CET Seminar Series - 6 August 2015 - Jim Everett - Paradigm Lost: Lessons learned in consulting for mining

1. The Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) is pleased to invite you to a
Guest Lecture in the CET Seminar Series given by
Jim Everett
“Paradigm Lost: Lessons learned in consulting for mining and other industries”
ABSTRACT
As a consultant, I have had two contrasting experiences. Firstly, industry practitioners have strong
domain knowledge that I lack. Secondly, they often suffer paradigm paralysis, using models that
are either fundamentally inappropriate, or, more commonly, have become inappropriate through
time and changes in technology and computing power. Despite, and perhaps because of, the
growth in available data, paradigm paralysis precludes full use of the available information,
or worse, leads to outcomes contrary to those intended. Coming in as an outsider, a consultant
can help by introducing new paradigms or updating previous paradigms, subject to the
important proviso of becoming familiar with the domain knowledge and working closely with the
industry practitioners. This paper discusses my experiences exploring paradigm paralysis.
BIOGRAPHY
After his geophysics PhD at Cambridge and postdoc at the ANU, Jim’s family asked “what are
you going to do when you grow up”, so he joined industry, with Wapet and then Woodside.
Having computer experience, he was assigned project evaluations. Losing arguments with
accountants led to Economics and Commerce degrees at UWA. Then the university, starting
its MBA course, wanted lecturers with industry experience. A young family made fieldwork less
attractive, so Jim happily returned to academia, spending thirty years in the UWA Business School.
Retired as Emeritus Professor of Information Management, Jim researches and consults to the mining
industry. Many old folk lose faculties, but he gained one, joining the UWA Earth and Environment Faculty
as Adjunct Professor in the CET.
VENUE Woolnough Lecture Theatre (1.07), Geography and Geology Building
University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 6009
Pay parking is available along Fairway (approx. $1.50 per hour)
TIME 4:00 - 4:45pm Thursday 6th August 2015
You are invited to join us afterwards for refreshments provided by our local
SEG Student Charter in the Resource Room, Robert Street Building.
4:00 - 4:45pm
Thursday 6th August 2015
Woolnough Lecture Theatre
Jim Everett
Paradigm Lost: Lessons learned in consulting for mining
and other industries