Re: [xmca] Re: Events: Assistance requested

[Carol Macdonald <carolmacdon@gmail.com>]

Mike,

Piaget wrote a book called "Six sociological studies" which was only
available in French for many years.  I am going to look for information, as
my copy was stolen.  For him, "sociological' was roughly the same as
"social".

Will get back to you.

Carol

On 14 February 2013 19:30, mike cole <lchcmike@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > 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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-- 
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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