Technology and methodology!

‘The great end of life is not knowledge but action.’

Thomas Huxley

It is important to distinguish between the two words ‘technology’ and

‘methodology’. Methodology is a series of steps to accomplish a task.

You can easily follow a few steps to get a result. For example, if you want

to switch on the television, the steps you should follow are given in the

manual. If you follow the steps, the television will be on.

You do not have to know the technological aspect of the television

such as the circuit diagram. You need not know how the picture tube is

connected to the electrical circuit. In this world, you can survive just by

knowing the methodology.

However, technology means how things work. Technology takes into

account the principles using which things are configured and how the

various components are connected to each other. While methodology

will give you the barest minimum for survival, when you are stuck,

you need the technology to solve the problem and trouble shoot. For

example, when you switch on the television and the television does not

function, it means that your methodology has failed and what you need

is the technology to make it work again.

In every job that you do, the basic skills are the methodology. By

knowing the basic skills you will succeed. However, if you want to excel,

you need the technology. Technology of living takes into account the

range of your skill set and skill inventory. With ordinary communication,

you can succeed to some extent. However, you should go into the various

dimensions of communication so that you are able to communicate in

most difficult situations. For example, assertiveness is a communication

technology. Negotiation skill is a communication technology.

(From my book 'The Gift of Time')

N C Sridharan
www.thetimefoundation.com 00000