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Telling stories vs. telling data

Claude Fischer, professor of sociology | July 10, 2014

In a just-released preview of his new book, Narrative and Collective Action, public-policy scholar Frederick W. Mayer of Duke University discusses the power of the well-told story for leaders of social movements and politicians. Starting with the example of Martin Luther King, Jr., Mayer recounts how effective leaders deploy stories rather than analyses. Stories compel us, he says, … Continue reading »

Storytelling for engineers and other folk

Ikhlaq Sidhu, Chief Scientist and Founding Director, Sutardja Center | August 27, 2013

As engineers and engineering leaders, we often forget the important role of “storytelling” in our work.  Usually, this takes the form of a myopic focus on our technology capabilities or markets served.  What we forget is that it won’t matter unless the concept is meaningful to people.  And stories are the medium that humans understand … Continue reading »