Committee on Design

I sent this message on April 20, 2012 in response to the first repositioning survey.  I have not received a response. I do not share the concerns that have been expressed about the AIA's inability to accept criticism or the possibility of retribution. 

Catherine

Please convey this comment to Robert Ivy, Jeff Potter and Mickey Jacob.

 Many of the questions in this survey were unanswerable from my position.  I think you have missed the most important element.  That is, facilitating a process whereby the architects decide what this profession is about.  Let's hope, when we do that, that we decide to be about something that the public cares about.  We are confused about our purpose and for those few who do have clarity, they are about something that rarely interests the general public.

 By the way, Catherine, if you are interested, I would be happy to show you specifically how your questions and multiple choice answers leave out the most important issue (at least in my mind).

 Thanks to all for your efforts.

 Mike Mense FAIA
-------------------------------------------
Mike Mense FAIA
Owner
mmenseArchitects
Anchorage AK
-------------------------------------------

I hope they're listening, Mike, and that you get a response. If you do, please consider posting.

-------------------------------------------
Walter Hosack
Author
Walter M. Hosack
Dublin OH
-------------------------------------------

I forgot to comment on the most important sentence in your note: "By the way, Catherine, if you are interested, I would be happy to show you specifically how your questions and multiple choice answers leave out the most important issue (at least in my mind)."

I'd like to read your thoughts regarding the questionnaire. I think it would be a learning experience for everyone if you're willing to post.

I also added a final paragraph to my note RE: re: repositioning. 

"Criticism is not a question until it is rewritten. It is opinion that is difficult to decipher when listening. I'm sure Edison was unhappy with the gaslight, but he turned criticism into a question and produced the light bulb."

-------------------------------------------
Walter Hosack
Author
Walter M. Hosack
Dublin OH
-------------------------------------------

I, too, had trouble with that survey. For those who studied sociology, it is accepted that closed question surveys are designed to solicit specific answers, even though the questions are vague.

For example, a question may ask the reader to rank items in order of importance. While the typical answers do rate all items from high to low, a related item not on the list may really be the most important. When the survey is released, the item ranked the highest importance is announced as the holy grail, without exposiing the choices of answers. That's the way surveys have been for some time.

I responded to the survey, but left all but one question blank. Like others have said, those unanswered questions are irrelevant.

-------------------------------------------
Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
-------------------------------------------

Mike-

Glad your engaged in the converation and we at the AIA are listening.

This research is indeed intended to identify the connection between what the public cares about and the purpose architects strive to deliver on. We are giving the same survey to 3,000 members of the public as well as 7,000 to 10,000 architcts...looking to see where the intersections are...because we have to not only discover what the public cares about, but more importantly what they care about that architects believe they deliver. If the public cares most about some purpose that architects do not actually embrace as their purpose, then that is a losing proposition -- it's a disconnect.

We have to find the intersection between whatever purpose the public values most, relative to whatever purpose/benefit that architects feel most strongly they provide. That is the sweet spot of relevance. 

-------------------------------------------
Kyle McAdams AIA
Sterling VA
-------------------------------------------

Kyle
Thanks for listening and responding.  Sounds like you are part of the survey team.
Can you please send me a copy of the second questionnaire? 
I would like to give you and others a detailed explanation of how I think you are not quite on target.
Thanks
Mike

-------------------------------------------
Mike Mense FAIA
Owner
mmenseArchitects
Anchorage AK
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 07-27-2012 17:48
From: Kyle McAdams
Subject: repositioning

Mike-

Glad your engaged in the converation and we at the AIA are listening.

This research is indeed intended to identify the connection between what the public cares about and the purpose architects strive to deliver on. We are giving the same survey to 3,000 members of the public as well as 7,000 to 10,000 architcts...looking to see where the intersections are...because we have to not only discover what the public cares about, but more importantly what they care about that architects believe they deliver. If the public cares most about some purpose that architects do not actually embrace as their purpose, then that is a losing proposition -- it's a disconnect.

We have to find the intersection between whatever purpose the public values most, relative to whatever purpose/benefit that architects feel most strongly they provide. That is the sweet spot of relevance. 

-------------------------------------------
Kyle McAdams AIA
Sterling VA
-------------------------------------------