the mizuiro effect
DESCRIPTION
Each language and each model has its strengths and limitations. A language can sensitize you to certain types of issues, but at the same time it may leave you with a blind spot for other types of issues. I call that the Mizuiro effect. A business analyst should be aware of the strengths and limitations of each language and each model (s)he uses. By applying at least two complementary languages or models, the business analyst can reduce the risk of omissions.TRANSCRIPT
The mizuiro effect
Language influences thought
Benjamin Lee Whorf introduced...
Benjamin Lee Whorf (April 24, 1897 – July 26, 1941) was an American linguist.
Whorf is widely known for his ideas about linguistic relativity, the hypothesis that language influences thought.
…the linguistic relativity principle
In 1940 Benjamin Lee Whorf introduced the “linguistic relativity principle”:
“users of markedly different grammars are pointed by their grammars toward different types of observations and different evaluations of externally similar acts of observation, and hence are not equivalent as observers but must arrive at somewhat different views of the world”
Now there is supporting evidence
• Ref: Athanasopoulos et al: “Representation of colour concepts in bilingual cognition: The case of Japanese blues.“
Ao MizuiroDark blue Light blue
Language influences thought
My guess is that the Eskimo-Aleut languages are strong at specifying different snowy conditions, but weak at distinguishing varieties of tropical hardwood trees.
Language and business analysis
• Natural language is inherently ambiguous.
• Subject matter experts often have their own specialized vocabulary.
• Specification language and model limitationsinfluence thought.
Ambiguity
Bar?
Specialized vocabulary
Loan
Credit Facility
Revolving Line of Credit
Collateral
Disbursement
Model limitations
• Use Cases and User Stories focus on behaviour and sequence.
– Less suited for rules, qualities, structures
Overcoming language limitations
• Know the strengths and weaknesses of the languages and models you use
• Combine languages / models that are strong in complementary aspects
Language strengths
Language / technique / model Use to describe
Use case Behaviour
Logical data model Structure
Data dictionary Definition, structure
Virtual window User interface
User story Behaviour
Sequence diagram Behaviour, system interaction
Rulespeak Business rules, decisions
Decision table Business rules, decisions
... ...
Combining languages
Behaviour
Structure
Rule
s
Inte
rfaceData
Dictionary
Dec
isio
n
Tbal
eV
irtual
Win
do
w
Use Case
Don’t be blue
• Know the limitations of your tools (including language and models)
• Use complementary tools to reduce the mizuiro effect
http://pragmaticall.nl/?p=127
