Arthur Quinn Ltd, Spring Tyne, Old Main Road, Fleet Hargate, Spalding, Lincs PE12 8LL, UK E-‐mail: [email protected]
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.