>From: sierhuis@nynexst.com (Maarten Sierhuis)
>
>I am starting some research in which I am interested to investigate the
>problems in having a group of workers use a modeling paradigm (such as
>data flow modeling, object oriented modeling, or business process
>modeling) to create models. The experience we have had is that it is very
>difficult to 1) teach people the modeling paradigm (language +
>techniques), and 2) after they have learned the language and techniques,
>have them applied it appropriately.
The difficulty I've found with getting business people or front line
workers to model is that we modelers (?) confuse them with our own jargon.
I've taught the use of 'Entity Relationship Diagrams', 'Data Flow
Diagrams', 'Function Decompositions', 'Dependency Diagrams', 'Work Flow
Diagrams', and 'CRUD Matrix Clustering' to non information systems people
and had them use the techniques successfully.
I find the easiest way to transfer the knowledge is to just start using
the modeling technique in a facilitated session. When one of the
participants talks about some business concept I simply put the symbol of
the concept on the white board and explain the symbol briefly and simply.
My end of the dialog may be something like "Let's use a rectangle as a box
in which we are going to keep all the information we need about customers.
Now, what information do we need to determine if the customer is a good
customer?" As each new symbol is needed I go through a similar
introduction without using any technical terms.
It takes several hours of modeling before the group, or lead thinkers in
the group, are reading the models and drawing valid implications from the
model to the rules of the business. Invariably one or two of the people
want to learn more of the theory and technical aspects of the model and I
normally handle these questions off line.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's better at sea ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
bhobler@cpcug.org Still a Submariner
William J. Hobler, Jr. Preferably Bill
Learning is the heat that keeps organizations flexible,
it is like the fierce flame that keeps steel molten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ; ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~