Rick Ladd’s Comments

• Jan 23rd, 2012 @ 12:03pm

  Re: Re: Transformation, not reformation

  on MPAA Directly & Publicly Threatens Politicians Who Aren't Corrupt Enough To Stay Bought
  Thank you for pointing out the inadequacy of simple dictionary definitions, especially when looked at with little context. I use the words "reform" and "transform" in the sense the late Professor Russell Ackoff did. Here's an example of how he saw the difference, taken from http://www.tracepickering.com/1/post/2011/1/what-does-transformation-mean-and-how-can-we-avoid-refor m-mistakes-of-the-past.html:
  
  "Ackoff defines "REFORM" as "to leave a system as it is and try to change its behavior through a modification of the means it employs." This, he says, is about "doing things right." Reforming teacher pay would be to attempt to change behavior by changing the means by which teachers get paid.
  
  "He defines "TRANSFORM" as " to change a system's objectives or ends and the means it employs to acheive those ends." This, he says, is about "doing the right things." Tranforming teacher pay would be to match the pay system with the explicit outcomes of the new education system."
  
  The article says nothing about "radical" reform. I'm merely trying to point out that doing the same things somewhat differently likely won't get us useful results. Based on the teachings of Ackoff (and others, e.g. Deming and Drucker) I think the distinction is important.
• Jan 21st, 2012 @ 4:21pm

  Transformation, not reformation

  on MPAA Directly & Publicly Threatens Politicians Who Aren't Corrupt Enough To Stay Bought
  "The MPAA needs a reformer, one who helps guide Hollywood into the opportunities of a new market place."
  
  Some may see it as splitting hairs, but I think the MPAA (and many, many more organizations and entities) don't need to be reformed . . . which is akin to rearranging the deck chairs on you-know-what. What they need is a radical transformation into enterprises that understand and make use of the new tools available to them to effect change.
  
  The Internet, especially in its 2.0 incarnation, is not a reformation of how we communicate and interact; it's a far reaching transformation that's affecting everything we do - including how we responded to SOPA & PIPA. We need leaders who understand or, at the very least, are open to learning about, the changes taking place in communication and, yes, entertainment. Dodd clearly isn't one of them.
  
  I'm sure transformation is what you meant :)