Comments on: The Cult of The Professional/The Long Tail of Authority http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/ An industry analyst blog looking at software ecosystems and convergence Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:20:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Infuse » Blog Archive » A long tail of authority? http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-503315 Infuse » Blog Archive » A long tail of authority? Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:04:12 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-503315 [...] James at Redmonk posts on Andrew Keen’s book The Cult of the Amateur. Keen’s point is, in a nutshell, that user-generated content is inferior to that of professionals. So we take risks by using social media sources as reference points – Wikipedia and its (allegedly) dodgy content is the oft-cited example. [...] [...] James at Redmonk posts on Andrew Keen’s book The Cult of the Amateur. Keen’s point is, in a nutshell, that user-generated content is inferior to that of professionals. So we take risks by using social media sources as reference points – Wikipedia and its (allegedly) dodgy content is the oft-cited example. [...]

]]> By: jgovernor http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-118113 jgovernor Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:20:13 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-118113 @jqp Its a good point. The Onion is a good source of news and information too. Certainly better than some of the crap that passes for authoritative in our culture. @jqp Its a good point. The Onion is a good source of news and information too. Certainly better than some of the crap that passes for authoritative in our culture.

]]> By: jqp http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-117475 jqp Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:37:58 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-117475 James wrote "I think Chris Anderson gets it right though. Wikipedia is where you start your research, not where you finish it." I neither start nor finish my research with Wikipedia. It's simply another resource I occasionally visit as a form of entertainment. While I would never argue that my primary resources are 100% accurate and reliable, I have found Wikipedia to be unacceptably inaccurate and unreliable. Carr wrote "They go to Wikipedia because it’s free and convenient. They know its quality and reliability are imperfect, but that’s a tradeoff they’re willing to make as they hurriedly fill their market baskets with information." Perhaps they should bookmark The Onion as well. James wrote “I think Chris Anderson gets it right though. Wikipedia is where you start your research, not where you finish it.”

I neither start nor finish my research with Wikipedia. It’s simply another resource I occasionally visit as a form of entertainment. While I would never argue that my primary resources are 100% accurate and reliable, I have found Wikipedia to be unacceptably inaccurate and unreliable.

Carr wrote “They go to Wikipedia because it’s free and convenient. They know its quality and reliability are imperfect, but that’s a tradeoff they’re willing to make as they hurriedly fill their market baskets with information.”

Perhaps they should bookmark The Onion as well.

]]> By: jgovernor http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115831 jgovernor Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:44:02 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115831 "Similarly, the profession may like you to believe that audit is unprofitable" - perhaps you could drill into that? “Similarly, the profession may like you to believe that audit is unprofitable” - perhaps you could drill into that?

]]> By: Tax Research UK / If you’re not independent you’re not a professional http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115464 Tax Research UK / If you’re not independent you’re not a professional Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:05:07 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115464 [...] Howlett has written a long and considered response on his blog to a claim made elsewhere that claimed: If the cult of the amateur is growing, it’s a direct response to the failures [...] [...] Howlett has written a long and considered response on his blog to a claim made elsewhere that claimed: If the cult of the amateur is growing, it’s a direct response to the failures [...]

]]> By: Denis Howlett http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115412 Denis Howlett Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:08:17 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115412 James - The big frauds occur where there is collusion and deliberate attempts to hide or disguise transactions. That has little to do with oversight. I suggest you've fallen for the perception that audit is designed to detect fraud. It is not and never has been. Similarly, the profession may like you to believe that audit is unprofitable but that's not true. No question that consulting is more profitable but that's a different issue. It's still possible to legitimately consult on issues that don't have an audit impact - eg business strategy, location, product mix, profit optimisation etc. I'd argue that tax is treading into dangerous territory. James - The big frauds occur where there is collusion and deliberate attempts to hide or disguise transactions. That has little to do with oversight. I suggest you’ve fallen for the perception that audit is designed to detect fraud. It is not and never has been.

Similarly, the profession may like you to believe that audit is unprofitable but that’s not true. No question that consulting is more profitable but that’s a different issue.

It’s still possible to legitimately consult on issues that don’t have an audit impact - eg business strategy, location, product mix, profit optimisation etc. I’d argue that tax is treading into dangerous territory.

]]> By: jgovernor http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115394 jgovernor Mon, 09 Jul 2007 07:25:49 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115394 Good to see you Dennis. Good point on cause and effect. I would argue light touch has some issues. If company executives know the quality of the oversight is low, they are more likely to cook the books. that seems like classic cause and effect to me. your industry quite recently made the case that it needed to carry out both audit and consultancy, in order to make a profit, because audit wasn't profitable enough. vinnie regarding the reality check, all i said was there some vacuums to fill. Professions are here for the long haul, just as broadcast TV is, but that doesn't mean the businesses won't change. You also really need to expand your world view to include influencers are well as buyers, to be more complete in your analysis. Charles- amen Good to see you Dennis. Good point on cause and effect. I would argue light touch has some issues. If company executives know the quality of the oversight is low, they are more likely to cook the books. that seems like classic cause and effect to me. your industry quite recently made the case that it needed to carry out both audit and consultancy, in order to make a profit, because audit wasn’t profitable enough.

vinnie regarding the reality check, all i said was there some vacuums to fill. Professions are here for the long haul, just as broadcast TV is, but that doesn’t mean the businesses won’t change. You also really need to expand your world view to include influencers are well as buyers, to be more complete in your analysis.

Charles- amen

]]> By: Charles Edward Frith http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115273 Charles Edward Frith Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:16:08 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-115273 I'm convinced that the cult of the professional will be the considered view in the future. If this mismanaged world is the result of professionals there's a lot of room for improvement. I’m convinced that the cult of the professional will be the considered view in the future. If this mismanaged world is the result of professionals there’s a lot of room for improvement.

]]> By: vinnie mirchandani http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-114138 vinnie mirchandani Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:47:58 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-114138 James, with due respect...all of us bloggers need to periodically perform reality checks. If more than 5% of our readers are execs with budget authorities over IT, audit, advertising etc dollars - "professional" spend, I would start to agree with you. They may be wary of the professionals, but don't misread that as they have moved to the crowds...they are learning to better monitor the professionals. And professionals did not become professionals overnight - they have relationships, duarability and surely at least some credentials. They did not become established pros without ability to morph with the times... James, with due respect…all of us bloggers need to periodically perform reality checks. If more than 5% of our readers are execs with budget authorities over IT, audit, advertising etc dollars - “professional” spend, I would start to agree with you. They may be wary of the professionals, but don’t misread that as they have moved to the crowds…they are learning to better monitor the professionals. And professionals did not become professionals overnight - they have relationships, duarability and surely at least some credentials. They did not become established pros without ability to morph with the times…

]]> By: Are the days of the professional numbered? « AccMan http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-113931 Are the days of the professional numbered? « AccMan Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:28:14 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2007/07/03/the-cult-of-the-professionalthe-long-tail-of-authority/#comment-113931 [...] I first read James Governor’s post entitled The Cult of The Professional/The Long Tail of Authority I was aghast. Who could possibly assert: As budgets are repeatedly slashed (we can’t afford to [...] [...] I first read James Governor’s post entitled The Cult of The Professional/The Long Tail of Authority I was aghast. Who could possibly assert: As budgets are repeatedly slashed (we can’t afford to [...]

]]>