Share.Learn.Inspire.Transform
“If we hope to preserve our way of life, the first thing we must do is rediscover our respect for the land, the water, and the entire natural world. And if we do manage to regain that respect, then we must make sure that human beings never lose it again.”
Lois Hole
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, Alberta
“More than one hundred years after the publication of her first book in 1896, Mary P. Follett (1868–1933) remains one of our preeminent thinkers about democracy and social organization. Without the benefit of modern research methods, Follett developed such original, penetrating analyses of leadership, power and authority, conflict, and group behavior that her ideas form the basis of much of our modern discourse about organizations and management.”
Tonn, P. J. C. (2003). Mary P. Follett: Creating Democracy, Transforming Management [Kindle iOS version Location 113].
The New State by Mary Parker Follett
The New State by Mary Parker Follett is not an easy read. The concepts presented within the pages of a book published 100 years ago, continues to inspire us to think deeply and consider individual responsibility within a group dynamic.
Mary Parker Follett’s greatest gift was her ability to listen intently to everyone, irrespective of their “position” in society – factory workers, shop girls, or presidents of large corporations. She believed that every voice counted – and it was not lip service. She was above all a determined pragmatist with a philosophy that we can organize our lives and institutions so that everyone can contribute. While we may consider this rather optimistic, I have seen glimpses of this possibility. We live in a world that thrives on complexity, but I believe that resilience comes when individuals participate in a greater, more inclusive, conversation.
As we prepare to welcome a New Year, the last word belongs to a woman who passionately believed in the reality of integrating the diversity of cultures for the greater good. Mary Parker Follett valued differences, maintaining that together we gain strength and renewal, as individuals, as groups, as a society.
To complete our series on Mary Parker Follett, I am joined by Annie Giraudou, MBS(FS)Class of 2007 and Yvonne Thevenot MBA(FS) Class of 2001, who have been following Dr. McLarney’s series on Mary Parker Follett.
Rebecca Budd
Editor & Blog Coordinator
CEGE Connection
Annie Giraudou:
I have enjoyed reading “The New State” by Mary Parker Follett. I find I must take time to reflect on the ideas brought forth. One phrase stands out for me “There is a need for competent leaders and a need for competent group members”. We are seeing more research and novels focusing on the need for “followers”; emphasis being that we cannot all be leaders and that someone must effectively do the work. This is directly related to the obligation as a member to take that position seriously and contribute to the success of the team; not just the leader, but the entire team. I am seeing similar views on the extrovert versus introvert position. Could there be something to more Eastern cultures who favour “introversion” and team member contribution? Unbelievably, this question of requiring both types to make an efficient team and society was put to paper 100 years ago by Mary Parker Follett! Maybe it is about time we looked at all types to create a more balanced society.
Yvonne Thevenot:
It is fascinating in business to see the emergence of “Agile” implementation framed as a new concept for organizing structures. Or in change management the idea of “listening posts” or “Ask Me Anything” sessions… This discussion and highlighting key aspects of the work from such a prominent thinker as Mary Parker Follett through the practical today’s language of Dr. McLarney truly demonstrates to me how long it takes for societal change to truly evolve. Thank you for sharing!
Mary Parker Follett 1868 – 1933
“The most successful leader of all is the one who sees another picture not yet actualized. He sees the things which are not yet there… Above all, he should make his co-workers see that it is not his purpose which is to be achieved, but a common purpose, born of the desires and the activities of the group.”
Mary Parker Follett
Season’s Greetings! Wishing you the joy of family, the warmth of friends and the gifts of laughter, peace, and love.
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw
SSHRC Partnership Engage Team
“Sophisticated technologies have increased our opportunities to connect even as they have presented new challenges in how we communicate without the benefit of face-to-face interaction.”
Dr. Martine Durier-Copp, in an May 2017 interview with CEGE Connection maintained that research is ongoing and must be integrated within our day-to-day interaction and activities. Research goes beyond academic walls for it is the foundation of knowledge exchange and is a continual process.
Research is a core strength of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management.
“To be engaged, today’s citizen needs to be able to tease out fact from fiction. Notably, it is not just about obtaining information and being able to cite the sources of one’s ideas but being able to digest information, think critically, and participate in dialogue among others with different perspectives.”
CEGE Connection recently learned that Dr. Martine Durier-Copp, Dr. Joyline Makani, Dr. Binod Sundararajan, Dr. Stéphane Mechoulan and Research Assistants, Alison Brown and Conor Falvey ( aka the SSHRC Partnership Engage Team) have been awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grant to explore virtual teams, e-leadership within the context of the public sector. Dr. Durier-Copp notes, “This is an exciting research initiative that will enhance our understanding of how project teams and working groups collaborate within a virtual environment.”
The professional landscape in the Canadian public service is increasingly dominated by project teams and working groups which collaborate virtually to address complex problems. Not constrained by traditional geographic and time boundaries, virtual teams like these can offer many advantages, if effectively managed: improved efficiency, leveraged expertise, increased ingenuity and innovation, and reduced costs. However, literature demonstrates that most virtual teams are established without planning or training, are not working to their full potential, and are leading to unsatisfactory outcomes and sometimes even conflict
In the coming months, the SSHRC Partnership Engage Team will develop, deliver, and assess the value and impact of a set of guidelines and best practices intended to enhance the management and leadership of virtual teams within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Guidelines and training will be designed to meet the specific needs of virtual teams within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, including cultivating trust, keeping employees engaged, leveraging technology to overcome communication barriers, aligning organizational goals, and clarifying roles, objectives, and expectations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will benefit from finalized actionable guidelines that will enable enhanced productivity and innovation of its virtual teams and contribute to overall strengthened organizational performance and service to Canadians.
DR. IRAJ FOOLADI
Professor; Douglas C. Mackay Chair in Finance (Photo Credit Martine Durier-Copp)
MBA(FS) Corporate Finance, 2002 Winter Intensive – this was the date when I first met Dr. Iraj Fooladi. Corporate Finance is a challenging course, so I entered the classroom with a measure of trepidation. I need not have worried. Dr. Fooladi’s warm welcome and compassionate assurances that all concerns would be addressed in the coming three days, allowed me, along with my colleagues, to engage in a profound learning experience.
The next time we met was at the 2003 Graduation Ceremonies. His genuine delight in seeing the MBA(FS) Class of 2003 cross the stage to receive their hard-earned degrees, demonstrated his dedication to sharing knowledge and experience. Dr. Fooladi is an extraordinary teacher, leader and mentor. It was a privilege to have him as my professor.
Congratulations, Dr. Iraj Fooladi on receiving the Hossein Mousavi Foundation Community Appreciation Award
Rebecca Budd
Editor & Blog Coordinator,
CEGE Connection
The inaugural Hossein Mousavi Foundation Community Appreciation Award was offered to Dr. Iraj Fooladi, for his significant contributions to Nova Scotia and Canada through his professional activities and, particularly the Iranian Community in Nova Scotia, through volunteer involvement and achievements and by showing strong leadership. The award included $5,000 payable to Dr. Fooladi’s favorite charity.
A gala dinner was held to celebrate this outstanding achievement. Over 180 people attended the event including Speaker of the House of Commons, The Honourable Geoff Regan, Halifax Mayor, Mike Savage, and other dignitaries. Dr. Richard Florizone offered his congratulations virtually, which we welcome you to view at this link.
Dr. Richard Florizone, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dalhousie University
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
Venice, Italy
“The right to be forgotten, also known as the erasure law, has undoubtedly been met with some controversy. There are those who fully support the right of an individual to safeguard anything that is written and searchable about them. If the information no longer fits the person’s lifestyle, beliefs, or is not criminal in nature, does this removal of data and information impact anyone? On the other hand, there are those who believe that once something is written, or made available in the public domain, that this should exist forever, regardless of a person’s current situation.” The Right to be Forgotten – Can this work in Canada?
Chris Donnelly, MIM Class of 2018
Chris Donnelly, MIM Class of 2018
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Master of Information Management, Dr. Sandra Toze arranged a virtual interview with Chris Donnelly, Senior Functional Analyst, Business Intelligence at RCMP and the 2018 recipient of the prestigious SIM Director’s Award, given to the MIM grad with the highest overall GPA. Chris focused his research on a question that has significant implications on how individuals, indeed our society, will manage privacy and the right to be forgotten.
Chris has been a student of Dalhousie University for nine of the past 18 years, first graduating from the Faculty of Management’s Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program in 2005, with a major in Finance, which led him to a brief stint in banking, followed by a fulfilling career with the Government of Canada. Since 2008, Chris has been working as a functional systems analyst, specifically with enterprise resource planning and data analytics-based applications. Realizing a gap in his knowledge base, and wanting to enhance his current role, he re-applied to Dalhousie, and was accepted into the MIM program in 2014. He offered this thought to students who feel that their journey may never end, “there really is light at the end of the tunnel. A robust academic program is rewarding and worth the effort. In my experience, the MIM provided insight into strategic and knowledge-based thinking and the opportunity to connect with remarkable peers and mentors.”
CEGE Connection is thrilled that Chris has generously agreed to share his research that provides invaluable insight and a Canadian perspective on the issues surrounding the complex right to be forgotten. We invite you to join the conversation.
Chris Donnelly:
In 2014, the European Union (EU) enacted the concept of the right to be forgotten into law when a ruling against Google was handed down, granting a Spanish citizen’s request to have any links to his financial hardship that occurred 15 years prior. This citizen was successful in de-linking any articles relating to him from a Google search. While the articles may still be available, any direct links via Google were removed. Fast-forward four years later. Since this landmark case, Google has since received requests to remove more than 2.43 million URLs for sites alone since this ruling and has since removed about 43 percent (or 1.05 million) of these URLs (Doubek, 2018).
Google has since received requests to remove more than 2.43 million URLs for sites alone since this ruling and has since removed about 43 percent (or 1.05 million) of these URLs (Doubek, 2018).
So, who is ensuring that companies such as Google are in compliance, and are responsible for processing these requests?
Enter the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR covers requirements and guidelines regarding the gathering and processing of ‘people data,’ personally identifiable information of individuals and citizens within the EU (Wikipedia, 2018). This regulation is enforced, and applies to all organizations, regardless of location, that has dealings with the EU. Implemented on May 25th, 2018, this regulation aims to further protect citizens by ensuring that their data and information are stored securely, describe how the data is stored and protected, providing greater clarity and transparency on privacy, and how these citizens may be able to access their own data.
Should an individual be able to seek protection from themselves? Meaning, is it important that an individual have the right to have their data erased no matter the circumstances? This ongoing debate may take years to resolve in the EU. Which begs another question, how may Canadians be impacted?
Furthermore, in conjunction with the right to be forgotten legislation, citizens have the right to request their data be erased, based on lawfulness, relevance, or other factors. This legislation protects private citizens when dealing with businesses. Should an individual be able to seek protection from themselves? Meaning, is it important that an individual have the right to have their data erased no matter the circumstances? This ongoing debate may take years to resolve in the EU. Which begs another question, how may Canadians be impacted?
Close to home, no legislation exists within Canada that offers an individual the right to be forgotten, neither through business nor social media. Why is this?
Canadians spend hours a day online, using social media and blogging. Thoughts are shared, and opinions are formed. Debates and dialogues ensue. Many online public forums, including social media are open for everyone to see, despite privacy settings. Should the Canadian government protect us as citizens against ourselves? Or should we be personally accountable for our online content, no matter the age, mental state or background? This may be hard to tell. Indeed, adults should be aware of taking precautions and be mindful as to the perks and pitfalls of the Internet. A general rule of thumb is that if you post or share something online, it will be there forever. Nevertheless, not everyone knows these perks and pitfalls; nor do some even care of the detriment they may be causing themselves.
Should the Canadian government protect us as citizens against ourselves? Or should we be personally accountable for our online content, no matter the age, mental state or background? This may be hard to tell. Indeed, adults should be aware of taking precautions and be mindful as to the perks and pitfalls of the Internet. A general rule of thumb is that if you post or share something online, it will be there forever.
Adults may have to atone for their actions, but what about children and adolescents?
Children and adolescents are undoubtedly impressionable. In many cases, does being naïve or poorly informed the right to request to have links to something that may have been published on social media erased? Or deleted altogether? California has enacted legislation protecting adolescents and children by allowing the ability to wipe the online content that they have posted. A website must disclose what data is being collected and used by the site on behalf of the minor. Based on the information provided, parents then have the right to prohibit the website’s operator from collecting data and information and can request to have this deleted.
All this to say, there may be a disconnect between the right to be forgotten, the right to the freedom of expression, and privacy. In Canada, we are taught at a very young age to express ourselves, and that we are fortunate enough to live in a country where we have the freedom to do so. On the other hand, we also have the right to privacy and protection. Expression vs. privacy, who wins? There may be more at play here, such as what is the limit of expression, but more importantly, the redefinition of what privacy truly means. If someone expresses an opinion that is not directly harmful to the reputation of an individual, nor criminal in nature, is there indeed any undue harm?
All this to say, there may be a disconnect between the right to be forgotten, the right to the freedom of expression, and privacy. In Canada, we are taught at a very young age to express ourselves, and that we are fortunate enough to live in a country where we have the freedom to do so. On the other hand, we also have the right to privacy and protection. Expression vs. privacy, who wins?
Which leads to the redefinition of privacy in the digital age. Almost all millennials grew up as digital natives, and many have had an online presence since they were in grade school. As a result, their social media presence has been years in the making. Therefore, their data and information have not been private in the traditional sense for most of their lives. How does this impact Canadians in the future? A redefinition as to what is considered private versus what may be made available publicly is essential. Granted, specific personal information such as name, gender, beliefs, should be safeguarded and only released by the individual who owns this information. Other information posted in a public setting may be readily available if the information is not detrimental to the individual. Ultimately, we as a society, have to determine how we proceed in handling this.
Almost all millennials grew up as digital natives, and many have had an online presence since they were in grade school. As a result, their social media presence has been years in the making. Therefore, their data and information have not been private in the traditional sense for most of their lives. How does this impact Canadians in the future?
Where the right to be forgotten could become a problem in Canada is if there is a difference in opinion between the private citizen and the online source of information. If the information is factual, and provides protection for other Canadians, specifically in criminal matters, the right to be forgotten is not a vehicle that may be available to those who wish to re-write history. A recent poll suggests that Canadians are not ready for an erasure law within Canada as 58% of respondents feel that links and information about an individual should not be erased (Watson, 2018). Greater sample size may change these results; however, this may indicate that while Canadians are aware of the right to be forgotten, they may not be fully ready to embrace this concept within their borders. Despite these statistics, in nations where democracy is prevalent, more and more citizens are stepping up and voicing their concern over the type of data and information that is being captured. Citizens are becoming increasingly aware of their rights and the type of data retention policies that companies are enacting. It may be only a matter of time before similar legislation is enacted within our borders.
If the information is factual, and provides protection for other Canadians, specifically in criminal matters, the right to be forgotten is not a vehicle that may be available to those who wish to re-write history. A recent poll suggests that Canadians are not ready for an erasure law within Canada as 58% of respondents feel that links and information about an individual should not be erased (Watson, 2018).
The concept of the right to be forgotten and erasure laws are undoubtedly controversial. As Canadians become increasingly more educated as to how our data is used, captured, and what is written about us, we will inevitably become more concerned as to the intended use of our information. As privacy definitions change, and as Canadians become prudent as to what is shared, a demand will surface that will leave Canadian law makers with little choice but to consider similar legislation to the right to be forgotten and the GDPR within our borders.
Whether Canadians fully embrace this remains to be seen. Stay tuned.
Chris Donnelly, 2018
References
Doubek, J. (2018, February 28). Google Has Received 650,000 ‘Right To Be Forgotten’ Requests Since 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2018, from The Two Way: NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/28/589411543/google-received-650-000-right-to-be-forgotten-requests-since-2014
Watson, H. (2018, April 12). Do Canadians Want the Right to be Forgotten? Retrieved June 23, 2018, from J Source – The Canadian Journalism Project: http://j-source.ca/article/do-canadians-want-the-right-to-be-forgotten/
Wikipedia. (2018, July 21). General Data Protection Regulation. Retrieved July 21, 2018, from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation
“I devoted my final capstone project towards facilitating communication across the various, remotely-located, offices in which I dealt with on a regular basis. It is gratifying to know that many of the findings contained in my capstone presentation continue to greatly benefit the organization.”
Sarah Horrocks, MIM Class of 2011
Sarah Horrocks, MIM Class of 2011
In a recent virtual interview, Sarah joined CEGE Connection in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the MIM program.
Sarah Horrocks:
I was one of the first recipients of the MIM degree from Dalhousie. Being part of the inaugural cohort of students meant being grouped together for every course, which led to many lasting friendships that continue to this day. The MIM program opened a new way of thinking about how to organize documents and materials for the preservation and continuity of business knowledge and information assets.
While I was studying for the degree, I was also working in two different office environments. I found that every aspect of what I was learning was immediately applicable to my work in both of those positions. I developed a deeper understanding of some of the legal underpinnings of information management and privacy legislation and was able to correct several policies that had fallen into non-compliance. I created a document retention/disposition policy and instituted file naming conventions for ease of document retrieval that exist to this day. I devoted my final capstone project towards facilitating communication across the various, remotely-located, offices in which I dealt with on a regular basis. It is gratifying to know that many of the findings contained in my capstone presentation continue to greatly benefit the organization.
Thanks to the flexible MIM blended online model, I was able to complete my degree, despite facing many time constraints. It was not unusual for me to be doing homework during my kids’ football games, paddling practices, even during my son’s bagpipe lessons (THAT was a challenge!). The faculty were extremely helpful in devising options for working around the occasional life events that caused interruptions in studies, such as skyping in to intensives or offering independent studies. Having the course material available online meant you were able to access it at your convenience from any location. The moderated online discussions ensured you were able to exchange your ideas with colleagues and faculty to better understand the material. The “in person” intensive sessions were a two-day whirlwind of knowledge exchange, presentations, papers and most importantly, networking. We worked incredibly hard. Even so, being together as a group made the experience extremely rewarding.
I would (and often do) encourage others to explore this program because there is so much to learn that is interesting and immediately applicable to any organization. In fact, my husband, a career army man, received his MIM degree in 2017. The variety of specialized electives available allow the degree to be tailored to fit a variety of interests. I am continually excited to uncover where my MIM knowledge can next be applied. This fall, after 13 years with the same organization, I am dusting off my CV and embarking on a job search, with my MIM designation at the top of my list of qualifications. I am ever eager to put my hard-earned degree to good use!
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Vancouver, British Columbia