Recently, the term “sensitivity” has been on my mind. “Sensitivity” here means sensitivity to information, sensitivity to culture, sensitivity to differences, sensitivity to the speed, etc. and you can make a LONG list. In other words, I am using the term quite loose.
I started realizing the significance of it, as I came across some occasions where we discussed the issue and in particular, the lack of it. I discussed the matter with various people–creative director, ex-government official, business people, students etc.
As I think about it, the question came to my mind. “Can we develop it?” I am now trying to get the answer to this question.
My hypothesis right now is that it is somewhat inherent. i.e. Some people are born with sensitivity, while others are not. Probably it depends upon ”sensitivity to what?” question. Some people may be very sensitive to social norms of the community/country they live in, but not to the difference in values in different countries. Others may be sensitive to diversity, but not to timing & speed, etc.
I believe that there are more people with the sensitivity than not, but their sensitivity needs to be stimulated to be developed further. One way of developing sensitivity is to get exposed to many different things, even including extreme conditions. Without the actual experience of seeing different things and feeling them, it is difficult to develop the sensitivity.
Yoko Ishikura is a Professor at Hitotsubashi University ICS in the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy in Japan. She has held positions as a professor at the School of International Politics, Economics and Business of Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, as a consultant at McKinsey and Company Inc. Japan and a visiting professor at Darden School.
Professor Ishikura is a consultant to a number of multinational companies and has been a frequent speaker at management conferences, seminars, and workshops throughout the world. She was a member of the Regulatory Reform Committee for the Japanese government and the International Competitiveness Commission for METI. She is currently a Forum Fellow of the World Economic Forum.
She is the author of Strategic Shift from OR choices to AND paradigm, Building Core Skills of Organization , and the co-author of the following publications: Managing Diversity in the 21st Century, Strategy for Cluster Initiatives in Japan , and Building a Career to the World Class Professionals – all in Japanese. Her books in English include: Asian Advantage, Hitotsubashi on Knowledge Management and Trust and Antitrust in Asian Business Alliances.
Professor Ishikura’s current research interests are focused on global competition, innovation, and knowledge management. She received her BA from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan; MBA from Darden School, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia; and DBA from Harvard Business School.
