Raising A I QAIQ (Apparel Intelligence Quotient) DefinedWe all know what this is when we hear it - a person's proficiency in or knowledge of the apparel and textile industry. We all have it - some more than others. No set of exams to test AIQ. Some from formal education but most from experience. A traditional intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from one of several standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence. The following traditional IQ definition is a composite from various authors and can be applied to AIQ. Intelligence is a combination of the ability to:
This definition of intelligence is a very optimistic one. It says that each of us can become more intelligent through study and practice, access to appropriate tools, and learning to make effective use of these tools. It can be defined in these ways:
Now apply these definitions to the examples of individual components of a career within our industry: Textiles & Mills
Design, Product Development & Technical Design
Merchandising & Retail
Manufacturing
Sales & Marketing
Sourcing & Planning
High AIQ people possess expert understanding in several of these areas, and are fluent in the balance – finding the common “thread” in all categories. Understanding the global apparel market and having the ability to make sound retail decisions, knowing how to evaluate quality and determine commercially acceptability are all trademarks of high AIQ.
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