Posts Tagged ‘radar’

Quantitative vs Qualitative, Visual vs Verbal: false dichotomies

Monday, July 19th, 2010

It is quite funny how we got used to charts, statistics, and discussions about different perspectives.

But, despite all our computers, technologies, and so on… we keep getting the usual white/black alternatives, or “dichotomies”.

This short articles is about something that I kept doing often to convert complexity into something we are all used to: getting a 0 to 10, or 0 to 5, or F to A.

The concept is simple: our brain is inherently multi-dimensional.

We are able to see, perceive, think in shades- and to switch from visual to verbal if and when needed.

But when we move from what is personal to what is abstract (our work, in most cases, or news), we seemingly accept at face value boundaries that do not exist- false dichotomies.

If you are lost- do not worry: the rest of this article will make sense: including the “Devil’s advocate” section (i.e. how to prepare for objections).

GMN2009: Reality

Friday, May 15th, 2009

When you build a model of reality, you try to reduce complexity.

Reducing complexity means making choices- and reducing the risk of something unexpected affecting the results of your model.

Actually, it means also reducing the number of parameters- and, therefore, making any evolution in your world more predictable.

But reality is not necessarily limited by your definition: and managing the reality within a model requires more that planning beforehand for what you know, in terms of activities or risks.

You have also to identify what is the “normal” way in which your model will react to unexpected changes in the “reality” surrounding your model.

This post is part of a series, first published in May 2009.

GMN2009: Progress

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

GMN2009: PROGRESS

You do not need to know just what you are supposed to do, but also where you are, and where you should be.

If you are a perfect project manager with all the certifications required: probably you should skip this section, as it could be depressingly simple.

But it is not just progress itself- is the measuring and definition of progress that matter.

This post is part of a series, first published in May 2009.