Robert Eichinger Keynote Address

Friday, October 27, 2006

4:30-5:00 p.m.

Fads, Fashions, and Folderol* Revisited

Abstract:  Even though we have well validated tools, applications, solutions and best practices, actual adoption and practice lags science by a significant amount.  *Marv Dunnette speculated on the topic in his famous 1965 invited address to Division 14 – Fads, Fashions, and Folderol in Psychology.  Has anything changed over the last 41 years?  Unfortunately, crap still sells today.   We will explore the reasons.

Key Learning Points

1. Fads and fashions (crap) probably outsells legitimate solutions
2. Fads and fashions absorb budgets that could go to proven applications
3. Why does crap sell?
4. What can be done about it?