Teams : Isomorphism applied to the Human Condition
The subject line says it all.
Doctor Donald Norman,see Reference at end of email, introduced me to a wonderful
word that applies to the building of teams and especailly to the project
leader. "Isomorphism" it is a Greek word, surprise, in two parts,again no
surprise here, "Iso" meaning "SAME" as in ISOMETRIC excercises or excercises
that build a semetrical body, you know what symetrical bodies are - female
blondes in bikinis on the beach and "Morphos" or change or transformation,
for the female reader - Ricky Martin as a blonde in a bikini brief, on the
beach -- equal opportunity, non sexist... no email on topic please.
There you have it "isomorphic" essentially the same,but, different properties
applied to an object that imparts either negative or positive attributes,[Note
to Self: Do not include any Ricky Martin jokes here]. This is what the project
leader/manager has to bring to the team. The ability of an open mind to bring
the diversity which you want in a team and the projects common goals together.
This is especially true in "virtual" team development over the web. There
has to be a global understanding of what the goal is and a willingness to
listen and manage diversity, because it is in diversity that the "debug session"
happens. The different viewpoint can save you from a nasty not properly
understood network problem, language short comming or just plain poorly scoped
goal.
Diversity, yes, with a few people to anchor the project who share a common
viewpoint and a project leader who understands diplomacy. You know what
diplomacy is don't you. It's the skillful use of a blunt instrument.
This attitude has saved me on at least one occassion. It is a real time
saver or should I say a real project saver. I will say both because in today's
world of the three month planning cycle you may have time to debate expresso's
,but, debate is a luxury that in delivering the customer his/her product.
Thank you for the "Brillo" soap box on which to espouse my fifteen minutes
of thought.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all who read this humble musings.
Regards
Myles Waito.
mwaito@sympatico.ca
mwaito@excite.ca
--=============================-------
Profile:
Ex-"Heavy Metal" Programmer,system analyst, CNE, MCP, and future OCP, with
a little Java jive thrown in for stimulation.
--=============================-------
Favourite Quote:
"The mind is like a parachute it only works when it is open!" and as a parachitist
this has real meaning.
=================================================================
Reference : Dr. Donald Norman
Dr. Donald Norman is the only man I know who turned a PHD. thesis into 5
books, an interactive CD, and a set of practice human computer interface
ideas as well as being the founding Chair of the Department of Cognitive
Sciences at the University of California at San Diego- Reference: "Things
That Make Us Smart, Defending Human Attributes in the Age of Machines",ISBN-0-201-062695-0
To date myself "A real "cool" dude!".
-----------30---------
# 1 Re: Teams : Isomorphism applied to the Human Condition
Huh?
"Myles Waito" <mwaito@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>
>The subject line says it all.
>
>Doctor Donald Norman,see Reference at end of email, introduced me to a wonderful
>word that applies to the building of teams and especailly to the project
>leader. "Isomorphism" it is a Greek word, surprise, in two parts,again
no
>surprise here, "Iso" meaning "SAME" as in ISOMETRIC excercises or excercises
>that build a semetrical body, you know what symetrical bodies are - female
> blondes in bikinis on the beach and "Morphos" or change or transformation,
>for the female reader - Ricky Martin as a blonde in a bikini brief, on the
>beach -- equal opportunity, non sexist... no email on topic please.
>
>There you have it "isomorphic" essentially the same,but, different properties
>applied to an object that imparts either negative or positive attributes,[Note
>to Self: Do not include any Ricky Martin jokes here]. This is what the project
>leader/manager has to bring to the team. The ability of an open mind to
bring
>the diversity which you want in a team and the projects common goals together.
> This is especially true in "virtual" team development over the web. There
>has to be a global understanding of what the goal is and a willingness to
>listen and manage diversity, because it is in diversity that the "debug
session"
>happens. The different viewpoint can save you from a nasty not properly
>understood network problem, language short comming or just plain poorly
scoped
>goal.
>
>Diversity, yes, with a few people to anchor the project who share a common
>viewpoint and a project leader who understands diplomacy. You know what
>diplomacy is don't you. It's the skillful use of a blunt instrument.
>
>This attitude has saved me on at least one occassion. It is a real time
>saver or should I say a real project saver. I will say both because in
today's
>world of the three month planning cycle you may have time to debate expresso's
>,but, debate is a luxury that in delivering the customer his/her product.
>
>
>Thank you for the "Brillo" soap box on which to espouse my fifteen minutes
>of thought.
>
>Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all who read this humble musings.
>
>Regards
>Myles Waito.
>mwaito@sympatico.ca
>mwaito@excite.ca
>--=============================-------
>Profile:
>Ex-"Heavy Metal" Programmer,system analyst, CNE, MCP, and future OCP, with
>a little Java jive thrown in for stimulation.
>--=============================-------
>Favourite Quote:
>
>"The mind is like a parachute it only works when it is open!" and as a parachitist
>this has real meaning.
>=================================================================
>Reference : Dr. Donald Norman
>
>Dr. Donald Norman is the only man I know who turned a PHD. thesis into 5
>books, an interactive CD, and a set of practice human computer interface
>ideas as well as being the founding Chair of the Department of Cognitive
>Sciences at the University of California at San Diego- Reference: "Things
>That Make Us Smart, Defending Human Attributes in the Age of Machines",ISBN-0-201-062695-0
>
>
>To date myself "A real "cool" dude!".
>
>-----------30---------
# 2 Re: Teams : Isomorphism applied to the Human Condition
Myles,
Is this message intended for the Talk to the Editors of dev-archive group (re: the
Human OS conversation)? Seems off-topic for wireless, but I can get our sysop
to move it if you tell me what your intention was in posting.
Thanks
Lori Piquet
Editor-in-chief
dev-archive.com
"Myles Waito" <mwaito@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>
>The subject line says it all.
>
>Doctor Donald Norman,see Reference at end of email, introduced me to a wonderful
>word that applies to the building of teams and especailly to the project
>leader. "Isomorphism" it is a Greek word, surprise, in two parts,again
no
>surprise here, "Iso" meaning "SAME" as in ISOMETRIC excercises or excercises
>that build a semetrical body, you know what symetrical bodies are - female
> blondes in bikinis on the beach and "Morphos" or change or transformation,
>for the female reader - Ricky Martin as a blonde in a bikini brief, on the
>beach -- equal opportunity, non sexist... no email on topic please.
>
>There you have it "isomorphic" essentially the same,but, different properties
>applied to an object that imparts either negative or positive attributes,[Note
>to Self: Do not include any Ricky Martin jokes here]. This is what the project
>leader/manager has to bring to the team. The ability of an open mind to
bring
>the diversity which you want in a team and the projects common goals together.
> This is especially true in "virtual" team development over the web. There
>has to be a global understanding of what the goal is and a willingness to
>listen and manage diversity, because it is in diversity that the "debug
session"
>happens. The different viewpoint can save you from a nasty not properly
>understood network problem, language short comming or just plain poorly
scoped
>goal.
>
>Diversity, yes, with a few people to anchor the project who share a common
>viewpoint and a project leader who understands diplomacy. You know what
>diplomacy is don't you. It's the skillful use of a blunt instrument.
>
>This attitude has saved me on at least one occassion. It is a real time
>saver or should I say a real project saver. I will say both because in
today's
>world of the three month planning cycle you may have time to debate expresso's
>,but, debate is a luxury that in delivering the customer his/her product.
>
>
>Thank you for the "Brillo" soap box on which to espouse my fifteen minutes
>of thought.
>
>Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all who read this humble musings.
>
>Regards
>Myles Waito.
>mwaito@sympatico.ca
>mwaito@excite.ca
>--=============================-------
>Profile:
>Ex-"Heavy Metal" Programmer,system analyst, CNE, MCP, and future OCP, with
>a little Java jive thrown in for stimulation.
>--=============================-------
>Favourite Quote:
>
>"The mind is like a parachute it only works when it is open!" and as a parachitist
>this has real meaning.
>=================================================================
>Reference : Dr. Donald Norman
>
>Dr. Donald Norman is the only man I know who turned a PHD. thesis into 5
>books, an interactive CD, and a set of practice human computer interface
>ideas as well as being the founding Chair of the Department of Cognitive
>Sciences at the University of California at San Diego- Reference: "Things
>That Make Us Smart, Defending Human Attributes in the Age of Machines",ISBN-0-201-062695-0
>
>
>To date myself "A real "cool" dude!".
>
>-----------30---------
