Modeling on the Right Side of the Brain Leon Starr M O D E L I N T E G R A T I O N [email protected]

Modeling on theRight Side of the Brain

Leon Starr

M O D E L I N T E G R A T I O N

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

2 Copyright © 2001 Model Integration, LLC

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Copyright © 2001 Model Integration, LLC3

Inspiration

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

by Betty Edwards

ISBN: 0874774241


Right vs. Left

Intuitive, Perceptive, Metaphorical

Logical, Symbolic, Sequential

RIGHT

LEFT


Left brain draws a face


Right brain draws a face


But…

Software development is an engineering process!

Isn’t this gooey intuitive, perceptive stuff just for user interface designers?


Right brain thinking is essential

Perception Observation Reflection Metaphorical thinking

Quality analysis depends upon right brain skills


But the left brain dominates

Model manipulation Pattern searching Half-brained abstraction

Alone, left brain thinking produces models that don’t quite match reality


Why?


Opposing paths toward a system

Computer

Bottom Up

Application

Top Down


Bottom Up, Computer Centric

Computer

Assembly

Application

C

C++

JavaBooch

UNIX

PSOS

COM

class

array

protocol

header

pointer

The world of the

programmer Increasing levels

of abstraction

11001101


Computer Centric Activities

Package efficiently Use platform effectively Make best use of technology Invent cool mechanisms


Top Down, Application Centric

Computer

Application

Informal modelsreversethruster

landinggear

arm indicator

approach

procedure

engine

The world of the

analyst

Increasing levels

of executability

Text requirements

Executable models


Application Centric Activities

Specify requirements precisely Take detailed notes Interrogate subject matter experts Validate model against requirements Expose rules and policies

Executable UML encourages this - right?


Not necessarily…

Computer

Assembly

Application

C

C++ JavaBooch

UNIX

PSOS

COM

association

event

class

identifier

attribute

The world of the

XUML programmer Increasing levels

of abstraction

Executable UML

reversethruster

landinggear

arm indicator

approach

procedure

engine

11001101


To make matters worse…

You’re my best programmer, but we’re doing UML now. So start building models.

OK.


Promoting the Right Brain


Solution

Look for analysis talent or potential Look separately for modeling skills Don’t assume that object-oriented

programmers are your best candidates


Insufficient basis for abstractionYeah, yeah, one of those linear pattern things. You just model it with an asymmetric reflexive, blah blah blah, and then we can inherit blah blah blah polymorphism blah blah. That little yellow guy sure is slow…

hypothesize

study

interview

data collection

whiteboard


Abstraction based on data

So that’s what’s really going on!

That blue guy’s such an idiot.


Half brained analysis

Lots of building blocks Lots of mechanisms Lots of implementation Casual attention to specific requirements


Negative consequences

No documentation Same meetings over and over Don’t see trouble until too late Models make implementation assumptions Unexpected changes to the models Models don’t extend easily Model hacking


Right brained talent required

Detailed perception Creative use of paradigms and metaphors Intuitive grasp of the big picture


Specific analysis tasks

Take detailed notes / illustrate constantly Collect data, re-organize data Present, get feedback, recycle Interrogate the experts Explore ideas before diving into model detail Create multiple solutions Recognize established theory - study


Testing for analysis talent

Model Hacker Test Technical Note Test Interrogation Test The Misleading Requirement Test Data Gathering Test Metaphor Comparison Test


Testing for modeling talent

Model a sequence or network Model an interaction/incident Find the normalization error Find the Function (disguised as a class) What’s this classes’s lifecycle? Express this “if-then rule” as an association Where’s the specification data?


Potential analysts

Application Experts GUI Developers Technical Writers Students Who knows? Leave no stone unturned!


Focus the talent


Summary


Left-brained modelers go bottom up.

Complex, imprecise, unstable models.


The easiest route is top down.

But it requires ANALYSIS talent.


Model on the right side of the brain.

Focus on the analysis skills and tasks. Find and develop good analysts. Organize and focus the analysis effort. And the modeling will be EASY.

Documents

Modeling on the Right Side of the Brain Leon Starr M O D E L I N T E G R A T I O N [email protected]