CONTACTS 
0201 - Wideman, R. Max                                                                                                                                                    O-00000665 0101
020101 - Mr. R. Max Wideman

SUBJECTS
Black Box Shocking Incredible Savings
Water into Wine; PC subject of
Difficult to Grasp; SDS is Complex
Span of Attention Conceals Mistakes Need
Common Sense Shattered by Prospect of
1 Month Communication Metrics Recognized as
Uncommon Sense, Cognitive Science Not Understood
Attention Span Limited Causes Mistakes

2010 -
2010 -    ..
2011 - Summary/Objective
2012 -
201201 - Follow up ref SDS 12 0000, ref SDS 11 0000.
201202 -
201203 - Max requests support on the grounding of Communication Metrics in
201204 - Cognitive Science.  He raises important concerns about providing
201205 - justification for these fundamentals.  Apart from the fact that a new
201206 - system of knowledge by definition is difficult to initially convey, I
201207 - have failed to provide a clear, concise and complete explanation that
201208 - fits within the time available for review.
201210 -  ..
201211 - This is another dimension of limited span of attention.
201213 -  ..
201214 - One way of trying to overcome this limitation is using summaries
201215 - linked to detail.  But for people who are not used to detailed
201216 - research, and who have very limited time, this is not sufficient.
201217 - Another way would be to migrate SDS skills that increase command of
201218 - the record and provides expanded span of attention, but this too takes
201219 - time.  I will ask Max what he thinks would be a good solution.
201220 -
201221 -     [Responded on 971031, ref SDS 15]
201223 -      ..
201224 -     [On 971101 Max followed up. ref SDS 16]
201226 -      ..
201227 -     [On 980223 Max says a revised paper on NWO makes the ideas from
201228 -     Cognitive Science that are applied in Communication Metrics are
201229 -     more clear. ref SDS 18 1620]
201231 -      ..
201232 -     [On 990303 Max submits paper on cognitive science as a basis for
201233 -     PM knowledge structure. ref SDS 19 6318]
201234 -
201236 -  ..
2013 -
2014 -
2015 - Progress
2016 -
201601 - Received ref DRT 1 9999 from Max responding to my letter on 971027,
201602 - ref DIP 3 9999 issued at ref SDS 13 1111 and transmitting notes of our
201603 - discussion on 971024, ref SDS 11 line 78, and the ideas on common
201604 - administration and concurrent dispute resolution, CACDR, also called
201605 - "partnering" developed on ref SDS 11 3380.
201606 -
201607 -     [CACDR was discussed with Tom Keesling on 971030, ref SDS 14
201608 -     8840.]
201610 -  ..
201611 - Need Support on Meaning and Justification for Communication Metrics
201612 -
201613 - The letter to Max sets out a need to explain cognitive Science in
201614 - relation to management science, which people seem to have difficulty
201615 - with, as noted by Max in our discussion on 971024, when he described
201616 - cognitive science as "ephemeral," ref SDS 11 line 253.
201618 -  ..
201619 - This disconnect is reflected in Max's letter received today on the
201620 - definition of Communication Metrics, first developed on 950327. see at
201621 - ref SDS 4 4822
201623 -  ..
201624 - Max cites from my letter on 971027.
201625 -
201626 -    1.  Communication Metrics uses a theory of the mind as a process to
201627 -        accumulate chunks of experience within a span of attention, and
201628 -        to use that experience for analysing and organizing new
201629 -        information to grow new knowledge. ref DIP 3 8837
201631 -         ..
201632 -    2.  This improves ephemeral workings of the mind that cause rework,
201633 -        by providing consistency (accuracy) and expanding span of
201634 -        attention.
201636 -         ..
201637 -    3.  Writing of course expands span of attention.
201639 -         ..
201640 -    4.  Conventional writing in computers uses traditional analogs
201641 -        (e.g., documents, files, etc.) that are too slow for the faster
201642 -        pace and complexity of modern life.
201644 -         ..
201645 -    5.  Communication Metrics provides a key advance by integrating
201646 -        time and information. ref DIP 3 3040
201648 -  ..
201649 - Max then says:
201650 -
201651 -      I have difficulty with those statements. ref SDS 0 2940 Can you
201652 -      really justify them?  In fact, when I think about them, I am not
201653 -      sure what they mean. (If the foundation is not solid, the
201654 -      superstructure will not be safe.) ref DRT 1 9682
201656 -         ..
201657 -        [On 971101 Max requested logical, demonstrable arguement for
201658 -        basis of Com Metrics. ref SDS 16 4928; he made a big effort to
201659 -        study the concepts. ref SDS 16 8477]
201661 -         ..
201662 -        [On 980223 Max says a revised paper on NWO makes the ideas from
201663 -        Cognitive Science that are applied in Communication Metrics are
201664 -        more clear. ref SDS 18 1620]
201666 -         ..
201667 -        [On 990303 Max submits paper on cognitive science as a basis
201668 -        for PM knowledge structure. ref SDS 19 6318]
201669 -
201670 -            The paper explains limited span of attention based on human
201671 -            memory occuring in "chunks", ref SDS 19 2838, which Max
201672 -            questions above. ref SDS 0 2940  Scientific experiments
201673 -            showed people can handle about 7 subjects. ref SDS 19 6120
201675 -         ..
201676 -        [On 990313 Max cites Miller's paper in his own paper on PM
201677 -        knowledge. ref SDS 20 2704]
201679 -         ..
201680 -        [On 990319 Max is not into cognitive science. ref SDS 21 1750]
201681 -
201683 -  ..
201684 - Experience Needed to Grasp Meaning of New Methods, Com Metrics
201685 - Meaning Uses Experience/Faith to Convert Information into Knowledge
201686 -
201687 - Dialog over the past several months with Max, and government reports
201688 - on Communication Metrics have explained the meaning and justification
201689 - of these ideas, which Max questions.  Unfortunately, it appears Max
201690 - has not had time to read the full record, since he typically comments
201691 - on only the summary.  Max has given this matter more time than have
201692 - others, and this has been helpful to me, but not to the task of
201693 - absorbing a new system of knowledge.
201694 -
201695 -        [On 980209 I tried to clarify application of Cognitive Science
201696 -        to Communication Metrics in a revision of NWO paper. ref SDS 17
201697 -        1092]
201699 -         ..
201700 -        [On 980223 Max says a revised paper on NWO makes the ideas from
201701 -        Cognitive Science that are applied in Communication Metrics are
201702 -        more clear. ref SDS 18 1620]
201704 -      ..
201705 - Dr. Tom Landauer in his paper on Latent Semantic Analysis, explains
201706 - the process of conveying "meaning." ref SDS 6 2882  His precise
201707 - statement is:
201708 -
201709 -     ...a representation that captures much of how words are used in
201710 -     natural context captures much of what we mean by meaning.
201712 -  ..
201713 - My sense of Dr. Landauer's explanation is that "meaning" (also
201714 - "learning") is a constant process in the mind of correlating new
201715 - patterns, principally from sight and sound, but also of body movements
201716 - as in dancing and athletics, with patterns previously stored in the
201717 - mind called "experience," as stated in the 970328 USACE report.
201718 - ref DRP 1 6172  In the case of language, words received (observed and
201719 - heard) that have similar patterns (sentences, paragraphs) to those
201720 - already in the mind impart "meaning."  Significant portions of new
201721 - word patterns that are dissimilar to patterns already in the mind,
201722 - prevent "meaning" from occurring.  This can vary from no similarity to
201723 - complete pattern matching.
201725 -  ..
201726 - When people say "I think I know what you mean," they are uncertain
201727 - about word pattern similarity. They can also be quite certain that
201728 - word patterns match their experience, yet not grasp that a meaning is
201729 - related to a wider context in a different manner from their
201730 - experience.  The words have meaning to them that is different from
201731 - intended meaning, i.e., communication fails but is not apparent at the
201732 - time.  Variance in meaning makes communication hard, and management
201733 - problematic.  The problem is an opportunity for adding a system of
201734 - metrics to improve management productivity.
201736 -  ..
201737 - "Justification" is needed when meaning falls outside our experience.
201738 - In that case we have information, but have not acquired knowledge.  We
201739 - are unable to "...turn the water into wine."  Max seems to be saying,
201740 - "Rod, you have given me information, but I need some connections
201741 - (justification) in order to acquire "knowledge" -- to truly know what
201742 - you have in mind.  This reflects Drucker's observation about the
201743 - insidious impact of information on communication when there is not
201744 - enough time to create the connections that produce knowledge, reviewed
201745 - on 931130. ref SDS 3 2855
201747 -       ..
201748 -      [On 991124 Einstein relied on experience. ref SDS 22 0001]
201750 -       ..
201751 -      [On 040312 Professor Schombert's lectures on 21st century science
201752 -      reviews classical Newtonian physics, and cites the "locality
201753 -      principle" drives a chain of causation, and further that
201754 -      connections of cause and effect are the "intelligence" that adds
201755 -      energy to convert information into the power of knowledge.
201756 -      ref SDS 23 YH4G
201758 -  ..
201759 - Justification can come from credible sources.  If those in whom we
201760 - have faith, such as established writers, or a trusted figure, someone
201761 - we know, or a prominent person, endorses a claim that is outside of
201762 - our personal experience, we may be willing to take on faith assertions
201763 - of meaning until we accumulate experience to make an independent
201764 - judgement.  Basically, this boils down to whether someone in whom we
201765 - have faith has said similar things, i.e., closely aligned word
201766 - patterns.
201768 -  ..
201769 - I began to explain in this record "span of attention" as like being at
201770 - a football game or on a construction site.  We see a lot of people,
201771 - but only a few are within our span of attention and so can be absorbed
201772 - as "chunks of experience."  What is retained is the familiar and the
201773 - dissimilar.  When we see something that is aligned with what we
201774 - already know, we can retain it.  If we see an elephant in the stands
201775 - across the way, we will remember that because it conflicts with our
201776 - expectation to see a sea of unfamiliar faces, i.e., the rule of
201777 - exception.
201778 -
201780 -  ..
201781 - Need Book on Cognitive Science and Communication and Management
201782 -
201783 - Continuing this line of discussion, however, becomes a book on
201784 - cognitive science.
201785 -
201786 - Seems like Max's question supports the point of my letter that a book
201787 - is needed to explain communication and business performance in
201788 - relation to Cognitive Science.
201789 - ..
201790 - Taking each of Max's listings from my letter...
201791 -
201792 -    1.  Communication Metrics uses a theory of the mind as a process to
201793 -        accumulate chunks of experience within a span of attention, and
201794 -        to use that experience for analysing and organizing new
201795 -        information to grow new knowledge.
201796 -
201797 -    The report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dated 970328
201798 -    explains on page 1 the correlation between Cognitive Science and
201799 -    management productivity, ref DRP 1 line 107.
201800 -     ..
201801 -    A process of accumulating "chunks of experience" is explained in my
201802 -    paper on POIMS technology identifying an innate mental cycle of
201803 -    "plan, perform, report," ref OF 1 2301, which reflects Demings
201804 -    "Plan, Do, Study, Act," process, and, also the PMBOK process of
201805 -    "Initiate, Plan, Execute, Control, Close." ref SDS 5 4012.  Chunks
201806 -    of memory (experience) is also cited by Dr. Tom Landauer in his
201807 -    paper...
201808 -
201809 -         A Solution to Plato's Problem: The Latent Semantic Analysis
201810 -         (LSA) Theory of Acquisition, Induction, and Representation of
201811 -         Knowledge
201812 -
201813 -         ...reviewed on 960809. ref SDS 8 0085
201815 -     ..
201816 -    Like eating food, the mind absorbs information in "chunks" of
201817 -    varying amounts depending upon texture and speed of absorption.
201818 -
201819 -        [On 990303 Max submits scientific paper that supports human
201820 -        memory occurs in chunks. ref SDS 19 2838]
201821 -     ..
201822 -    "Span of attention" is used in the book written by Robert Albanese:
201823 -
201824 -                Managing Toward Accountability for Performance
201825 -
201826 -    .., ref SDS 9 line 248. However, Robert does no more than say that
201827 -    span of attention is limited, in about two sentences out of 400
201828 -    pages.  He spends considerably more time on span of control, which
201829 -    is something managers experience in changing the boxes on the
201830 -    organization chart.  It is fun and easy to do.
201832 -     ..
201833 -    Explaining the implications of limited span of attention is much
201834 -    harder because it requires delving into the workings of the "black
201835 -    box" of the human mind.  He simply says communication is the most
201836 -    important and difficult aspect of managing and leaves it at that,
201837 -    ref SDS 9 line 153.  Similarly, Peter Drucker cites "...a tendency
201838 -    today to give up on communication." ref SDS 3 3851
201840 -     ..
201841 -    This is like writing a book about fighting fires, saying it is
201842 -    difficult, then writing 400 pages on how to coil a fire hose and
201843 -    polish the fire engine.
201844 -
201845 -
201846 -    2.  This improves ephemeral workings of the mind that cause rework,
201847 -        by providing consistency (accuracy) and expanding span of
201848 -        attention.
201850 -     ..
201851 -    "Ephemeral workings of the mind" reflects Max's comment in our
201852 -    telecon on 971024, ref SDS 12 8288, submitted in notes issued on
201853 -    971027 at line 181849.  Max does not comment on this in his
201854 -    response, so he may not have had time to read the complete record.
201855 -    "Ephemeral" relates to fast changing, unstable.  Dr. Landauer's
201856 -    paper on LSA describes "meaning" as in constant flux in the mind,
201857 -    ref SDS 7 line 377.  The correlation between limited span of
201858 -    attention and rework is explained in the report issued by the U.S.
201859 -    Army Corps of Engineers dated 971007, ref DRP 3 line 567.
201860 -
201862 -         ..
201863 -    3.  Writing of course expands span of attention.
201865 -         ..
201866 -    4.  Conventional writing in computers uses traditional analogs
201867 -        (e.g., documents, files, etc.) that are too slow for the faster
201868 -        pace and complexity of modern life.
201869 -     ..
201870 -    "Writing" and its application in conventional computer programs for
201871 -    wordprocessing and email is explained in my paper on POIMS
201872 -    technology, ref OF 1 line 522, and also in the paper on the "New
201873 -    World Order Needs Old Time Religion." ref OF 3 line 953.
201874 -
201875 -    5.  Communication Metrics provides a key advance by integrating
201876 -        time and information.
201877 -     ..
201878 -    This point is explained in the paper on POIMS, the paper on the New
201879 -    World Order Needs Old Time Religion, ref OF 3 line 979.  It is
201880 -    explained in the report on Communication Metrics issued by the U.S.
201881 -    Army Corps of Engineers dated 970328, ref DRP 1 line 536.
201882 -
201884 -  ..
201885 - Justification Needs Experience, Credible Sources
201886 -
201887 - Max makes the important point that lack of justification to support a
201888 - system of knowledge, indicates inadequate foundation leading to the
201889 - prospect that the "superstructure will fall." ref DRT 1 line 37.
201890 -
201891 - Work the past year to obtain a published government review of
201892 - Communication Metrics was aimed at developing justification from a
201893 - credible source.  Efforts to get Max and others to write about
201894 - Communication Metrics is aimed at broadening the base of support so
201895 - people will feel safe about trying a new system of knowledge, so that
201896 - they can discover their fears are unjustified.
201898 -  ..
201899 - The SDS program is designed to facilitate identifying, creating and
201900 - preserving the linkages that show support for analysis, or what is
201901 - also called "thinking."
201902 -  ..
201903 - Max needs to observe the SDS environment on-line to gain a mental
201904 - picture that might answer some of his concerns.
201905 -
201906 - Russ Archibald, who has written on project management, examined SDS on
201907 - 900723.  This was before all of the linking Functionality of SDS was
201908 - fully implemented, however, the discussion with Russ, ref SDS 1 line
201909 - 78, touched on issues Max raises...
201910 -
201911 -     I asked Russ if he feels the demonstration showed the features he
201912 -     expected from reading the [explanation] I sent him?
201914 -      ..
201915 -     Russ said it appears that SDS actually permeates and supports an
201916 -     entire organization, as well as each individual User. Initially,
201917 -     he believed from review of the material I sent, that it was mainly
201918 -     a personal management aid.
201920 -      ..
201921 -     He commented that the line numbers permit citing the record in the
201922 -     manner of legal briefs.
201924 -      ..
201925 -     Russ commented that implementation of management systems is
201926 -     difficult because people tend to revert to prior practices after
201927 -     the consultant leaves the scene.
201929 -      ..
201930 -     I offered that management "systems" fail because they depend upon
201931 -     people entering "data" for the organization, which is extra work
201932 -     to them.  SDS works the other way.  It provides data organization
201933 -     needs, as a by product of people creating the knowledge they want
201934 -     in order to perform their work.
201936 -      ..
201937 -     As people become aware that the "system" gives access to something
201938 -     they want (i.e. THEIR knowledge and ideas), SDS becomes addictive.
201939 -     Others want to use it, so they can have the power they see and
201940 -     experience from superior knowledge.
201942 -  ..
201943 - If Max has worked with Russ, he may be able to visit with Russ on
201944 - these ideas, as a source of justification.
201945 -
201946 -     [Max reports on 971101 knowing Russ, ref SDS 16 line 86.]
201947 -
201948 -
201949 -
201950 -
201951 -
201952 -
2020 -
2021 -