Back in the 9th century in Cordoba in Andalusia, lived a man called Abbas ibn Firnas, well known for many curious experiments which he made, one is his trying to fly. He covered himself with feathers, attached a couple of wings to his body, and, getting on an eminence, flung himself down into the air, when according to the testimony of several trustworthy writers who witnessed the performance, he flew a considerable distance, as if he had been a bird, but, in alighting again on the place whence he had started, his back was very much hurt, for not knowing that birds when they alight come down upon their tails, he forgot to provide himself with one.
I came through a job announcement for an open position as “procurement specialist”, by viewing the job description, skills and qualifications required, all sounded OK except one of the “must have qualifications”, which was + 20 years of experience in procurement!! I don’t want here to discuss the reason behind setting such a requirement as much as I want to share my thoughts about the concept “experience” in a fast-evolving industry.
Thinking loud as usual, from a while, I placed a question in LinkedIn to decision makers that I might have in my network, when they take a decision, on which of the following is it usually based? Experience, functional responsibility, hierarchy, subjectivity, feeling and thoughts or facts and objectivity?
I didn’t get any comment on that question and I was not surprised about it and was even not expecting to get an answer. I assume that a significant part of decision makers would spontaneously say “Experience”, but if the answer will come after a short thinking than it might be: “a combination of all these factors, depending on the case”.
Experience is mostly an asset ...but….
Dumb to make the same mistakes, but things change and develop, what did not work last time may do it now ... with refined technology, better governance, education or modern materials.
Experience cannot be understood as solid count of years in an industry. It is more worth when it is combined with skills such as innovative, open and analytical mindset and the ability and desire to continuously learning.
If all aviation lovers have stopped at the experiment of Abbas ibn Firnas, we would never have what we reached today, we would for sure never see the wing-suits for example.
If we do not challenge the experience, then the development will stop!
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