The “Feeling Human” sculpture symbolizes a human-centered education approach!

Retired Academician Prof. Haluk Tanrıverdi, who visited Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Prof. Mehmet Zelka in his office, evaluated the concepts of learning organizations, human-centered management, and organizational citizenship in the article he penned after his visit, drawing inspiration from the “Feeling Human” sculpture located in front of the Management Building. Tanrıverdi noted that successful systems not only provide opportunities for the development of human resources who know and think, but also those who feel, have a conscience, and are courteous.

Retired Academician Prof. Haluk Tanrıverdi, who visited Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Prof. Mehmet Zelka in his office, drew attention to the importance of the human element in the development of institutions in his article titled “Thoughts Provoked by the Feeling Human Sculpture (Successful Systems Enable Successful Human Resources)” which he penned after his visit.

Sharing the thoughts evoked by the “Feeling Human” sculpture located in front of Üsküdar University Management Building, Tanrıverdi continued:

“Learning Organizations…”

The concept of a learning organization was developed by Peter Senge. In management theories, the evolution of organizations is based on a four-stage development process: ‘knowing’, ‘understanding’, ‘thinking’, and ultimately ‘learning’ organizations. The first of these concepts refers to the deepening of an institution's ability to handle information and adapt to change.

In the second stage, information from a central approach becomes valuable over time through the human element, paving the way for the formation of a corporate culture. In the third stage, by analyzing information and delving into the root causes of problems, the data obtained can be transformed into strategic ideas. In the final stage, the continuous production of knowledge through employee participation and the creation of corporate memory enable a lasting understanding of change.

In his book The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge defines the fundamental building blocks required for an institution to continuously learn and renew itself as; systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, and team learning. This characteristic also provides businesses structured as institutions, departments, and units with the ability to ‘keep up’, ‘adapt’, and even ‘influence’ technological and environmental developments. Businesses transform into structures that ensure the satisfaction of what is different by facilitating this change and transformation through their ‘social’, ‘technical’, and especially ‘human’ aspects.

Courtesy and politeness are the lubrication for friction in human relations

Peter Drucker, in his work "Managing Oneself," states that the friction between two moving substances (machines) is natural and that technologically there are means and capabilities, like ‘oil’, to reduce this friction. However, he mentions that the most important factor we can use to reduce friction in human relations is the rules of ‘courtesy, politeness’. Indeed, Dennis Organ's doctrine of ‘organizational citizenship behavior’ also points to this.

The perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors that should exist in people, based on altruism, conscientiousness, courtesy, virtue, and gentlemanliness, on one hand, fill a person with human elements, while on the other hand, they contribute to the success of the institution and society in which they exist.

The Thinking Human

When I once visited Istanbul Bakırköy Prof. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital (EAH) for academic studies, I used to observe ‘The Thinking Human Sculpture’, a replica of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin’s work, and its surroundings in its garden, getting an opportunity to reflect.

Mehmet Pişdar, who completed "The Thinking Human" sculpture, stated in 1952 while recounting his hospital memories that ‘people could express their intentions to every stone and piece of earth, but never successfully to a human.’ This sculpture is also one of the symbolic images of our country's psychiatric circles.