May 11, 2005
beyond models:
From Sig: “We’re model buyers. We should be model builders.”
Rigid models cannot truly represent all of reality for all, thus the models will always be wrong to lesser or greater extent.
If you want to make better use of the resources, if you want a better place to work in, if you want to make great profits, in short, if you want to be successful — rethink the given models. Nah, do one better:
Become a model builder.
A raging discussion is happening in the comments– most of it way out of my depth:
In my view part of the benefit of the entrenched management methodologies and monolithic stacks of software that are out there is that there is a huge 3rd party market of complementary solutions as well as a large number of domain experts.
So what you really must be advocating is an uber disintermediation technology that somehow miraculously delivers unlimited customization and personalization whilst simultaneously guaranteeing universal compatibility and interoperability.
And Sig pipes in again:
As ‘most’ of your competitors chooses the easy way out, the pre-packaged stuff, copying their competition — a huge, really huge opportunity appears:
A great chance to beat them all, better chance than anytime in history perhaps? Change the rules by challenging the set models, experiment, try and test, be brave and become unique.
[NOTE TO SELF:] Stick to cartooning.
Has this anything to do with BBC Backstage? See it now — fantastic.
You know full well that if you “stuck to cartooning”, your cartoons would start to suck. But I didn’t have to tell you that.
oh yes. God bless Radio 3.
Mind you, all software is limitlessly customizable. See Dilbert: http://dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20050508.html
Anyone care to venture into a little spot of short-form scenario planning ?
What would this conversation about rigid models, standard management wisdom and methodologies and monolithic stacks of enterprise software look like in June 2015 ?
John, that discussion I would hope would be boring, like windmills vs. electricty today?
great wall of opportunity!
Excellent discussion on models here and here that prompted an aha! for the slow-witted yours truly: Not only do one face
Hi Sig,
Thanks for the comment you left the other day. Anyway, the problems with “rigid models” are entrenched management, employees (fear and apathy) and vendors (IBM, MS et al). Nothing short of a revolution will get them out of the way; even when it is in their best interest to use a better solution — they do nothing. Look at Firefox. The rate of adoption in IT is hardly making a dent.
On the other hand, market forces (globalization, hedge funds, m&a, director liability, etc.) are forcing organizations to get their heads out of their asses. Is this a revolution? I hope so.
With my own product/service
- Ideascape — , I am trying to loosen the internal boundaries within corporate departments by encouraging companies to use the technologies that are being used now (and leaving it open to institute other technologies (open API’S) as they emerge and suit the need)to share information, to in some cases, START the conversation, internally. It’s amazing how little conversation goes on within companies. I know someone who worked in an HR department for a company for a year before she even knew what product/service the company offered! PEOPLE can be so focused on the task at hand and in getting their paperwork done that they don’t join in conversations in the office next door, let alone in the “corporate conversation” if that even exists.
Sig, that would indeed be one scenarion
I would posit that so too would Jim’s comment … how long will it be, in fact, before people working INSIDE organizations start asking questions, or observing that there the membranes are getting less opaque, more porous, better at osmosing ( ?? ) back and forth between customers and stakeholders and the inside people ?