Article Archive:: July

Here is an article Dr. Kraut sent me today (July 20, 2006). Ram Charan hints to us that to notice what the customer wants is the key to rolling in the money that comes with meeting the unmet demands in business. Analogously, one might ask oneself, "What do these patients want?"


Here is the article Dr. Kraut sent me that prompted this post above:
"Simply go out and observe customers in action every day. You'll be amazed at what you learn." ~Ram Charan
Stop, Look, Listen for Growth Opportunities ~ Yahoo Finance

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An inspirational article on how Veterans Affairs transformed itself -- and what it means for the rest of us. Best Medical Care in the U.S. ~ BusinessWeek
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Below are some articles recommended by Jack Katz -- one of the most recognized enthnographers at UCLA's Sociology department. ~ Wai-Yin
From Why to How: On luminous description and causal inferences in ethnography (part I) Jack Katz, University of California, Los Angeles

From Why to How: On luminous description and causal inferences in ethnography (part II)

(you might need to set up UCLA proxy or use other autheniticating proxies to access articles subscriptions.)

Here is an description of the nature of ethnographies:
"Ethnographers are unusually independent and often unruly creatures, and that’s not a coincidence (and not only a function of personality traits… although that explanation should not be ruled out).

Ethnographic fieldwork puts the researcher into the research scene in a fully involved, deeply embedded way. It’s not a matter of administering precise directions; it’s not a matter of getting people to respond to pre-set questions. The ethnographer 'in the field' is often a person being with others in as natural a manner as possible. We will give you lots of advice but we will not tell you precisely where to go, what to look for, and what questions to ask. You may find yourself just 'hanging around' or just 'chatting' with people most of the time. ...this is learning-by-doing." ~Jack Katz, UCLA


Have a great active week!