1 Preface and Context
Focus of the Seminar
Available technologies to support new strategies for the corporation
New capacities made available by new strategies
New responses to the demands of the modern marketplace made available by
new capacities
A major change in the way needs will be met for citizens and producers alike
The primary message is that we are not talking "into the future",
but instead talking about shaping a future in terms of what can be done
now.
Desired Outcomes
To demonstrate that
requisite technology is available now
To use that technology to change perceptions of the present and future
To convey an understanding of implications for the modern corporation, its
philosophy and structure
To learn from the synergy of a group focused on the problem
Genesis of the Seminar
Important time for corporations and for Du Pont
Identification of language, theories, tools, exemplars, resources, individuals
Critical mass of content, a synthesis of long-term enquiry
Availability of demonstrations to make new and "do-able" applications
very tangible
Identification of experienced participants, gathered to provide rich variety
of perspectives and specifics
Part of a commitment to process
Context for the Seminar
We perceive a major "phase change" in the relation ships of the
players in the modern economic environment:
Internal versus external initiation, design, problem-solving
Organization-determined versus citizen-plus-producer-determined
Costless switching as catalyst and enabler
Demand-activated production as a reaction demanded by changed and changing
circumstances
There are 3 areas of focus required to fully encompass this transformation:
Technological front-end that enables new relationships among
participants in the economic system as a whole
Social relations within the corporation, including required transformations
Technology for implementing demand-activated production in manufacturing
This seminar is about the first of these focus areas, especially in regard
to technology required for the front-end of a demand-activated production
system.
Format
Within constraints of time and circumstances, the format of the seminar
will be:
Short demonstrations or presentations of concepts, laying groundwork
of common language and experience for discussion
Conversations rather than straight lecture
Open discussion with all attendees
Demonstrations at MIT and NYNEX, preceded by orienting discussion and followed
by examination of issues related to themes of the seminar
Awareness of traps in language: order and complexity are a function of language,
and complexity is in the language of the observer
Particular sensitivity to vocabulary and distinctions and the critical importance
that they play, as for example in choosing to use one term or another:
