Arthur  Quinn  Ltd,  Spring  Tyne,  Old  Main  Road,  Fleet  Hargate,  Spalding,  Lincs  PE12  8LL,  UK  E-­‐mail:  tony.awcock@arthurquinn.org  

Dr.  Steve  Marshall  Associate  Consultant  /  Arthur  Quinn  Ltd    

 

 

I  am  the  owner  and  director  of  Photo-­‐Dialogue  Ltd,  a  niche  consultancy   specialising   in   developing   the   capacity   for  innovation,   creativity   and   change   within   individuals,  organisations  and  social  institutions.  I  am  also  a  member  of  faculty  and  a  consultant  at  Ashridge,  one  of  the  UK's  leading  business  schools  and  consultancy  organisations.  My  practice  expertise  combines  established  facilitation  and    

consulting   skills together   with   radical   visual   and   creative   inquiry methodologies   that  bring  transformational  change  for  individuals  and  organisations.  

I've  always  been  fascinated  by  the  different  ways  in  which  we  see  the  world  I   first   indulged   this   passion   as   a   young   photographer,   freelancing   around   London,  working   on   major   accounts   with   some   of   the   'big   names'   in   the   business.   I   was   also  studying   for   my   first   degree   and   remember   having   a   great   time   finding   my   feet   in   a  vibrant,  fast-­‐paced,  aesthetically  orientated  though  frequently  brutal  industry.  

After  a  few  years  of  photography,  and  keen  for  more  adventure,  I  decided  to  chance  my  luck  in  a  completely  different  career.  I  joined  the  military  as  fast-­‐jet  fighter  pilot  and,  as  I  made  my  way   through   a   range   of   operational   postings,   once   again   started   to  become  intrigued  by  our  sense  of  imagery.  

I  learned  to  obsess  over  the  'picture';  the  image  of  events  shared  by  military  pilots  that  reflects  their  awareness  of  what   is  happening  around  them  in  fast  moving,  complex  air  engagements.  A  keen,  accurate  sense  of   the   'picture'  was   fundamental   to  my  decision-­‐making  and  exponentially  increased  my  effectiveness.  Research  shows  us  that  pilots  with  good   situational   awareness   are   ten   times  more   effective   than   those   who   lack   a   clear  picture.  

The  capabilities  required  to  work  in  the  air  with  rapidly  shifting  objectives,  critical  time  constraints  and  high   stakes  are  now   fundamental   in  high  performance   in  organisations  across   the  modern  world.    It   is   also   clear   that   the  multi-­‐faceted,   complex   demands   of  contemporary  business   frequently  place  us  beyond  the  application  of   simplistic  change  models  and  tick-­‐box  consultancy  tools.    

Using   dialogic   conversation   and   visual   technologies,   I   integrate   my   practice   as   a  consultant   together   with   my   experience   as   a   decision   maker   and   my   work   as   a  photographer   and   digital   artist   to   develop   the   imagery   and   vision   that   sparks   the  conversations  that  lead  to  innovation  and  change.  

We  tend  to  believe  that  leaders  must  enable  their  colleagues  and  staff  to  develop  a  clear  and  concise   image  of   the  world  around  them  so  that  they  can  engage  strategically  and  effectively  in  fast-­‐moving  business  environments.  Yet  vital,  vibrant  organisations  demand  something  more  than  a  singular,  confining  organisational  'vision'.  Our  vision  and  imagery  is  always  open  to  interpretation  and  different  meanings  and  in  this  context,  creativity  and  conflict   are   essential   elements   to   lively,   innovative   conversation   and   contribution.    We  

 

 

RFI  Roche/Genentech  &  Arthur  Quinn  Ltd  –  August  xx,  2014  

Arthur  Quinn  Ltd,  Spring  Tyne,  Old  Main  Road,  Fleet  Hargate,  Spalding,  Lincs  PE12  8LL,  UK  

 

know  that  a  picture  is  worth  a  thousand  words  but  it  never  actually  says  them.  We  do.  

Strategic  creativity  is  a  product  of  high  quality,  inspiring  conversation  and  dialogue  that  flows  from  our  vision  and  imagination.    As  we  shift  our  attention  from  economic  models  of   organisation   to  more   collaborative,   sustainable  ways   of   thinking   and   leading   so   the  imperative  to  find  new  ways  to  effectively  share  our  thinking  grows.  As  a  consequence,  I  believe   that   visual   methodologies,   reflective   thinking   and   dialogue   can   generate   new,  creative  perspectives  which  help  turn  our  vision  into  impact  and  collective  action.  

As  a  practitioner,  I  continue  to  explore  my  own  vision  of  working  at  the  leading  edges  of  visual   practice   while   ensuring   that   my   clients   benefit   from   rigour   and   quality   in   my  work.    Since   passing   my   first   degree   in   photography,   film   and   television,   I   have  undertaken   an  MBA   and,   subsequently,   an  MSc   in   Organisation   Consulting.    Following  my    research   into    the   nature   of   creativity   and   identity,   I   was   awarded   a   doctorate   in  organisational   consulting   and    later   joined   the   Ashridge   faculty   to   supervise   DProf  students  on  the  Ashridge  Doctorate  in  Organisational  Change  (ADOC)  as  well  as  working  on  a  number  of  other  MSc/MBA  programmes.