Bob Cannon Cannon Advantage 13985 Aquilla Rd. Burton, Ohio 44021, USA (216) 408-9495 Phone (440) 834-1052 Fax email

What is an underlying question that gives form to your work or interest in this field?

Will using Collective Wisdom result in better decision-making as reflected in a higher success rate?

What is your personal experience of collective wisdom in groups?

I have been a manager in businesses for over thirty years and as I look back, most of the successful projects that I have been associated with were group efforts rather than individual efforts. Only since I have become involved with Appreciative Inquiry and the power of inclusion have I begun to see the connectedness in my life experiences.

What is it about the work in this field that excites you and connects you to your own deepest self?

There are really two areas of interest for me. I have been studying decision-making and after completing the book, “Why Decisions Fail” by Paul C. Nutt, I am convinced that a collective wisdom approach to decision-making using Appreciative Inquiry would result in a higher success rate. This area of exploration is too new to have any statistical results to work with, but there is a ton of anecdotal evidence to support the concept.

Second, on a personal note, I am fascinated by the seeming connection between Collective Wisdom and the Bible verse from Matthew 18, 19-20. Are we approaching a recognizable connection to our Higher Power - God?

I am constantly amazed at how obvious the sense this work makes and how it has been overlooked for so long. It is incredibly exciting to be on the leading edge of an awakening that will affect generations to come.

Please provide a brief storyline or snapshot of what brought you to this work.

About four years ago some of our friends suggested my wife and I visit a church in our community. We did and started to attend regularly. I scheduled a visit with Priscilla Norling, a member of the staff, and began a spiritual journey that introduced me to David Cooperrider and Appreciative Inquiry. David introduced me to the works of Willis Harman, Dee Hock, Margaret Wheatley and others. David’s introduction sparked a desire to learn more and I began my research into decision-making and an exploration of all things having to do with spirituality and connectedness in the workplace.

How would you like to be available to others in this field? What would be a meaningful connection? Are you available to talk with others? What contribution might you be able to make?

I am eager to learn and share in any area having to do with using and promoting collective wisdom in the workplace. I hope to continue my work around decision-making and would love to learn from and share with others interested in this area of exploration. There is an article entitled “1 Sigma Decisions in a Six Sigma World” on my website that provides some information about using collective wisdom to improve the success rate of decision-making.

Links to this site or others:

Taking Aim for Better Decision-Making by Robert Cannon