
In order to make shelters and clothes people identified their need for tools. Which they had to acquire and develop more knowledge to make these tools. To know how to make these tools and how to use them gave an advantage to those individuals and groups that had this knowledge and skills. In making tools people were aware of the reasons for making them and why they designed them the way they did. People also knew why specific skills were needed for each specific tool.
A little later in history, people decided to settle the land and formed permanent communities. These communities were formed close to sources of drinkable water (rivers, lakes and water wells). This is when farming was discovered. Farming needed additional knowledge; what type of crop to grow and cultivate, when to plant the seeds and when to gather the crop, how to plow the land and how to irrigate it. People noticed that organized agriculture led to abundance in the availability of food. Such abundance led some people to continue farming while others went into other life activities such as carpentry and house building and the making of clothes as well as metal work. Specializations and Professions were discovered and established. Each specialty as well as each profession needed its own body of knowledge. Which in turn started to develop and increase.
Specialization allowed people some free time, which permitted people to think about improving their quality of life and facilitate living. This free time allowed people to pursue more knowledge to achieve these new goals. This is what can be called; the second stage in the pursue of knowledge. This is the stage in which we are today … and should continue.
In order for a community to insure its survival and continuity it had to transmit their acquired knowledge to the members of the group and to the members of their future generations. This was carried out in two ways:
Apprenticeship System: Started at home with parents teaching their children what they knew. This developed into the practice of sending the young people to Master Craftsmen to learn trades. Both these practices are applied today in different parts of the world, and also in some specialty industries (glass work).
A "Need" that a person identifies - or of which he/she is made aware - is the trigger for seeking Knowledge. To satisfy this need a person has to answer, at least, the following questions - as they relate to that need: What, Why, Where, When and How. To complete the exercise a person has to develop the skill(s) - intellectual and/or physical - required to use that knowledge.
Looking at the world today, we will notice that individuals and groups that acquired knowledge have an obvious advantage over individuals and groups that have less knowledge. Acquiring knowledge - and more of it - should be the goal of every person. Putting that knowledge into practice and use should be the way to improve and develop one’s self and his/her community.
| Adel J Helou: Adel J. Helou is a Business and Life Management Coach. He has more than 15 years of experience in production and operations management. The Author has international professional experience in the Middle East markets. He holds a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry and Physics and an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering. Mr. Helou has a Facebook page: facebook.com/AdelJosephHelouManagementCoach/ He can be contacted through e-mail: a.j.helou@optimanage.com. Read about his Management Coaching by visiting the electronic magazine: optimanage.com. |
