MPS Conference…more phrases and imagery
It is impossible to describe or summarize two days with three tracks (plus introductory workshops), but how about sharing a few clever phrases and images we came across in some of the presentations? This is certainly not exhaustive, so maybe other contributors picked up some other items that are worth sharing.
- On change management: “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” What a great way to visualize the barriers to overcome in an organization during the implementation phase, the challenge of change management.
- On external influences and trends: “it’s like a log in a river with a bunch of ants on it. Every ant thinks he’s the one steering.” It probably sounds too Zen-like, but I guess the idea is to be the river?
- On controlling the printer fleet: “printers are like rabbits. They have legs, they move around, and they multiply – fast.”
- On the same subject (sort of): the best video ever made visualizing the topic of herding cats. Rough riders, more manly than any Marlboro Man, chasing swarms of kitties over the wild and open praries.
- On stage 3 engagements: one highly appropriate visual was Lawton’s bridges between the stages and the big stage 3 construction zone. The illustration that I utilized was the famous fractal pattern, endless buds growing on buds growing on buds. Any simple listing of applications is senseless, the best you can do is to categorize and group some key stage 3 topics and approaches. And never define yourself into a corner.
- On major trends, like you-know-what: “get in front of it, or get run over by it.” That’s MPS alright, now more than ever. This year’s MPS Conference made that point clear, with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Connect
MPS as a fractal eh? Wonder where you got that idea…
http://expertlaserservices.com/cgi-bin/ebb/blog2/index.php?action=viewcomments&pid=21&showcat=0
Actually the idea that I presented was my own. I developed that analogy and incorporated the visual element in the weeks before, and presented the concept at the conference. It is great that somebody else independently came up with the same idea, as fractals are a fantastic way to explain and visualize the task of defining MPS engagements, especially stage 3 offerings. Not only does the theory help define order within immense complexity, but they offer some great visuals as well.
My favorite application of fractals is to estimate the actual length of a coastline. At a distance, it looks like a line, but up close there are endless convolutions which lengthen the actual “interface” considerably. Fractals explain and estimate the real world with amazing accuracy, and that example has always stuck in my mind.
All the best to you and other members of the fractal fraternity!
Fair enough. Sorry for any “ill will vibes”.
I must say I am shocked to have found “the one other person” who actually knows about/likes fractals… lol.
Honestly, though most folks I meet have strange facial convulsions which lead to obvious perplexity when I bring up fractals.
Fra… What? Huh?
Thanks for posting my response and getting back to me.