Creating purpose in a purposeful world: exploring the value of agency in three films directed by David Lean - 20 Jan 2021

In this seminar, Professor William Gartner (Babson College) explored value creation and appropriation during disputed contexts of change through three films directed by David Lean.

Professor William Gartner used the movies The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Dr. Zhivago, as “just so stories” about the nature of context when creating and appropriating value. These films ask: What is valuable? Who is value being created for? Is the value created “valuable” to those it is intended to be of value to? When value is created, who actually appropriates this value? And, more broadly, does agency matter? What is the value of having a purpose in the broader context of other purposes?

During the seminar, professor Gartner also played with William James’ Varieties of Religious Experience as one entry point into discussing the nature of purpose as it relates to agency and the intention to create value.

The seminar was organized by House of Innovation, in collaboration with the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship.