Comments on: Critical Friend http://northern-user-experience.org/2008/07/03/critical-friend Community blog Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:58:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew Hutchinson http://northern-user-experience.org/2008/07/03/critical-friend/comment-page-1#comment-356 Andrew Hutchinson Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:00:58 +0000 http://northern-user-experience.org/?p=20#comment-356 There are differences in emphasis between the terms 'advisor', 'consultant' and 'criticalfriend' but integrity must underpin the relationship. Much is to be said for the 'sophisticated client' and success is often dependant upon the willingness to change in the light of evidence based research. There are differences in emphasis between the terms ‘advisor’, ‘consultant’ and ‘criticalfriend’ but integrity must underpin the relationship. Much is to be said for the ‘sophisticated client’ and success is often dependant upon the willingness to change in the light of evidence based research.

]]> By: mikelittle http://northern-user-experience.org/2008/07/03/critical-friend/comment-page-1#comment-27 mikelittle Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:15:11 +0000 http://northern-user-experience.org/?p=20#comment-27 Hmmm... I still think consultants have a tendency to dress things up in pretty words. Following the original thinking behind the phrase the term arose (or was at least popularised) when Andrew Hutchinson <em>stopped</em> being a consultant (to the UK government). Hmmm… I still think consultants have a tendency to dress things up in pretty words.
Following the original thinking behind the phrase the term arose (or was at least popularised) when Andrew Hutchinson stopped being a consultant (to the UK government).

]]> By: petebagnall http://northern-user-experience.org/2008/07/03/critical-friend/comment-page-1#comment-22 petebagnall Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:44:10 +0000 http://northern-user-experience.org/?p=20#comment-22 I'm not sure I see this as anything beyond the role of a consultant or advisor. A consultant who's afraid of telling you when you're making mistakes is not worth the money. And conversely, a client who ignores a consultant's advise is not worth advising - I've met a few of those too. I think the key phrase though is "offers critiques of a person’s work as a friend". Emphasis on a "person's" work. I'd argue that a critical friend of an organisation is a consultant, in the best tradition. I’m not sure I see this as anything beyond the role of a consultant or advisor. A consultant who’s afraid of telling you when you’re making mistakes is not worth the money. And conversely, a client who ignores a consultant’s advise is not worth advising – I’ve met a few of those too.

I think the key phrase though is “offers critiques of a person’s work as a friend”. Emphasis on a “person’s” work. I’d argue that a critical friend of an organisation is a consultant, in the best tradition.

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