Comments for SystemsWiki.org Blog http://www.systemswiki.org/blog Enabling A Systems Thinking World Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:01:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on Goals: A Self-Limiting Proposition by phoenix http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=149&cpage=1#comment-17 phoenix Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:01:05 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=149#comment-17 Ken, A most appropriate perspective. Looking beyond the goal would tend to make it non-terminal. Ken,

A most appropriate perspective. Looking beyond the goal would tend to make it non-terminal.

]]> Comment on Goals: A Self-Limiting Proposition by Ken Hansen http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=149&cpage=1#comment-15 Ken Hansen Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:55:52 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=149#comment-15 Yes, in the context of Project Management Goals can certainly be limiting. In the context of a program or an annual performance contract, Goals should merely be milestones to be passed within the stated time and budget. In fact many executives regard Goals as something to be surpassed and they are motivated by Big Hairy Audacious Goals. The moral is that whoever sets Goals should recognise and plan the desired behaviour after Goal is reached. Yes, in the context of Project Management Goals can certainly be limiting. In the context of a program or an annual performance contract, Goals should merely be milestones to be passed within the stated time and budget. In fact many executives regard Goals as something to be surpassed and they are motivated by Big Hairy Audacious Goals.

The moral is that whoever sets Goals should recognise and plan the desired behaviour after Goal is reached.

]]> Comment on SystemsWiki.org Moodle Course by Alan Clark http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=125&cpage=1#comment-8 Alan Clark Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:04:29 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=125#comment-8 Congratulations Gene. You have hung in there and produced something useful (my highest accolade!). Love the definition of thinking that allows one to see the forrest and the trees! This is what is needed because even the words analysis and synthesis are a step too far for too many managers - sadly. Was a bit fooled by the wikipedia looking pages, but then it is the Systemswiki... But that's just me doing 'Homer' - D'oh! Alan Congratulations Gene. You have hung in there and produced something useful (my highest accolade!).

Love the definition of thinking that allows one to see the forrest and the trees! This is what is needed because even the words analysis and synthesis are a step too far for too many managers – sadly.

Was a bit fooled by the wikipedia looking pages, but then it is the Systemswiki… But that’s just me doing ‘Homer’ – D’oh!

Alan

]]> Comment on Measures in a Customer Support Context: The Impact of Knowledge Management by Mike Blackstone http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=100&cpage=1#comment-6 Mike Blackstone Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:14:45 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=100#comment-6 Gene, just the introduction of this article alone is priceless, e.g., the notion of "...intermediate targets..." and "...associated action plans..." That is just one example of many—just in the introduction. Gene, just the introduction of this article alone is priceless, e.g., the notion of “…intermediate targets…” and “…associated action plans…” That is just one example of many—just in the introduction.

]]> Comment on Fire the Bunch! by phoenix http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=68&cpage=1#comment-5 phoenix Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:20:22 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=68#comment-5 Robert, Thanks for the comment. I hadn't thought of that impact on the delay though I think you're spot on! Robert,

Thanks for the comment. I hadn’t thought of that impact on the delay though I think you’re spot on!

]]> Comment on Fire the Bunch! by Robert DaSilva http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=68&cpage=1#comment-4 Robert DaSilva Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:10:57 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=68#comment-4 Gene, Last night, I was having a conversation with my wife in which I made the assertion that the vast majority of people in upper management; do not have any concept of how the 'system' that they are managing really works. Upper management think that by threatening and instilling fear, they can get the result required. As the above case that you outlined, I would surmise that after the 3 AR people were fired; the average delay crept as the new people tried to learn the dynamics of system now, in a non-linear state. Gene,

Last night, I was having a conversation with my wife in which I made the assertion that the vast majority of people in upper management; do not have any concept of how the ’system’ that they are managing really works.

Upper management think that by threatening and instilling fear, they can get the result required. As the above case that you outlined, I would surmise that after the 3 AR people were fired; the average delay crept as the new people tried to learn the dynamics of system now, in a non-linear state.

]]> Comment on Thinking in Systems is Excellent! by phoenix http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=52&cpage=1#comment-3 phoenix Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:12:26 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=52#comment-3 Jeremy, Thanks for the comment on the Blog, which I'm still trying to figure out as I'm a bit out of my element. I think once I approved your first comment any you make in the future won't be held up for approval. At least that's the way I read it. As for the CDL/SFD controversy I've been wrestling with it for years and as of late have been leaning more toward using SFDs. Here's one I did that seemed to work ok. http://www.systemswiki.org/index.php?title=Create_a_Model Pleased to hear that the presentation went well without the CLD/SFD controversy. Though I would think that at some point later on I would want to tell them about the alternative and why things were presented as they were. The people are going to run into the CLDs somewhere so preparing them might be a good idea. Jeremy,

Thanks for the comment on the Blog, which I’m still trying to figure out as I’m a bit out of my element. I think once I approved your first comment any you make in the future won’t be held up for approval. At least that’s the way I read it.

As for the CDL/SFD controversy I’ve been wrestling with it for years and as of late have been leaning more toward using SFDs. Here’s one I did that seemed to work ok.

http://www.systemswiki.org/index.php?title=Create_a_Model

Pleased to hear that the presentation went well without the CLD/SFD controversy. Though I would think that at some point later on I would want to tell them about the alternative and why things were presented as they were. The people are going to run into the CLDs somewhere so preparing them might be a good idea.

]]> Comment on Thinking in Systems is Excellent! by jeremyx http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=52&cpage=1#comment-2 jeremyx Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:55:33 +0000 http://www.systemswiki.org/blog/?p=52#comment-2 I totally agree. After I got into a few chapters, I was preparing for a Intro to ST and STELLA presentation and realized that Meadows book jumps right into things without the whole CLD vs Stocks & Flows. So I used some quotes and examples for the presentation which worked quite well with a group new to ST. I totally agree. After I got into a few chapters, I was preparing for a Intro to ST and STELLA presentation and realized that Meadows book jumps right into things without the whole CLD vs Stocks & Flows. So I used some quotes and examples for the presentation which worked quite well with a group new to ST.

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