Re: [xmca] Re: Events: Assistance requested

[mike cole <lchcmike@gmail.com>]

I agree with Armando. Among other things, that document about event
planning provides an interesting
start on analyzing certain generalizable categories relevant to the
division of labor and its dynamics.

People are responding to my original question about "what is an event" in
terms of different discourses
focused on different levels of scale, in the chat sense.

Sewell and Sahlins are concerned with events at the level of memorable and
memorialized history
events in discussion issues of agency and structure at the cultural
historical level.

Cultural-mediational psychologists and other ontogeny-oriented folks look
at socially defined events
of long standing such as birthdays and innaugurations wars, etc. This
branches into the branches that Greg has pointed to in sociology, symbolic
interactionisn, cultural studies. And it branched "down" into developmental
psychology using notions such as event schemas/scripts..... secondary
artifacts in Wartofskian terms.

I sure have a pile of reading to do! Serves me right wondering what events
have to do with communication.  :-)
mike


On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 6:47 AM, Justo, Armando <ArmandoJ@iadb.org> wrote:

> Hi Carol,
>
> That is a very interesting question and I personally think that CHAT is
> great for the analysis. These behaviors represent historical accepted forms
> of activity for these positions that establish the "norms" applicable to
> its incumbents. The credentialization movement is grounded in these type of
> approaches.
>
> One possibility could be the analysis of use value and exchange value to
> see how individuals use this set of behaviors to develop and to foster
> their employability, and how organizations use the same behaviors to define
> the rules for the activity. Sawchuk (2003) does a very interesting analysis
> of this type for the functions of a university professor.
>
> Another performative lens would help incumbents to see these examples as
> developmental possibilities "to be both who they are and who they are
> becoming" (Holzman, 2009).
>
> I hope this helps!
>
> Best regards,
>
> Armando
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Carol Macdonald [mailto:carolmacdon@gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 04:55 AM
> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
> Subject: Re: [xmca] Re: Events: Assistance requested
>
> Armando,
>
> This is obviously a correct and comprehensive account. I do, however,
> wonder how Mike is going to conceptualise that in CHAT!
>
> Carol
>
> On 13 February 2013 21:07, Justo, Armando <ArmandoJ@iadb.org> wrote:
>
> > Dear Mike,
> >
> > Years ago I conducted the profiling of technical competencies for one
> > organization that has the position of "event planners". Their job
> > encompassed four key areas: (i) knowledge of norms and regulations, (ii)
> > events management , (iii) contract services management, and (i) budget
> > management.
> >
> > Below are the responsibilities of this position.  I hope it helps,
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Armando Justo
> >
> > ________
> >
> > Event Planning and Production includes staff who are responsible for the
> > organization, coordination and execution of various events. Their
> > responsibilities encompass the coordination and supervision of all
> > protocol, ceremonial, and logistic aspects of these events applying
> > appropriate norms and regulations.
> >
> > (i) Norms and Regulations
> > . Defines logistical and physical event requirements, making
> > recommendations based on client needs, cost benefits and protocol
> standards.
> > . Defines event strategies and establishes order of precedence based on
> > analysis of agenda, list of attendees and cultural sensitivities.
> > . Guides staff on protocol matters, both written and procedural, and
> guest
> > criteria.
> > . Conducts quality control, evaluating the performance and quality of
> > services provided by vendors and facilities.
> > . Drafts recommendations for implementation of new protocol norms and
> > procedures, based on identification of best market practices.
> > . Provides guidance on application of proper protocol procedures for
> > official events.
> > . Anticipates potential complex and/or high visibility protocol issues,
> > using sound judgment to identify and implement corrective solutions.
> >
> > (ii) Events Management
> > . Advises involved players on logistical and protocol concerns and needs,
> > providing strategic information regarding participant requirements and/or
> > agenda issues.
> > . Initiates and coordinates corrective measures in response to issues
> > identified regarding the planning and execution of events.
> > . Conducts quality assurance for processing and approval of required
> > documentation, ensuring that requests for all necessary equipment and
> > logistical requirements are complete and accurate.
> > . Defines critical success factors to be considered for execution and
> > evaluation of event management.
> > . Defines criteria for identification of new facilities and resources,
> > guiding staff in assessing factors to be considered, ensuring compliance
> > with established procedures and maximization of financial resources.
> > . Guides staff, providing information and answering inquiries on best
> > utilization of available resources and/or need for additional resources.
> >
> > (iii) Contract Services Management
> > . Monitors work performed by consultants and contractors, ensuring
> > satisfactory delivery of services in compliance with contract
> > specifications and schedules, identifying any corrective actions
> necessary.
> > . Develop contractual agreements that maximize protection and value for
> > the organization, and meet the business requirements.
> > . Negotiates and/or renegotiates contract terms and conditions, ensuring
> > best cost value while maintaining quality of service.
> > . Educates external providers on conference or audio-visual norms and
> > guidelines, monitoring their work to ensure successful event organization
> > and/or services consistent with internal standards and procedures.
> > . Develops work programs and schedules according to upcoming event
> > requirements, and analysis of specific needs, optimizing the use of
> > financial and human resources.
> > . Establishes contract requirements, applying knowledge of market
> > conditions in the selection and hiring of consultants and service
> providers.
> > . In conjunction with the legal department, identifies legal implications
> > of user or vendor requests, to reduce potential liability to the
> > organization.
> >
> > (iv) Budget Administration
> > . Analyzes and determines needed budget for events maximizing cost
> savings
> > and efficiency.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu]
> On
> > Behalf Of "Engeström, Yrjö H M"
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:34 PM
> > To: lchcmike@gmail.com; eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> > Subject: Re: [xmca] Re: Events: Assistance requested
> >
> > MIke, the historian/historical sociologist William H. Sewell, Jr. has
> > built much of his theory of history on the concept of event. See for
> > example:
> >
> > -Sewell, W. H., Jr. (1996). Historical events as transformations of
> > structures: Inventing revolution at the Bastille. Theory and Soecity,
> > 25(6), 841-881.
> >
> > -Sewell, W. H., Jr. (1996). Three temporalities: Toward and eventful
> > sociology. In T. J. McDonald (Ed.), The historic turn in the human
> > sciences. University of Michigan Press.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Yrjö
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Feb 13, 2013, at 7:26 PM, mike cole wrote:
> >
> > > This is all very helpful. I recommend that stanford encyclopedia entry
> > > for a way to think about the span of levels and range of phenomena to
> > > which we apply the term, event.
> > >
> > > Note that in Pepper's "world hypotheses" view, "the event" is the unit
> > > of analysis of contextualism.
> > >
> > > hmmmm
> > > mike
> > >
> > > On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 8:40 AM, Helena Worthen <
> helenaworthen@gmail.com
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > >> Mike-
> > >>
> > >> One form of "event planning," which I assume includes everything from
> > >> kid's birthday parties to a ride at Disneyland to political
> > >> conventions, is theater production. From the job description point of
> > >> view, the person listed as "producer" for a play is responsible for
> > >> everything from raising the money, writing the budget, choosing the
> > >> play and publicizing it, hiring the director and other technical
> > >> staff and shaping how it is interpreted by the media and finally
> > >> deciding when it closes and paying off (or apologizing) to the
> > >> investors. As Jim Mackenzie, who was Producer at ACT in San Francisco
> > >> once said, "Sometimes all you have to do is say 'Let's do it' and
> > sometimes you're sewing on the zippers."
> > >>
> > >> When I googled "theater production", however, I saw that theater
> > >> departments who teach production focus on what goes on backstage --
> > >> costumes, wigs, makeup, set design, lighting. That's much narrower
> > >> than what a producer does. No useful book showed up.
> > >>
> > >> Nonetheless, theater might be a good way to talk about event planning
> > >> because of a key feature of  both: they are both bounded by the
> > >> audience's or the participant's, encounter with them. They require
> > >> taking the audience's perspective from the first awareness
> > >> (pre-publicity) all the way through to the memory of the event.
> > >>
> > >> I found this perspective useful when producing the annual conferences
> > >> for labor educators, which were very successful and drew increasing
> > >> numbers of participants over the four years I was doing it.
> > >>
> > >> Helena Worthen
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On 2/12/13 3:57 PM, "mike cole" <lchcmike@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Ah! Well, I started to send this note to all of you, then decided to
> > >>> send to daughter, but ended up sending to all of you after all, so
> > >>> here is the problem. Delete if this is an intrusion on your time.
> > >>>
> > >>> I am teaching a class where students are interest in an activity
> > >>> called "event planning" for which people are sometime paid enough to
> > >>> make a living. The difficulty is that the students do not appear to
> > >>> have been taught anything they can remember about events and this is
> > >>> a senior class. So I am doing some digging with them, and now with
> > >>> you.
> > >>>
> > >>> The dictionary is of limited use:
> > >>> * *
> > >>> *a. * Something that takes place; an occurrence.
> > >>> *b. * A significant occurrence or happening. See Synonyms at
> > >>> occurrence<http://www.thefreedictionary.com/occurrence>
> > >>> .
> > >>> *c. * A social gathering or activity.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> A philosophical dictionary lays out the problem territory in greater
> > >>> detail: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/events/#EveVsObj
> > >>>
> > >>> For events of type c, which the students are most concerned with of
> > >>> course, my thought was to turn to the work of Turner, Goffman.....
> > >>> but I cannot use an entire book.
> > >>>
> > >>> I would appreciate suggestions for sources that would help me and my
> > >>> students to think about events, especially as they relate to a
> > >>> process called communication.
> > >>>
> > >>> mike
> > >>> __________________________________________
> > >>> _____
> > >>> xmca mailing list
> > >>> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
> > >>> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > > __________________________________________
> > > _____
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> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Carol A  Macdonald Ph D (Edin)
> Developmental psycholinguist: EMBED
> Academic, Researcher, Writer and Editor
> Honorary Research Fellow: Department of Linguistics, Unisa
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