Methodology [was] Re: Guinea Pigs [was] Re: EPP [snip]

[plug-devel@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us]

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005, Eric "Shubes" wrote:

> Trent Shipley wrote:
> [snip]
> > 
> > Fine.  I want to find and interview domain experts.
> > 
> > a) We have Dennis K. and the Install Fest folks.
> > b) An event planner _per se_ (possibly a friend of Joseph's)
> > c) Bryan has worked with people at ASU's Herberger College for the Performing 
> > Arts.
> > d) I have volunteered for the city of Glendale, and might be able to find 
> > someone there who basically works as an event planner.  Perhaps at the civic 
> > center or for the Libraries.
> > e) I could go through the phone book calling funeral homes and wedding 
> > planners.
> > f) I might be able to go down a couple of connections and find a concert 
> > promoter.
> > g) I could call the major arenas and civic centers in the greater Phoenix 
> > area. 
> > h) In some municipalities, Parks, Rec, and/or Libraries do events -- like 
> > concerts in the park.
> > i)  I could call larger hotels and resorts that host conferences.
> > j) I could call a large company, like MacDiznie, that plans many, many events.
> > k) I could call the state and local party headquarters.
> > l) I could try to get in touch with advance teams for marketing or political 
> > campaigns.
> > 
> > I welcome ideas for others.
> > 
> > More important, the EPPP coordinator needs to give me some direction.  For 
> > example, I am guessing that since we want to focus on a full-fledged n-tier 
> > version, big diverse fish like Herberger, MacDiznie, and the resort chains 
> > take precedence over wedding planners who work with one computer out of their 
> > home.
> > 
> > In short, I need managerial input on how to target the research.
> > 
> > Also, I am thinking of signing up for one credit of independent study or some 
> > other form of university affiliation to force development of disclosure 
> > documents, third-party ethics review, and to give me a stronger basis to 
> > appeal for cooperation.
> 
> Whew! I was afraid things were getting a bit off track. I think that 
> it's important for project participants to have a common understanding 
> of and agreement on the development methodology that will be used. My 
> impression thus far is that there has been a somewhat of a failure to 
> (effectively) communicate, though there's been no lack of effort. Kudos 
> to everyone.
> 
> I think that Trent is on the right track here. Whether you call it data 
> gathering, requirements definition, research or story cards, to me it's 
> all the same thing - learning (and documenting) what the user does and 
> how it's done. Not a fun task for (some) techies, it still needs to be 
> done (a system can't be developed in a vacuum). This is the 
> architectural phase of development, where the goal is to describe what 
> it is that is going to be addressed and for whom. Such a description 
> should be largely void of technology (which gets added in the Design 
> phase), in the same way that an architect's drawing is void of 
> construction materials (although the architect would have ideas). The 
> product of this phase will provide input necessary (required) for 
> subsequent phases of development (Analysis, Design, 
> Construction/Testing, Implementation).
> 
> IMHO, most of the other subjects of discussion (e.g. platform, 
> integration)) are premature.
> 
> Keep in mind, the "system" is not just the technology, but includes 
> users and non-automated processes as well. A good automated system is 
> usually a good manual system that's been automated.
> 
> I like Trent's start here: Identify the universe of users, then classify 
> and whittle it down. Learn what's out there, then choose where to focus, 
> and go into more detail (what they do, how they do it). I think that 
> this is the right thing to do at this point, and deserves as much 
> attention and support as we can muster. So anybody have any ideas on how 
> to target research?
> -- 
> -Eric 'shubes'
> "There is no such thing as the People;
>   it is a collectivist myth.
>   There are only individual citizens
>   with individual wills
>   and individual purposes."
> -William E. Simon (1927-2000),
>      Secretary of the Treasury (1974-1977)
>   "A Time For Truth" (1978), pg. 237
> 
>  
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I must Whole heartedly agree.  Very well said!