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

SUBJECTS
Wideman Associates
Cognitive Science Unfamiliar, Quackery
Professional Endorsement Takes Time to Take Notice

1305 -
1305 -    ..
1306 - Summary/Objective
1307 -
130701 - Follow up ref SDS 31 0000, ref SDS 30 0000.
130702 -
130703 - Received a letter from Max today, ref DRT 1, responding to my letter,
130704 - ref DIP 4, sent on 990313. ref SDS 31 8107
130706 -  ..
130707 - Max provides instructions on using the Acrobat "ABC" tool on the main
130708 - menu bar to highlight text for copying with the Edit menu; then move
130709 - to a target file and use paste.
130711 -  ..
130712 - I used this method to complete review on 990313. ref SDS 31 3052  It
130713 - took an hour or so longer than if I had the original file, so it is
130714 - not clear how Acrobat is a "productive" technology.
130716 -  ..
130717 - My letter on 990313 asks about implications of Miller's work on the
130718 - limits of human memory and thinking processes, ref SDS 31 9488, which
130719 - Max recommended on 990303, ref SDS 27 0920, and cites in his own paper
130720 - Defining PM Knowledge issued last year, as reviewed on 990313.
130721 - ref SDS 31 2704
130723 -  ..
130724 - Max responds today saying...
130725 -
130726 -           I'm not really into the cognitive sciences  :-(
130727 -
130728 -      ... ref DRT 1 3240
130730 -  ..
130731 - Max also notes that reliance on history over the past two years, is
130732 - taxing to the busy mind, ref DRT 1 9048  On 990303 what happened over
130733 - the past few days and hours is also taxing. ref SDS 27 9499  Miller's
130734 - paper on cognitive science provided by Max on 990303 explains why,
130735 - ref SDS 27 0920, and what can be done about it. ref SDS 27 3528
130737 -  ..
130738 - On 971024, Max noted that cognitive science is not a good foundation
130739 - for Communication Metrics and management science. ref SDS 18 8288  On
130740 - 971029 he wanted support for reliance on cognitive science.
130741 - ref SDS 19 4491  On 971101 Max wanted logical, demonstrable argument
130742 - on cognitive science factors cited by Welch. ref SDS 20 4928  He did a
130743 - lot of analysis on Welch argument. ref SDS 20 8477
130745 -  ..
130746 - On 971107 submitted research on Cognitive Science to address Max's
130747 - concerns. ref SDS 21 5306
130749 -  ..
130750 - On 980223 Max supported Communication Metrics explained in the New
130751 - World Order... paper that relies on Cognitive Science. ref SDS 22 5437
130753 -  ..
130754 - When Max observed on 990303. ref SDS 27 6318
130755 -
130756 -    In my view [Miller's paper on cognitive science] has a considerable
130757 -    bearing on how to construct an effective (Project Management)
130758 -    knowledge structure. ref DRP 1 9388
130759 -
130760 - ..., and since Max's paper on PM Knowledge cites Miller to support a
130761 - proposed knowledge structure, ref OF 6 3280, to wit:
130762 -
130763 -    Without any preconceived limitations, our original concept mapping
130764 -    exercises arrived at branches generally within this range [7 nodes
130765 -    in Miller's paper].  This attribute alone should make the structure
130766 -    more amenable to acceptance as a vehicle for both generic and
130767 -    specific application area learning and project management
130768 -    professionalism.
130769 -
130770 - ...this history supports an inference that Cognitive Science offers
130771 - useful criteria for management science.
130773 -  ..
130774 - On 990305 Max seemed to concur that Communication Metrics is sound
130775 - science, ref SDS 29 1836, which relies on Cognitive Science.
130777 -  ..
130778 - What then does it mean to say...
130779 -
130780 -           I'm not really into the cognitive sciences  :-(
130782 -  ..
130783 - On 970704 Max recalled disappointment about difficulty gaining support
130784 - for ideas to help managers. ref SDS 15 8894
130786 -  ..
130787 - One interpretation is an expression of professional caution to avoid
130788 - meandering too far into another discipline like cognitive science.
130790 -  ..
130791 - Contractors though must deal constructively with a lot of specialists,
130792 - for example civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering.
130793 - Diverse work product must be interpreted for implications on the level
130794 - of effort required.
130796 -  ..
130797 - By the same reasoning, we need to be alert for implications from
130798 - cognitive science on limitations and opportunities for accomplishing
130799 - management work, as Max recommended on 990303, ref SDS 27 6318, and in
130800 - his paper on Defining PM Knowledge. ref SDS 31 2704
130802 -  ..
130803 - On 990305 Max expressed frustration about how long it takes for good
130804 - ideas to be accepted. ref SDS 29 7611
130806 -  ..
130807 - Another reason is that new ideas require professional endorsement and
130808 - review through established channels.  This builds credibility so that
130809 - people who do not have time nor the skill for evaluation, can feel
130810 - comfortable trying new methods without being "totally convinced" they
130811 - will work.  Trial is needed for people to gain experience in order to
130812 - discover that new methods work, and to advance the science and
130813 - implementation, discussed with Jason on 990317 about using Com Metrics
130814 - for the $4B program at the airport. ref SDS 33 5600
130816 -  ..
130817 - I sent Max a copy of my letter to Jason that shows the importance of
130818 - credibility and the need for community support to reduce the time it
130819 - takes for new ideas to become accepted, as Lynn Conway worried in the
130820 - 1970s. ref SDS 11 1368
130822 -  ..
130823 - Inferences from diverse disciplines often produce useful new knowledge
130824 - which specialists in those fields overlook because their focus is too
130825 - narrow.  This effort necessarily comes from initial speculation about
130826 - potential, then trial and error to evaluate potential.  Reticence to
130827 - engage this "shooting star" approach blinds people to the light for
130828 - many, many years, as Max observed on 990305. ref SDS 29 7611
130830 -  ..
130831 - I called Max to discuss these points, rather than burden him with
130832 - another SDS record.
130834 -  ..
130835 - Left message on his answering machine.
130836 -
130837 -
130838 -
130839 -
1309 -