tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48630759620598168772023-11-15T17:37:38.873-08:00MyCreativity - open source problem solvingHome of open source creativity scripts for the Southbeach platform. Southbeach is unique software that creative people use to design, innovate, solve problems, drive change and create new ideas. Add rules to your Southbeach Modeller that generate insight from any model. Share the output generated with colleagues, or give them a copy of your rules and let them benefit from Your Creativity in any model they are working on.Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-56791114609385666592011-10-08T04:41:00.000-07:002011-10-08T04:41:05.154-07:00UH// UH<br />
// A simple script that looks at each element in isolation<br />
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#UH<br />
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//click on agents<br />
useful "Find a way to increase the useful function of {this}"<br />
useful "Find a way to isolate {this} from harm"<br />
useful "Prevent {this} from producing harm"<br />
useful "Find a replacement for {this} which provides more useful function and less harmful function"<br />
harmful "Find a way to eliminate or reduce the harmful function of {this}"<br />
harmful "Find a way to isolate {this} from useful functions"<br />
harmful "Prevent {this} from producing harm"<br />
harmful "If {this} provides useful function, find a replacement which provides the same or more"<br />
//click on effects<br />
useful(,) "Find a way to increase the useful function of {this}"<br />
useful(,) "Find a way to isolate {this} from harm"<br />
useful(,) "Prevent {this} from producing harm"<br />
useful(,) "Find a replacement for {this} which provides more useful function and less harmful function"<br />
harmful(,) "Find a way to eliminate or reduce the harmful function of {this}"<br />
harmful(,) "Find a way to isolate {this} from useful functions"<br />
harmful(,) "Prevent {this} from producing harm"<br />
harmful(,) "If {this} provides useful function, find a replacement which provides the same or more"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-39536951576803316712010-11-09T04:21:00.000-08:002011-04-18T05:29:46.171-07:00TO-LO-PO-SO-GOJeremy Worrell, managing consultant at Fujitsu Services, has developed a set of MyCreativity rules for use with Southbeach Modeller. They help with the structured exploration of problems and opportunities according to Edward de Bono's TOLOPOSOGO stages. Jeremy has kindly agreed to share them with the community. Feedback is welcome to the address given below.<br />
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// Jeremy Worrell's Creativity at Work MyCreativity Library <br />
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#JeremyWorrell.Create.1TO <br />
focus "Might the real focus be broader or narrower than [this]?" <br />
focus "What is it about [this] which really demands some new thinking?" <br />
focus "Would strong thinkers consider [this] is the best focus?" <br />
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goal "Might the real focus be broader or narrower than [this]?" <br />
goal "What is it about [this] which really demands some new thinking?" <br />
goal "Would strong thinkers consider [this] is the best goal?" <br />
goal "Could we be more ambitious than [this]?" <br />
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#JeremyWorrell.Create.2LO <br />
agent "What else do we know about [this]?" <br />
agent "Does [this] have any unique features?" <br />
potential+useful "How can we get more of [this]?" <br />
potential+useful "What else is needed to produce [this]?" <br />
potential+harmful "What can counteract [this] so we don't get as much?" <br />
*(, harmful) "What intermediaries lie between [from] and [to]?" <br />
* "Who else knows about {this}? What light can they shed?" <br />
* "Where is {this} used? What does that tell us?" <br />
* "What is the life-cycle of {this}? What did it come from? What does it turn into?" <br />
questionable(,) "How can we verify {this}?" <br />
* "How can we quantify what we know about {this}?" <br />
questionable(,) "What disagreement is there about {this}? How can we be more objective?" <br />
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#JeremyWorrell.Create.3PO <br />
agent "How could we re-state [this]?" <br />
agent "What synonyms are there for [this]?" <br />
harmful "What's the very worst form [this] could take?" <br />
useful "What would be a perfect extreme of [this]?" <br />
agent "What analogies are there to [this] in related worlds?" <br />
agent "What are the fixed features of [this]?" <br />
harmful "Who might think [this] is actually beneficial?" <br />
produces(&a=agent, useful) "What other benefits could [&a] bring?" <br />
agent "How would my thnking heros handle [this]?" <br />
harmful "Counteract [this] with a magic agent?" <br />
useful "Create or boost [this] with a magic agent?" <br />
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#JeremyWorrell.Create.4SO <br />
produces(, harmful) "What could change about [from] to reduce [to]?" <br />
produces+insufficient(, useful+goal) "Could we add more [from], or a different sort of [from]?" <br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces(&a, &c=harmful) "Could we change [&a] to get [&b] without [&c]?" <br />
action "What else might happen if we [this]?" <br />
useful "Who might seek to oppose [this], and why?" <br />
goal "Will [this] meet legal and compliance constraints? If not, how could we adapt it?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-58767300303576443282010-11-08T04:10:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:46:25.892-08:00Questions for thinking about simple contradictionsSimple contradictions arise in many models, many times over. A simple contradiction is when something produces something useful, but also something harmful. Everything has pros and cons, so contradictions are everywhere in the world and in your models. If your models don't contain contradictions, you are not thinking hard enough. Extracting contradictions from a model, and thinking through all the possible ways to improve the system is hard work. By adding rules that recognize contradictions anywhere where they appear in a model, and linking these to creative suggestions, can help you to work rigorously and quickly through options for improving any situation.<br />
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Here is a set of rules you can use. They are not the only rules possible, but they have been found to be useful. Before are two screen shots, showing the rules working in practice in Southbeach Modeller.<br />
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//A useful set of questions to ask about any contradictory situation, for example, A produces useful B but A also produces harmful C<br />
#contradictions.brainstorming<br />
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//introduction<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What solutions come to mind if we ask: How can we have the benefits of {&b} without {&c}?"<br />
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//right problem?<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Does {&a} really produce {&c}? Are we looking at the right problem? Is {&c} produced by something else?"<br />
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// incremental<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is there a way to intervene and limit the ability of {&a} to produce {&c}?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is there a way to completely prevent {&a} from producing {&c}?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find a way to remove {&c} while it is being produced by {&a}."<br />
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//coping<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "How much of a problem is {&c}? Can we find a way to cope with {&c}?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we put off the harmful effects of {&c} for the time being? How will we cope with {&c} in the future?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Could {&c} be converted into something less harmful?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What can we introduce to counteract the harmful effects of {&c} produced by {&a}?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Assuming we cannot remove {&c} or its effects, can we find a positive use for {&c}?"<br />
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// re-design<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of {&a} look like?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can {&a} be modified so that as to produce less {&c}."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find the part of {&a} that produces {&c} and remove that part without impacting the ability of {&a} to provide {&b}."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Combine {&a} with something else so that the {&c} is no longer a problem."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Combine {&b} with something else so that the {&c} is no longer a problem."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Change the design of {&a} so that it produces no {&c} at all."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find an alternative to {&a} that does not produce {&c} yet still produces {&b}."<br />
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// the system<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "In what way could the system be changed so that the production of {&c} by {&a} is insufficient to have harmful effects?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is {&c} a problem for {&b}. Can we separate {&a} or {&b} from {&c} into different systems?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "If the production of {&c} is unavoidable can we find a way to isolate the {&c} so that it cannot harm the system?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we add something to the system that reduces or eliminates {&c}?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we add something to the system that makes {&b} more useful so that {&c} is peceived as less of a problem"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Add something to the system that mininises the need for {&b} so that less {&a} is needed so that less {&c} is produced."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Do we need {&a} for reasons other than {&b}? If not we can remove {&a} and avoid {&c}."<br />
<br />
// next generation of b<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Think about the future. Will we be obtaining {&b} in another way? Will {&a} therefore be less relevant, solving the problem of {&c}?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "How will the demand for {&b} change in the future? Will it still be obtained from {&a} and will {&c} therefore still be a problem?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of {&b} look like?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we reduce the need for {&b}? If so we can reduce use of {&a} and therefore produce less {&c}."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find an alternative to {&b} that has the benefits of {&b} but is not dependent on {&a}."<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of a system that contains {&b} look like?"<br />
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Do we need {&b}? If not we can remove {&a} and avoid {&c}."<br />
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In the screen shot below (Example 1) showing a simple model to illustrate the principle, the user has clicked on the block labelled 'car' and the Modeller has found the contradiction and generated the suggestion list.<br />
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In the second screen shot (Example 2) the user has clicked on the block labelled 'economic growth and the tool has found two contradictions and generated the questions for them using the MyCreativity rules above. In each case, the user has set scope 'laser'. If the scope had been widened, clicking in one place on the diagram would have applied the rules recursively across the diagram. Using rules like this, it is easy to find all contradictions in any model. The simplest rule to find all contradictions in a model is:<br />
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produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "{&a} produces useful {&b} and also produces harmful {&c}"<br />
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For the model below, it would produce:<br />
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1. [economic growth] produces useful [quality of life] and also produces harmful [pollution]<br />
2. [economic growth] produces useful [quality of life] and also produces harmful [resource degradation]<br />
3. [cars] produces useful [travel] and also produces harmful [pollution]<br />
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<u><br />
</u><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9XRoaLjJ4m24oU0fkdc7LAtqOXhqNmBYkEo1qahxMztgrk4IoczL2sE91jWPVr05zT6bxZiCTmfIC7dn9WGNRDZotjz7iL1fh3ufeK68dsZ0c4PQRQXfhYUZQ1-piwRpDKcCKXCQow/s1600/cars+and+the+economy+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9XRoaLjJ4m24oU0fkdc7LAtqOXhqNmBYkEo1qahxMztgrk4IoczL2sE91jWPVr05zT6bxZiCTmfIC7dn9WGNRDZotjz7iL1fh3ufeK68dsZ0c4PQRQXfhYUZQ1-piwRpDKcCKXCQow/s640/cars+and+the+economy+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXHvUsVzWT1kEl7PzGmnKGRYJ1Rd80Way0gJxjiUvy1SJ0lolO7knEjgmb8zJ7GesY5A-YwTCuAwlFNrpFpBhNa39qr_ATIS60QmZHCSsHE-b2ffWrbvV0D9uYH3lj1AsGsxq_qbppA/s1600/cars+and+the+economy+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXHvUsVzWT1kEl7PzGmnKGRYJ1Rd80Way0gJxjiUvy1SJ0lolO7knEjgmb8zJ7GesY5A-YwTCuAwlFNrpFpBhNa39qr_ATIS60QmZHCSsHE-b2ffWrbvV0D9uYH3lj1AsGsxq_qbppA/s640/cars+and+the+economy+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-61374909317401119752010-09-27T00:22:00.000-07:002010-09-27T00:35:56.428-07:005x5Whys - useful in root cause analysis (RCA)This set of Southbeach | MyCreativity rules are an expansion of the simple 5Whys. A screen shot of Southbeach Modeller showing this <a href="http://southbeach-screenshots.blogspot.com/2010/09/rca-root-cause-analysis-of-plane-crash.html">RCA tool working is available here</a> for an example model of a <a href="http://southbeach-examples.blogspot.com/2010/09/colombian-plane-crash-southbeach.html">plane crash in Colombia</a>.<br />
<br />
#5x5whys<br />
<br />
//matching on agents<br />
* "What proof do I have that this cause exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is {this} measurable?)"<br />
* "What proof do I have that the cause: {this} could lead to the stated effect? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"<br />
* "What proof do I have that this cause actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"<br />
* "Is anything else needed, along with this cause, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"<br />
* "Can anything else, besides this cause, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"<br />
<br />
//matching on effects<br />
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect/process exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is the effect measurable?)"<br />
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect: {this} could lead to the stated outcome? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"<br />
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"<br />
*(,) "Is anything else needed, along with this effect, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"<br />
*(,) "Can anything else, besides this effect, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-37729431904704760912010-06-24T05:11:00.000-07:002010-06-30T03:49:41.821-07:00Mark Burnett's 'consulting toolkit' CreativityMark Burnett (BearingPoint) is developing a general purpose consulting toolkit based on Southbeach Modeller. The kit is a set of Southbeach models and templates, designed for various different types of consulting work. As part of this kit, Mark has developed a simple MyCreativity rule set that helps to bring such models to life by guiding improvement, problem solving and innovation. He has kindly shared this Southbeach application here. See below for a screen shot image of this working in practice.<br />
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Copy the following rules into a .txt file, place it in your creativity folder and try it out on your own models. (Like all rule sets on this blog this requires you to have upgraded your free Modeller to <a href="http://www.southbeachinc.com/shop.html">Southbeach|MyCreativity</a>)<br />
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#Mark Burnett.Elaboration<br />
produces(*, useful) "What (additional) resources does the {source} need in order to produce the {destination}?"<br />
produces(*,useful) "What qualities should the {source} exhibit in producing the {destination}?"<br />
consumes(&a=*,&r=resource) produces(&a,&o=useful) "Where is the resource of {&r} used by the {&a} to produce the {&o} obtained from?"<br />
specifies(quality,*) "What is the {source} quality related to?"<br />
produces(,useful) "What is the {destination} used for?"<br />
produces(&a=useful,&o=useful) produces(&o,&r=useful) "What other than the {&a} and {&o} is necessary to produce the {&r}?"<br />
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#Mark Burnett.Improve.IncreaseUseful<br />
increases(useful,useful) "Intensify or get more of the {source} so you can have more of the {destination}."<br />
increases(*,useful) "How can you get more of {destination} from {source}?"<br />
increases(*,useful) "How can you increase the ability of {source} to create {destination}?"<br />
increases(*,useful) "How can you intensify the {destination} without relying on the {source}?"<br />
increases(harmful,useful) "Try and work out what part of the {source} is producing the {destination} and minimise the unnecessary parts that are producing the harm"<br />
decreases(*,useful) "Prevent the {source} from impacting the {destination}."<br />
decreases(*,useful) "Isolate the part of the {source} that is impacting the {destination} and remove it."<br />
decreases(harmful,useful) "Convert the {source} into something useful before it has a chance to impact the {destination}"<br />
decreases(*,useful) "Protect the {destination} from the {source}."<br />
increases(useful,useful+potential) "How can you ensure that the {destination} will be an outcome of the {source}?"<br />
increases(&a=*,&c=useful+potential) increases(&b=*,&a) "How can you create the {&c} without the {&b}?"<br />
increases(&a=*,&c=useful+!potential) increases(&b=*,&a) "How can you intensify the {&c} without the {&b}?"<br />
useful+goal "What else is needed to achieve {this}? What are the pre-requisites or necessary pre-steps?"<br />
harmful "What's the root cause of {this}? How can we avoid that?"<br />
useful+potential "How can we realise the {this} more quickly?"<br />
harmful+potential "How can we avoid, prevent, or delay the {this}?"<br />
replaces(&a=*,&b=*) increases(&b,&c=useful) "Ensure the {&a} also leads to {&c} before the {&b} is replaced"<br />
increases(&a=*,&b=useful) "Find ways for {&b} to make more use of {&a}"<br />
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#Mark Burnett.Improve.ReduceHarmful<br />
increases(*,harmful) "How can you prevent the {source} from producing the {destination}."<br />
increases(*,harmful) "Put measures in place to deal with the {destination}."<br />
increases(*,harmful) "Isolate the part of the {source} that is producing the {destination} and remove it."<br />
increases(useful,harmful) "How else could the {source} be accomplished that would not result in the {destination}?"<br />
increases(useful,harmful) "What else could give the benefits of the {source} that would not result in the {destination}?"<br />
decreases+potential(&a=*,&b=useful) "How can the proportion of the {&a} impacting the {&b} be reduced?"<br />
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#Mark Burnett.Improve.Simplify<br />
increases(&a=*,&b=useful) increases(&a,&c=harmful) "How can you get the {&a} to intensify the {&b} without causing the {&c}?"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uwbDcuukpiWDARi3uQ233-Qenkb2Rdmq1giOHHgxR9-rkDSo1WKrv9dqj5TOd7AACqRLEHOU8i6oHwDU38Z-ZejB6y3B_z3J3yvgRxupszVStxHTnCur9mEwdZ557aeajh4L6kEK5A/s1600/marks+rules.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uwbDcuukpiWDARi3uQ233-Qenkb2Rdmq1giOHHgxR9-rkDSo1WKrv9dqj5TOd7AACqRLEHOU8i6oHwDU38Z-ZejB6y3B_z3J3yvgRxupszVStxHTnCur9mEwdZ557aeajh4L6kEK5A/s640/marks+rules.png" width="640" /></a></div>Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-60298510254620349362010-04-22T05:28:00.000-07:002010-04-22T08:35:17.550-07:00Simple service blueprintingThe grid tool in Southbeach can be used to create swimlanes for simple process mapping, in this case a service blueprint. This allows for the definition of creativity rules associated with swimlanes. Here is a simple set of rules to guide a service blueprinting workshop:<br />
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#service blueprint.simple<br />
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@evidence "Model the customer action associated with {this}?"<br />
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@customer "What does the customer come into contact with as a result of {this}?"<br />
@customer "What happens on-stage (visible to the customer) when the customer action is {this}?"<br />
@customer "After {this} what does the customer do next?"<br />
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@onstage "Model the customer action associated with {this}"<br />
@onstage "What happens back-stage (invisibile to the customer) in support of {this}?"<br />
@onstage "What materials or information are needed to achieve {this}?"<br />
@onstage "After {this} what next is visible to the customer?"<br />
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@backstage "Model the on-stage activity associated with {this}"<br />
@backstage "What support activities are carried out by other functions - employees & systems - that are necessary for {this}?"<br />
@backstage "After {this} what next is invisible to the customer?"<br />
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@support "What does {this} enable us to achieve back-stage?"<br />
@support "What does {this} enable us to achieve on-stage?"<br />
@support "Is there more than {this} required?"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkPnP-VtNcWQeiNpewJDjqIvf2BmAnbioPkyC8FvmhugBHx0OgxnJmogYBBtrE2r90p2aSt0yqedrBOE_bYmu_yaSKwC0RihbNMaNxVzVjSjuj__UYnb9RjL__Dzil6VJx2RWO9bvJA/s1600/service+blueprint.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkPnP-VtNcWQeiNpewJDjqIvf2BmAnbioPkyC8FvmhugBHx0OgxnJmogYBBtrE2r90p2aSt0yqedrBOE_bYmu_yaSKwC0RihbNMaNxVzVjSjuj__UYnb9RjL__Dzil6VJx2RWO9bvJA/s640/service+blueprint.png" width="640" /></a></div>Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-69297681932043458132010-04-16T05:35:00.000-07:002010-04-16T05:35:06.744-07:005 Whys +Here is a simple set of creativity you can use to improve on results from 5 Whys. It works because of the additional questions that examine the necessary and sufficient conditions for a root cause.<br />
<br />
#5whys+<br />
<br />
* "{this}. Why?"<br />
* "How could we verify that {this} is a root cause?"<br />
*(,) "How sure are we that the cause of {to} is {from}?"<br />
*(,) "Is {from} necessary for {to} to occur?"<br />
*(,) "What else other than {from} could cause {to}?"<br />
*(,) "Is {from} sufficient for {to} to occur?"<br />
*(,) "Ask yourself: If {from} had not been, could {to} have happened?"<br />
* "Will {this} always happen if all attributed causes happen: {inputs}?"<br />
<br />
Here is the output generated when you click on block 2, using Laser Extent (MyCreativity):<br />
<br />
<br />
1. [The alternator is not functioning]. Why?<br />
2. How could we verify that [The alternator is not functioning] is a root cause?<br />
3. Will [The alternator is not functioning] always happen if all attributed causes happen: [The alternator belt is broken]?<br />
4. How sure are we that the cause of [The battery is dead] is [The alternator is not functioning]?<br />
5. Is [The alternator is not functioning] necessary for [The battery is dead] to occur?<br />
6. What else other than [The alternator is not functioning] could cause [The battery is dead]?<br />
7. Is [The alternator is not functioning] sufficient for [The battery is dead] to occur?<br />
8. Ask yourself: If [The alternator is not functioning] had not been, could [The battery is dead] have happened?<br />
9. How sure are we that the cause of [The alternator is not functioning] is [The alternator belt is broken]?<br />
10. Is [The alternator belt is broken] necessary for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?<br />
11. What else other than [The alternator belt is broken] could cause [The alternator is not functioning]?<br />
12. Is [The alternator belt is broken] sufficient for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?<br />
13. Ask yourself: If [The alternator belt is broken] had not been, could [The alternator is not functioning] have happened?<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSBL_U1QiDe0Mh7eH_5v6XZZAgxCgvz8EjKC_BCEPeoRXhE9bN_MSM1_JNRmHBEVl_xK8fbf1IHoi6Pz6TSrwzpoYqRvXNzQC-f0D_orfFhxx7XCTvWNp4ZCIPJgwZjh8ombnMt3L1A/s1600/5+Whys.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSBL_U1QiDe0Mh7eH_5v6XZZAgxCgvz8EjKC_BCEPeoRXhE9bN_MSM1_JNRmHBEVl_xK8fbf1IHoi6Pz6TSrwzpoYqRvXNzQC-f0D_orfFhxx7XCTvWNp4ZCIPJgwZjh8ombnMt3L1A/s640/5+Whys.png" width="640" /></a></div>Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-15841770107778952172010-04-16T05:24:00.000-07:002010-04-16T05:24:20.245-07:00Requirements AnalysisSometimes the simplest creative script can really enhance a workshop. Here, five simple rules are being used to guide the development of a requirements model. The power of this is that by taking the words and inserting them into the questions, there is a far greater response from the workshop attendees. As the model develops, and new questions are asked, new requirements come to light.<br />
<br />
<br />
#requirements.simple<br />
// simple requirements questions<br />
* "What requirements come to mind when considering {this}?"<br />
* "What assumptions are we making when we say {this}?"<br />
produces(,) "How will we convert {from} into {to}?"<br />
produces(,) "Is {to} sufficient to achieve {from}?"<br />
* "Do we now have all of the information we need? To learn more about {this} who do we need to speak to next?"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfFrlUbxDMVX-awosLmqC0TVcsPobRrJp230hD1LCHmwVoIoOJN-XSFItBzrgHURW0lOlCLdeXCEmtWt3ZwS5p_h8OoDT61jWC5G3sJrmuvq8skPiA5tQL1XvvpXhvUYF0aWMA28Kjg/s1600/requirements+analysis.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfFrlUbxDMVX-awosLmqC0TVcsPobRrJp230hD1LCHmwVoIoOJN-XSFItBzrgHURW0lOlCLdeXCEmtWt3ZwS5p_h8OoDT61jWC5G3sJrmuvq8skPiA5tQL1XvvpXhvUYF0aWMA28Kjg/s640/requirements+analysis.png" width="640" /></a></div>Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-1752105709380956722010-03-11T12:49:00.000-08:002010-09-15T01:48:11.606-07:00Six Thinking Hats// Thinking Hats rules for Southbeach Modeller<br />
// Inspired by the work of Edward de Bono<br />
// V05 March 2010<br />
//<br />
// Step 1: Get free Southbeach Modeller www.southbeachinc.com<br />
// Step 2: Upgrade to MyCreativity www.southbeahcinc.com/shop.html<br />
//<br />
<br />
// Helps you to remember why a hats workshop is a good idea<br />
#hats.uses<br />
* "Discuss topics"<br />
* "Solve problems"<br />
* "Explore alternatives"<br />
* "Reach decisions"<br />
* "Research, organise and write reports"<br />
* "Brainstorming"<br />
<br />
// What does each hat mean?<br />
#hats.definitions<br />
<br />
* "White Hat - Information available and needed"<br />
* "Red Hat - Intuition, feelings, and hunches"<br />
* "Black Hat - Cautions and difficulties - Where things might go wrong"<br />
* "Yellow Hat - Values and benefits - Why something might work"<br />
* "Green Hat - Alternatives and creative ideas"<br />
* "Blue Hat - Managing the thinking process"<br />
<br />
// Walk around the room asking these questions<br />
#hats.all hats<br />
<br />
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - objective view"<br />
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"<br />
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "Yellow - what are the benefits of {this}? - positive view"<br />
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there creative alternatives to {this}? - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "Blue - how should we think about {this}? where can {this} take us? does {this} suggest a big picture?"<br />
<br />
<br />
// Focus on individual hats<br />
// Turn on the hat you need in the Creativity toolbox of Southbeach Modeller<br />
<br />
#hats.white<br />
* "FACTS AND FIGURES - information available and needed"<br />
* "What do we already know about {this}? What are the facts?"<br />
* "Who else knows about {this}? What light can they shed?"<br />
* "Where is {this} used? What does that tell us?"<br />
* "What is the life-cycle of {this}? What did it come from? What does it turn into?"<br />
* "How can we coroborate our hunches about {this}? What evidence is there?"<br />
* "How can we quantify what we know about {this}?"<br />
* "What disagreement is there about {this}? How can we be more objective?"<br />
* "What more do we need to know about {this}?"<br />
* "How can we get the new information about {this} that we need?"<br />
<br />
#hats.red<br />
* "FEELINGS - intuition and hunches"<br />
* "What is your immediate reaction to {this}?"<br />
* "Do you like {this}?"<br />
* "What don't you like about {this}?"<br />
* "What are your beliefs about {this}?"<br />
* "How will you respond to {this}?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.black<br />
* "JUDGEMENTS - cautions and difficulties"<br />
* "Will {this} work for us?"<br />
* "Why can't we do {this} NOW? What should we in preparation for {this}?"<br />
* "What is wrong with {this}? What might cause {this} to break?"<br />
* "What are the risks around {this}? Is {this} safe?"<br />
* "What is {this} in conflict with? - ideals, standards, conventions"<br />
* "How will {this} impact on other activities?"<br />
* "What distractions does {this} create?"<br />
* "Who will prevent, stop or derail {this}?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.yellow<br />
* "BENEFITS - values and uses - Why something might work"<br />
* "What are the benefits of {this}?"<br />
* "Why should {this} be useful?"<br />
* "How can we apply {this}?" <br />
* "How can we make {this} work better?"<br />
* "What else can we use {this} this for? <br />
* "Where else can {this} be used?"<br />
* "What opportunities does {this} create?"<br />
* "How can we use {this} as a resource?"<br />
* "What could replace {this}?"<br />
<br />
#hats.green<br />
* "CREATIVITY - alternatives and new ideas"<br />
* "Who has a new perspective on {this}?"<br />
* "What new ideas does {this} suggest?"<br />
* "Who has a suggestion about {this}?"<br />
* "How does {this} help us?"<br />
* "Can we create something new from {this}?"<br />
* "What resources can be combined with {this}?"<br />
* "Are there alternatives for {this}?"<br />
* "How can {this} be derived or arrived at in a better way?"<br />
<br />
#hats.blue<br />
* "MANAGING - thinking about and planning the process"<br />
* "What kind of thinking is required around {this}?"<br />
* "What are the useful and harmful consequences of {this}?"<br />
* "What are the main parts of {this}? - how can we break it down?"<br />
* "What are the inputs to {this}? What are the outputs of {this}?"<br />
* "What resources does {this} require?"<br />
* "Where are we with respect to {this}?"<br />
* "Summarize our view(s) of {this}?"<br />
* "What is the next step around {this}?"<br />
* "How can we control {this} better? What governance or process is needed?<br />
* "Who owns or is responsible for {this}"<br />
* "What factors should be considered when making a decision about {this}?"<br />
* "How can others be made to understand {this} better?"<br />
* "How would your worst enemy view {this}?" Do they have a point?<br />
* "What decision about {this} have we taken?"<br />
* "What plan or actions does {this} prompt?"<br />
<br />
// The next section relates to agents placed on a hats grid<br />
// See template<br />
<br />
#hats.grid<br />
<br />
@white "FACTS AND FIGURES - information available and needed"<br />
<br />
@red "FEELINGS - intuition, and hunches"<br />
<br />
@black "JUDGEMENTS - cautions and difficulties"<br />
<br />
@yellow "BENEFITS - values and uses - Why something might work"<br />
<br />
@green "CREATIVITY - alternatives and new ideas"<br />
<br />
@blue "MANAGING - thinking about and planning the process"<br />
<br />
<br />
// Sequences of hats thinking<br />
// Turn on the process you need in the Creativity toolbox in Southbeach Modeller<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.initial ideas<br />
<br />
* "Blue - what are our initial ideas about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"<br />
* "White - what are the objective facts and figures around {this}?"<br />
* "Green - be creative - where could {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}?"<br />
* "Repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW big picture we need to consider?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.choosing alternatives<br />
<br />
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"<br />
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"<br />
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"<br />
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "(Black) - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "(Red) - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.identifying solutions<br />
<br />
* "Blue - does {this} suggest a solution? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"<br />
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"<br />
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "Green - where does {this} take us? Are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? where are the solutions? does {this} suggest a NEW solution we need to consider?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.quick feedback<br />
<br />
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"<br />
* "Black - what are the flaws and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW big picture we need to consider?"<br />
<br />
#hats.process.stategic planning<br />
<br />
* "Blue - how should we plan around {this}? does {this} suggest a strategy we need to consider?"<br />
* "Yellow - what are the stategic advantages around {this}?"<br />
* "Black - will the strategy work? what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "(White) - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"<br />
* "repeat Blue - NOW how does {this} change our strategy? does {this} now suggest a NEW strategy we need to consider?"<br />
* "Green - where does a strategy around {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "repeat Blue - how should we NOW think about {this} strategically? does {this} suggest a FUTURE strategy we need to consider?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.process improvement<br />
<br />
* "Blue - how does {this} figure in the process? does {this} suggest a new process we need to consider?"<br />
* "White (our view) - describe the process around {this}? - be objective"<br />
* "White (other people's views) - how would others describe the process around {this}?"<br />
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this} to the process?"<br />
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this} to the process? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "(Green) - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "(Red) - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"<br />
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this} in the process? does {this} now suggest a NEW process design?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.solving problems<br />
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a problem we need to consider?"<br />
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"<br />
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"<br />
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"<br />
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "repeat Green - where does {this} take us NOW? are there NEW alternatives to {this}? find other creative ideas"<br />
* "repeat Blue - how do we NOW need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW problem we need to consider?"<br />
<br />
<br />
#hats.process.performance review<br />
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a goal we need to consider?"<br />
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"<br />
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"<br />
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"<br />
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"<br />
* "(Green) - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"<br />
* "repeat Red - what is your gut reaction to {this} now? - new opinions and feelings"<br />
* "repeat Blue - how do we NOW need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW goal we need to consider?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-31929705653831989952009-12-16T10:34:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:45:46.761-08:00Creative choices and decision treesHere is a simple example which use three simple creativity rules to generate output from any decision tree. The rules are:<br />
<br />
choice "In order to improve our {this} which of these should I do: {outputs+useful} avoiding:{outputs+harmful}?"<br />
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produces(, harmful) "Why is {destination} a difficult choice?"<br />
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produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces(&a, &c=harmful) "Can I choose {&b} over {&c}?"<br />
<br />
Below is a screenshot showing an example decision tree, and the output generated. While this is a simple example, we hope you can see how more complex decision trees, and your own creative rules could open up a raft of new applications for Southbeach Modeller.<br />
<br />
Rules can be saved for use across any model, and invoked at any time by clicking on the check boxes on the left. Here, the user has clicked on the upper choice box, and selected extent: widest, to generate output from all nodes in the model. There are eight statements generated (which appear in the lower panel of Modeller):<br />
<br />
1. In order to improve our 'Business strategy' which of these should I do: 'Investing in the company, Acquiring another company' avoiding:'Cost cutting'?<br />
2. Can I choose 'Investing in the company' over 'Cost cutting'?<br />
3. Can I choose 'Acquiring another company' over 'Cost cutting'?<br />
4. In order to improve our 'Investment strategy' which of these should I do: 'Invest in Product X, Acquire new products to replace X' avoiding:'Divest business unit X'?<br />
5. Can I choose 'Invest in Product X' over 'Divest business unit X'?<br />
6. Can I choose 'Acquire new products to replace X' over 'Divest business unit X'?<br />
7. Why is 'Divest business unit X' a difficult choice?<br />
8. Why is 'Cost cutting' a difficult choice?<br />
<br />
Do you see why? Look at the rules above and try to work it out. Click on the screen shot below: <br />
<br />
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Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-57581394641121195702009-11-13T10:31:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:48:11.209-08:00Subprime creativity!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgykDf8CTyj5vTyo_9TvXusSJe5Si-Dsn52ov5JNRQ6q9O9cDWmCB24qU0r6ul9ybkUlzlf89NDtC8ikFQXT59eZopwFm0UiWFDyfhsp0ID9PWFp8eh5UINJ4aNJ2l3DUcdjfNG3zlw/s1600-h/subprime+grids.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgykDf8CTyj5vTyo_9TvXusSJe5Si-Dsn52ov5JNRQ6q9O9cDWmCB24qU0r6ul9ybkUlzlf89NDtC8ikFQXT59eZopwFm0UiWFDyfhsp0ID9PWFp8eh5UINJ4aNJ2l3DUcdjfNG3zlw/s640/subprime+grids.png" width="640" /></a><br />
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Window Pane models, like this, are effective as Southbeach models. In this case, the roles in the subprime crisis (homeowner, financial institutions, etc) are plotted against causes and enablers, effects and impacts and responses.<br />
<br />
Using Southbeach rules (MyCreativity), it is possible to write stimulating questions that can help analyse the situation. For example:<br />
<br />
* "Do the responses in the housing market: {@response+@housing_market} counteract effects occuring in the wider economy: {@effect_impact+@economy_markets}"<br />
<br />
or this rule:<br />
<br />
harmful+@effect_impact "What could {this} do to our response as viewed from the economy: {@response+@economy_markets}"<br />
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-------------------------------------------------------<br />
Clicking around the diagram generates statements using the words in the model.<br />
<br />
Using this technique, and different window pane models, it is possible to build up a set of 'best practices' for analysing and modeling many different types of situation. Typical window pane models could be as shown in the Quick Grids menu, or create your own by choosing separation axes and labels.Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-91700021823194443552009-11-10T10:55:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:48:48.199-08:00User Defined Effects generating Creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Southbeach provides 'user defined' effects. These are different from effect labels. On any Southbreach effect - e.g. produces - you can add a label to clarify or 'subtype' the effect. For example, you could label a produces effect as 'increases', or a destroys effect as 'degrades'. A user defined effect, by contrast, is a new effect ... something you feel does not exist in the standard Southbeach vocabulary and synonym tree. Moreover, it can generate unique 'creativity'.<br />
<br />
Which of the user defined effects in the model below are NOT synonyms of Southbeach Notation 0.9 effects? Adds is contributes. Provides is produces ... but what about fulfills? Is that 'uses' or 'implements'? The only effect in the model (left) that is REALLY a new effect, is 'contains'. Containment, like other 'functional' modeling effects, is not provided in standard Southbeach notation. The reason is ... there are so many of them. The world is full of functional relationship, and less full of 'influence' relationships.<br />
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User defined effects, therefore, are very useful at adding 'functional' modeling to Southbeach. This capability, linked to MyCreativity rules, can be very powerful. <br />
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Since a MyCreativity rule can reference the label of any effect, it is possible to write rules that apply to functional models. For example:<br />
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@contains(, harmful) "Can we remove {to} from {from}? since it is harmful. Can we replace {to} with something else?"<br />
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Another example for this model might be:<br />
<br />
@limits(, potential) "What do we need to do to maximise {to}?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-48400942402957127552009-11-09T05:37:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:49:34.847-08:00Triples and contradictionsOften in innovation and problem solving, it is necessary to consider two factors, in the context of a third. In Southbeach, this is called a 'triple'. It consists of two effects, anchored by a third factor. For example:<br />
<br />
A produces useful B, but also harmful C<br />
A produces useful B, but B goes onto produce harmful C<br />
A is produced by useful B, and is also produced by harmful C<br />
<br />
In TRIZ, some of these patterns are called 'contradictions', and the objective of problem solving is to break the contradiction. For example, how can we get useful output from a process, without producing harmful output at the same time? In Southbeach, due to the expanded semantics, wide range of effects, agent types and attibutes, triples take on a new significance. For example, the following situation could be modelled:<br />
<br />
harmful process A is producing insufficiently a goal, at the same time, is being counteracted by a risk<br />
<br />
Here are four common rules for matching situations like this. There are hundreds more possible to develop.<br />
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#examples.triples<br />
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produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces(&a, &c=harmful) "Find a way for {&a} to produce {&b} without producing {&c}"<br />
<br />
produces(&b=useful, &a=*) produces(&c=harmful, &a) "Find a way to produce {&a} from {&b} alone, without requiring {&c}"<br />
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produces(&a=harmful, &b=harmful) produces(&b, &c=useful) "How can we complete {&b} so as to produce {&c} and avoid {&a}?"<br />
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produces(&a=*, &b=surplus) produces(&a, &c=insufficient) "If we avoided {&a} so as to produce less {&b} could we produce more {&c}?"<br />
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The output generated from the model fragments (using append mode in MyCreativity with 'laser' extent) is:<br />
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1. Find a way for [Burning fossil fuels] to produce [Cheap energy] without producing [Release of carbon dioxide]<br />
2. How can we complete [Conversion to green energy resources] so as to produce [Sustainable energy policy] and avoid [Reliance on fossil fuels]?<br />
3. Find a way to produce [Needed power] from [Green energy resources] alone, without requiring [Burning fossil fuels]<br />
4. If we avoided [Reliance on burning fossil fuels] so as to produce less [Release of carbon dioxide] could we produce more [Green energy]?<br />
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Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-42122460671925695692009-11-08T09:45:00.000-08:002009-11-22T03:52:06.244-08:00Your CreativityOne of the reasons why MyCreativity is so powerful, is that there is no methodology built into the tool. All rules and phrases are provided by users, or supplied as libraries.<br />
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We were speaking with a BT business manager recently and asked them the type of questions they would ask about 'useful' things. To our surprise they suggested:<br />
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How long will this continue to be useful?<br />
Is there a hidden cost in this?<br />
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By contrast, an innovation consultant, trained in innovation methods, would probably have said:<br />
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Find a way to enhance or increase this.<br />
Do we need this in the system? (ideality)<br />
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We continuously find that consultants, analysts and engineers, working in very different fields, come up with very different questions, suggestions and directions to apply to their models. Taking the BT 'business' example above, it could be expressed in MyCreativity as:<br />
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#BT <br />
useful "How long will {this} continue to be useful?"<br />
useful "Is there a hidden cost in {this}?"<br />
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Applying this rule set to a typical business situation may produce the output:<br />
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How long will 'extending the product line' continue to be useful?<br />
Is there a hidden cost in 'extending the product line'?<br />
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Applying the same rule set to the situation of pollution in Antartica arising from illegal shipping in the area, may produce:<br />
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How long will 'Enforcement of regulation and treaties' continue to be useful?<br />
Is there a hidden cost in 'Enforcement of regulation and treaties'?<br />
<br />
Same rules, different context. We recommend that whenever you develop rules for MyCreativity that you try them out on different models in different fields. It can be very revealing.Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-9017305880762088242009-11-08T05:36:00.003-08:002012-12-30T14:50:01.271-08:00Root Cause Analysis// Very simple root cause analysis rules <br />
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#root cause<br />
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* "What else produces {this}?"<br />
* "What else does {this} produce?"<br />
*(,) "What lies on the line? What does {from} produce that allows it to {effect} {to}"<br />
*(,) "Other than {from}, is there another factor in the process of {this}?"<br />
*(,) "Does the action of {this} produce anything else?"<br />
*(,) "Are there any other effects of {this}?"<br />
<br />
See this example, which pictorially illustrates the questions that the rules are generating. See how it matches the output generated.<br />
<br />
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Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-24587591836209354542009-11-08T05:25:00.000-08:002009-11-08T05:25:21.771-08:00Resources//Use of useful resources<br />
#resources<br />
insufficient+useful "Could any of these useful resources: {useful} compensate for {this} being insufficient?"<br />
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potential+useful "Could any of these useful resources: {useful} help to bring about {this}?"<br />
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goal "Could any of these useful resources: {useful} help to achieve the goal: {this}?"<br />
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surplus+useful "Since we have surplus of useful resource {this}, could it be used to make up for insufficiency in {insufficient+useful} or to bring about {potential+useful}?"<br />
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dysfunctional+useful "Could any of these useful resources: {useful} fix {this} so that it performs its correct function?"<br />
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neutral "Could any of these useful resources: {useful} increase the usefulness of {this}?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-77688914235107108582009-11-08T04:30:00.000-08:002009-11-08T04:30:44.688-08:005x5Whys//5x5Whys<br />
//An expansion of the simple 5Whys<br />
#creativity.5x5whys<br />
//matching on agents<br />
* "What proof do I have that this cause exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is {this} measurable?)"<br />
* "What proof do I have that the cause: {this} could lead to the stated effect? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"<br />
* "What proof do I have that this cause actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"<br />
* "Is anything else needed, along with this cause, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"<br />
* "Can anything else, besides this cause, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"<br />
<br />
//matching on effects<br />
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect/process exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is the effect measurable?)"<br />
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect: {this} could lead to the stated outcome? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"<br />
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"<br />
*(,) "Is anything else needed, along with this effect, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"<br />
*(,) "Can anything else, besides this effect, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-34298993402782701882009-11-08T04:14:00.000-08:002009-11-08T04:14:45.560-08:005 Questions (Use of)// Carl E. Gregory, The Management of Intelligence, McGraw Hill, 1967<br />
<br />
#creativity.5questions (use of)<br />
useful "Who uses {this}? Who could use {this}?"<br />
useful "What is {this} used for? Could {this} be used for other purposes?"<br />
useful "Why is {this} used? Could {this} be used for other reasons?"<br />
useful "Where is {this} used? Where could {this} be used?"<br />
useful "When is {this} used? When could {this} be used?"<br />
useful "How is {this} used? Could {this} be used in other ways?"<br />
<br />
harmful "Who avoids {this}? Who should avoid {this}?"<br />
harmful "What harm results from {this}? Could {this} harm in other ways?"<br />
harmful "Why is {this} harmful? Could {this} be turned to useful purpose?"<br />
harmful "Where does the harm from {this} appear? Where could the harm from {this} be felt?"<br />
harmful "When does {this} create harm? When could {this} create harm?"<br />
harmful "How does {this} produce harm? Could {this} produce harm in other ways?"<br />
<br />
neutral "Who should use {this}? Who may use {this}?"<br />
neutral "What should {this} be used for? What could {this} be used for?"<br />
neutral "Why should {this} be used? What reasons would drive use of {this}?"<br />
neutral "Where should {this} be used? Where could {this} be used?"<br />
neutral "When should {this} be used? When could {this} be used?"<br />
neutral "How should {this} be used? Could {this} be used in other ways?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-4576762782344251142009-11-08T04:07:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:50:26.697-08:00Dialog MappingThis screenshot illustrates a Dialog Mapping template, being used to guide a workshop. The rules that generated the output are included below:<br />
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// Dialog Mapping v0.1<br />
// Build a dialog mapping application in Southbeach.<br />
// Pros and cons can be represented as Useful and Harmful agents<br />
// Questions can be represented as 'Issues' (synonym)<br />
// Proposed solutions as 'Actions"<br />
// Set defaults for the effects ContributesTo and DetractsFrom as they are relevant in this modeling context<br />
// Use agent symbols for extra clarity, e.g. ?, +, -<br />
<br />
#dialog.3questions<br />
* "What are the questions we need to ask about {this}?"<br />
* "What ideas do we have around {this}?"<br />
* "What the pros and cons of {this}?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.steps<br />
* "Ask all the key questions, e.g. what the key questions around {this}?"<br />
* "Make the case for key ideas, e.g. what is the case for {this}?"<br />
* "Make the case against key ideas, e.g. what is the case against {this}?"<br />
* "Endorsements, e.g. who supports {this}?"<br />
* "Validation of the criteria, e.g. what criteria apply to {this}?"<br />
* "Making the decision, e.g. what decisions need to be taken in respect of {this}?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.mapping<br />
action "What are the pros of {this}?"<br />
action "What are the cons of {this}?"<br />
action "What further ideas does {this} suggest?"<br />
<br />
agent+harmful "What could prevent, eradicate or counteract {this}?"<br />
agent+harmful "Does {this} have an upside (pro)?"<br />
<br />
agent+useful "Does {this} have a downside (con)?"<br />
agent+useful "Is {this} a real benefit?"<br />
<br />
issue "Other than {action}, what further ideas does {this} suggest?"<br />
<br />
* "Other than {issue}, what additional questions does {this} raise?"<br />
<br />
useful+!goal "Is {this} a goal? - if not mark it as such"<br />
harmful+!risk "Is {this} a risk? - if not mark it as such"<br />
<br />
goal "What resources are required to achieve the goal {this}"<br />
risk "What can we do to mitigate the risk of {this}"<br />
<br />
#dialog.assessment<br />
* "What does {this} mean?"<br />
* "What is {this}? Is {this} true?"<br />
* "What should we do about {this}?"<br />
* "How should we do it?"<br />
* "What are the relevant criteria around {this}?"<br />
* "What is the background to {this}?"<br />
* "Who are the stakeholders of {this}?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.open question<br />
* "Closed question: Should we {this}?"<br />
* "Open question: What should we do? {this}?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.pros and cons<br />
useful "We have plenty of pros for {this} - are there harmful side effects? What are the downsides/cons?"<br />
harmful "We have plenty of cons for {this} - are there useful side effects? What are the upsides/pros?"<br />
useful "Is there a strong case for {this}?"<br />
useful "Is it the right thing to do?"<br />
useful "Do we have support for {this}?"<br />
useful "How could the case for {this} be questioned?"<br />
useful "What types of criticism could arise?"<br />
useful "Who will object to {this} and why?"<br />
useful "What's the defence against critisim of {this}?"<br />
useful "Is there anything we have forgotten? Is there anything to add?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.criterial<br />
* "What are the criteria around or for {this}?"<br />
* "Other than {goal}: What other goals could {this} could us to achieve?"<br />
* "What are the requirements?"<br />
* "Does {this} require resources? What do we need?"<br />
* "Does {this} imply constraints? How can we meet them?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.conceptual<br />
* "What does {this} mean?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.background<br />
* "What is the backgroind to {this}?"<br />
* "What is our context?"<br />
* "Why are we doing {this}?"<br />
* "Tell the story of {this}?"<br />
<br />
#dialog.stakeholders<br />
* "Who are the stakeholders for {this}?"<br />
* "Who cares about the outcomes of {this}"<br />
* "Whose buy-in is critical for success?"<br />
* "Who should the stakeholders be? shall we involve them"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-67097873264487577152009-11-08T03:58:00.000-08:002009-11-22T03:52:53.582-08:00Design#world of design<br />
//From figure 1.5 p31 in Dialog Mapping<br />
<br />
// Often, MyCreativity is used to build a checklist, and to associate different parts of the list with the<br />
// relevant semantics in the model<br />
<br />
harmful "What is needed?"<br />
harmful "What is the problem?"<br />
harmful "What do we want?"<br />
harmful "What do they need?"<br />
harmful "What are the goals?"<br />
harmful "Who are the users?"<br />
harmful "What are the criteria?"<br />
harmful "What are the requirements?"<br />
<br />
useful "What can be done?"<br />
useful "What can we make?"<br />
useful "What services can we provide?"<br />
useful "What do we do best?"<br />
useful "What is the implementation?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-35378069513353846102009-11-08T03:52:00.000-08:002009-11-08T03:53:20.534-08:00TRIZ lists//MyCreativity rules are a great way to keep checklists for creative thinking, problem solving and innovation<br />
//Invoke them at any time during modelling <br />
<br />
#triz.levels of invention<br />
<br />
* "Level 1 - Routine design problems solved by methods well known within the specialty. Usually no invention needed."<br />
* "Level 2 - Minor improvements to an existing system using methods known within the industry."<br />
* "Level 3 - Fundamental improvement to an existing system using methods known outside the industry."<br />
* "Level 4 - A new generation of a system that entails a new principle for performing the system's primary functions. Solutions are found more often in science than technology."<br />
* "Level 5 - A rare scientific discovery or pioneering invention of an essentially new system."<br />
<br />
#triz.8 trends<br />
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"1. Completeness of parts of the engineering system. Every technical system consists of engine, transmission, limbs and controls. Evolution will take place to all these parts."<br />
"2. Energy Conductivity of the system- The better the transfer of energy inside the system, the better the system."<br />
"3. Harmony of the parts of the system- Better harmony in timing, frequency etc. improves performance of the system."<br />
"4. Transition from Microlevel to Macrolevel which improves miniaturization."<br />
"5. Dynamicsation - that moves the evolution from a rigid structure to a flexible one."<br />
"6. Moving towards increasing ideality. Every stage of evolution will move closer to the ideal system."<br />
"7. Moving from complecated system to simplified system."<br />
"8. Elimination of redundant stages and Transition towards the super-system."<br />
<br />
#triz.40 principles<br />
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" 1. Segmentation"<br />
" 2. Extraction"<br />
" 3. Local Quality"<br />
" 4. Asymmetry"<br />
" 5. Combination"<br />
" 6. Universality"<br />
" 7. Nesting"<br />
" 8. Counterweight"<br />
" 9. Prior Counteraction"<br />
"10. Prior Action"<br />
"11. Cushion in Advance"<br />
"12. Equipotentiality"<br />
"13. Inversion"<br />
"14. Spheroidality"<br />
"15. Dynamicity"<br />
"16. Partial, overdone or excessive action"<br />
"17. Moving to a new dimension"<br />
"18. Mechanical vibration"<br />
"19. Periodic action"<br />
"20. Continuity of useful action"<br />
"21. Rushing through"<br />
"22. Convert harm into benefit"<br />
"23. Feedback"<br />
"24. Mediator"<br />
"25. Self-service"<br />
"26. Copying"<br />
"27. Inexpensive short life"<br />
"28. Replacement of a mechanical system"<br />
"29. Use pneumatic or hydraulic systems"<br />
"30. Flexible film or thin membranes"<br />
"31. Use of porous materials"<br />
"32. Changing the colour"<br />
"33. Homogeneity"<br />
"34. Rejecting and regenerating parts"<br />
"35. Transforming physical or chemical states"<br />
"36. Phase transition"<br />
"37. Thermal expansion"<br />
"38. Use strong oxidisers"<br />
"39. Inert environment"<br />
"40. Composite materials"<br />
<br />
#triz.39 engineering parameters<br />
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"1. Weight of moving object"<br />
"2. Weight of nonmoving object"<br />
"3. Length of moving object"<br />
"4. Length of nonmoving object"<br />
"5. Area of moving object"<br />
"6. Area of nonmoving object"<br />
"7. Volume of moving object"<br />
"8. Volume of nonmoving object"<br />
"9. Speed"<br />
"10. Force"<br />
"11. Tension, pressure"<br />
"12. Shape"<br />
"13. Stability of object"<br />
"14. Strength"<br />
"15. Durability of moving object"<br />
"16. Durability of nonmoving object"<br />
"17. Temperature"<br />
"18. Brightness"<br />
"19. Energy spent by moving object"<br />
"20. Energy spent by nonmoving object"<br />
"21. Power"<br />
"22. Waste of energy"<br />
"23. Waste of substance"<br />
"24. Loss of information"<br />
"25. Waste of time"<br />
"26. Amount of substance"<br />
"27. Reliability"<br />
"28. Accuracy of measurement"<br />
"29. Accuracy of manufacturing"<br />
"30. Harmful factors acting on object"<br />
"31. Harmful side effects"<br />
"32. Manufacturability"<br />
"33. Convenience of use"<br />
"34. Repairability"<br />
"35. Adaptability"<br />
"36. Complexity of device"<br />
"37. Complexity of control"<br />
"38. Level of automation"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-49701286254992562722009-11-08T02:52:00.000-08:002009-11-08T02:52:03.497-08:00Use in workshop// It is sometimes useful to turn on simple rules in a workshop, to highlight the clicked on agent, or to<br />
// ask questions pertinant to the objectives of the workshop<br />
<br />
#workshop.echo<br />
* "{this}"<br />
<br />
#workshop.note taking<br />
* "How important is {this}?"<br />
* "What do I need to capture about {this}?"<br />
* "What was just said about {this}?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-25760030201239628832009-11-08T02:14:00.000-08:002012-12-30T14:47:26.447-08:00SWOT analysis//SWOT version 0.1<br />
//Use with SWOT grid (menu Insert - Quickgrids)<br />
<br />
#swot.list<br />
* "Strengths: {@strengths}"<br />
* "Weaknesses: {@weaknesses}"<br />
* "Opportunities: {@opportunities}"<br />
* "Threats: {@threats}"<br />
<br />
#swot.elaborate <br />
harmful "How can {this} prevent us meeting our goal(s) {goal}?"<br />
useful "How can {this} be changed so as to help meet our goal(s) {goal}?" <br />
goal "How could any of these factors: {harmful} jeopardise meeting the goal of {this}?"<br />
<br />
* "What new strengths can be created from {this}?"<br />
* "What new weaknesses does {this} expose?"<br />
* "What new opportunities arise from {this}?"<br />
* "What new threats does {this} create?"<br />
<br />
@strengths "Is there a relationship between strength {this} and any of these opportunities: {@opportunities}?"<br />
<br />
@strengths "Can we use strength {this} to counteract any of these weaknesses {@weaknesses}?"<br />
<br />
@weaknesses "Is there a relationship between weakness {this} and any of these threats: {@threats}?"<br />
<br />
@weaknesses "Are there any risks to our opportunities {@opportunities} that arise from weakness {this}?"<br />
<br />
@threats "Are there any risks to our strengths {@strengths} that arise from threat {this}?"<br />
<br />
@opportunities "How could threats such as {@threats} cause a problem to {this}?"<br />
<br />
Here is an example of using these rules to analyse a SWOT chart:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWQr1k5WyDRxuUP_i-TCIfzSO0LGC0YiYuI1JtvIM5XRNHetDI37FM6hUGTgWqID4WQV_B1tKLMqOOp-qH5kSnE3pGYbUYovTjoI5-5A_MLc66-aekF6Ev0_D5sntyUOpCnpUus_5lQ/s1600-h/swot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWQr1k5WyDRxuUP_i-TCIfzSO0LGC0YiYuI1JtvIM5XRNHetDI37FM6hUGTgWqID4WQV_B1tKLMqOOp-qH5kSnE3pGYbUYovTjoI5-5A_MLc66-aekF6Ev0_D5sntyUOpCnpUus_5lQ/s640/swot.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-47892796598559133692009-11-07T23:22:00.001-08:002009-11-07T23:23:32.448-08:00Notation//Southbeach 09 <br />
//As you click around any model, this helps you learn the notation<br />
//The Explain tab in Properties panel is also very useful <br />
<br />
#workshop.notation<br />
<br />
//actors<br />
<br />
useful "{this} is useful"<br />
harmful "{this} is harmful"<br />
neutral "{this} is neutral (unknown, undecided)"<br />
<br />
issue "{this} is an issue (a question)"<br />
choice "{this} is a choice (a decision)"<br />
action "{this} is an action (an intervention)"<br />
<br />
insufficient "{this} is insufficient"<br />
dysfunctional "{this} is dysfunctional"<br />
potential "{this} is potential (unrealized)"<br />
surplus "{this} is surplus"<br />
<br />
goal "{this} is a goal"<br />
risk "{this} is a risk"<br />
focus "{this} is our focus"<br />
<br />
process "{this} is a process"<br />
service "{this} is a service"<br />
capability "{this} is a capability"<br />
function "{this} is a function"<br />
quality "{this} is a quality"<br />
thing "{this} is a thing"<br />
resource "{this} is a resource"<br />
event "{this} is an event"<br />
idea "{this} is an idea"<br />
trend "{this} is a trend"<br />
<br />
// effects<br />
<br />
produces (,) "{this}"<br />
counteracts (,) "{this}"<br />
creates (,) "{this}"<br />
destroys (,) "{this}"<br />
stores (,) "{this}"<br />
consumes (,) "{this}"<br />
opposed (,) "{this}"<br />
is_a(,) "{this}"<br />
causes (,) "{this}"<br />
prevents (,) "{this}"<br />
related (,) "{this}"<br />
becomes (,) "{this}"<br />
replaces (,) "{this}"<br />
user_defined (,) "user defined effect: {this}"<br />
implements (,) "{this}"<br />
specifies (,) "{this}"<br />
contributesto (,) "{this}"<br />
detractsfrom (,) "{this}"<br />
uses (,) "{this}"<br />
<br />
useful(,) "It is useful that {this}"<br />
harmful(,) "It is harmful that {this}"<br />
neutral(,) "It is neutral that {this}"<br />
<br />
insufficient(,) "{this} insufficiently"<br />
dysfunctional(,) "{this} dysfunctionally"<br />
potential(,) "{this} potentially"<br />
excessive(,) "{this} excessively"<br />
emphasis(,) "{this} is emphasized"<br />
not(,) "{from} does not {effect} {to}"<br />
<br />
necessary(,) "{from} is required/necessary to {effect} {to}"<br />
inevitable(,) "{from} inevitably {effect} {to}"<br />
delay(,) "{this} with a delay"<br />
questionable(,) "it is questionable whether {this}"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863075962059816877.post-73666383781153751352009-11-07T23:20:00.000-08:002009-11-07T23:20:25.262-08:00Marketing#marketing.4ps<br />
<br />
* "Product (or Service)"<br />
* "Place"<br />
* "Price"<br />
* "Promotion"<br />
<br />
#marketing.4ps.product/service<br />
<br />
* "What does the customer want from {this}? What needs does it satisfy? What features does {this} have to meet these needs?"<br />
* "Are there any features you've missed out from {this}?"<br />
* "Are you including costly features of {this} that the customer won't actually use?"<br />
* "How and where will the customer use {this}?"<br />
* "What does {this} look like? How will customers experience {this}?"<br />
* "What size(s), color(s), and so on, should {this} be?"<br />
* "What is {this} to be called?"<br />
* "How is {this} to be branded?"<br />
* "How is {this} differentiated versus your competitors?"<br />
* "What is the most {this} can cost to provide, and still be sold sufficiently profitably?"<br />
<br />
#marketing.4ps.place<br />
<br />
* "Where do buyers look for {this} as a product or service?"<br />
* "If they look in a store for {this}, what kind? A specialist boutique or in a supermarket, or both? Or online? Or direct, via a catalogue?"<br />
* "How can you access the right distribution channels for {this}?"<br />
* "To sell {this} do you need to use a sales force? Or attend trade fairs? Or make online submissions? Or send samples to catalogue companies?"<br />
* "What do your competitors do to sell and promote {this}, and how can you learn from that and/or differentiate?"<br />
<br />
#marketing.4ps.price<br />
<br />
* "What is the value of {this} as a product or service to the buyer?"<br />
* "Are there established price points for products or services like {this}?"<br />
* "Is the customer price for {this} sensitive? Will a small decrease in price of {this} gain you extra market share? Or will a small increase be indiscernible, and so gain you extra profit margin?"<br />
* "What discounts on {this} should be offered to trade customers, or to other specific segments of your market?"<br />
* "How will your price for {this} compare with your competitors?"<br />
<br />
#marketing.4ps.promotion<br />
<br />
* "Where and when can you get across your marketing messages about {this} to your target market?"<br />
* "Will you reach your audience for {this} by advertising in the press, or on TV, or radio, or on billboards? By using direct marketing mailshot? Through PR? On the Internet?"<br />
* "When is the best time to promote {this}? Is there seasonality in the market for {this}? Are there any wider environmental issues around {this} that suggest or dictate the timing of your market launch, or the timing of subsequent promotions?"<br />
* "How do your competitors do their promotions for {this}? And how does that influence your choice of promotional activity?"Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0