A delegate on a recent course, Robert Lamont from NAGE, made an important distinction between drawings and models. Drawings he described as being communicative expressions and models must have full logical integrity. i.e. all pathways and connections must work and make sense. Many process diagrams draw by analysts convey conceptual information and users say:
"That the process"
but when you trace it through and it stops at a decision box and can't carry on then you realise this isn't a model.
Models have to work and be absolutely rule driven whilst drawings are produced to communicate an idea or depict an interpretaion.
Drawings are art and models are science.
Thats why some modelling tools drive us nuts with their logical integrity, i.e. delete a process or change its name on one drawing and it magically disappears everywhere in the tool!
What we are doing is trying to draw not model.So use a drawing tool like visio for drawing and a modelling tool when modelling, many analysts make this basic mistake with tools.
I thought this quite inspirational... Thanks Robert.
Showing posts with label Tools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tools. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Knowledge Genes
I am always a fan of simple tools. Back in the nineties I was introduced to Que Sheet which then became Hyperknowlege and today is known as Knowledge Genes.
It is great for semantic logical models, creating logical modles using words, and I like how it traces the objectives through through to how to deliver those objectives in a breakdown structure.
It uses a How, Why and What format which enables one to trace linkage from business process through to business imperatives; the what element can be used to identify supporting assets. The best benefit for independants like myself in its basic form it is free.
I recently showed this to some delegates on my business architecture course during my businss modelling unit and they were impressed and got quite excited; a lot more than they were with Zachman or TOGAF!
The only downside, from my point of view, it's all thin client with the data residing on the knowledge Genes site. I like control!
As a mobile consultant and trainer I like to be able to work away from an internet connection and then synchonise up later. Control of the package and the data makes me feel more comfortable. So many tools are going server based these days and I'm not sure it is for the best.
Mind you I like software on a CD or DVD with a nice manual and box rather than a download so perhaps I am a bit old fashioned and a control freak.
Have a look at http://www.hyperknowledge.com/ Click the title bar on this post.
It is great for semantic logical models, creating logical modles using words, and I like how it traces the objectives through through to how to deliver those objectives in a breakdown structure.
It uses a How, Why and What format which enables one to trace linkage from business process through to business imperatives; the what element can be used to identify supporting assets. The best benefit for independants like myself in its basic form it is free.
I recently showed this to some delegates on my business architecture course during my businss modelling unit and they were impressed and got quite excited; a lot more than they were with Zachman or TOGAF!
The only downside, from my point of view, it's all thin client with the data residing on the knowledge Genes site. I like control!
As a mobile consultant and trainer I like to be able to work away from an internet connection and then synchonise up later. Control of the package and the data makes me feel more comfortable. So many tools are going server based these days and I'm not sure it is for the best.
Mind you I like software on a CD or DVD with a nice manual and box rather than a download so perhaps I am a bit old fashioned and a control freak.
Have a look at http://www.hyperknowledge.com/ Click the title bar on this post.
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