Comments for Lexician

Comment on Checklists by Michael Butler

Michael Butler — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:06:57 +0000

Hey Stephen,

Just doing some research on checklists and found your comment dated February 24, 2010 on the following site:

http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2010/02/draftwhat-sort-of-checklist-sh.html

We are going to attempt to develop some checklists for our work as discussed during your recent presentation in Halifax.

Best wishes.

Comment on Misunderstandings, Communication, and Project Management by Larry Bridgesmith

Larry Bridgesmith — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:57:34 +0000

Great insights, Steven. Thanks. Add the teachings of neuroscience to the mix and it’s a wonder any communication takes place at all. Heuristics define the manner in which our amazing brain quickly categorizes, summarizes and informs us of meaning . . . largely limited to our own experiences. “We can’t know what we don’t know.” In moments of stress, challenge or uncertainty our brain relies almost exclusively (98%) on the heuristics of prior similar experience. Incredibly efficient, but very often misguided when the experience we face is not one we can relate to from our past. In such settings we engage in only 2% cognitive thought! Consider the client confronted with a legal problem considering giving up autonomy over the problem to an “expert” in the law and at great potential cost. Not a likely setting for clear communication and understanding. When the lawyer is relying on the same heuristic mental processing to understand and be understood. . . what are the chances that ships are passing in the night? Significantly great. Becoming an active listener using 80% of the time engaged in discovery learning, rather than instructing, will aid the process of communication. Unfortunately, as lawyers we learned how to pontificate much better than we learned how to listen for understanding. In applying LPM, if we rush past the learning/listening/reframing and confirming stages of communication, we have very little basis on which to act. That was probably me leaving the little girls accessory store. I didn’t know what I didn’t know and no one stopped to help me learn.

Comment on Misunderstandings, Communication, and Project Management by Steven B. Levy

Steven B. Levy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:02:11 +0000

What do you see in those readers, Paul? I see my own posts in the Chrome built-in RSS reader, and the footnotes appear as footnotes at the bottom rather than popups.

Comment on Misunderstandings, Communication, and Project Management by Joshua Kubicki

Joshua Kubicki — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:52:51 +0000

Great article. Your point cannot be overstated. We each enter a conversation with our own biases and habits. Creating a feedback loop is essential for calibrating the communication. In terms of understanding the client’s business – you left this point to the second to last paragraph. I would suggest that it belongs more near the beginning . . . For how can a person be mindful of their own communication if they are not first aware of the listener’s environment and experience? The listener themselves may not be strong at articulating their concerns or thoughts and so being more aware of this as the speaker increases the probability of clearer communication. Goes back to the maxim that the fault of a miscommunication more generally lies with the speaker than with the listener.

Comment on Misunderstandings, Communication, and Project Management by Paul Easton

Paul Easton — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:52:19 +0000

Great post. I must admit that I’m behind on your posts, but when did you replace footnotes with pop-up notes? One the one hand it is nice to just hover your mouse over the link to see the note, but for those of use that use reading aids like Readability and Evernote’s clearly, or those who read in an RSS Reader, or those who may actually print the post, it is much less convenient than having the notes at the bottom of the post. Not sure if providing both options is an option, but something to consider.

Comment on Are Best Practices Stupid? by Antony Smith

Antony Smith — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:37:15 +0000

I could not agree more. I pointed out just the other day to a prospective law firm client that although another firm has a risk management process that seems to work well, the same process won’t necessarily work as well for any other firm – because different firms have different needs etc. An obvious point to make. Nevertheless I am continually surprised at attempts at wholesale transfers of ‘best practice’ from one organisation into another as ‘best practices’ tend not to travel well. This observation has recently been validated by some 3rd party research, which found that attempts at transferring risk management practices from large law firms to mid-size ones are not cost effective see:

http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/mid-tier-firms-spending-more-on-risk-and-compliance-teams-for-the-least-return-says-broker

Comment on Are Best Practices Stupid? by Mike Dekema

Mike Dekema — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:18:56 +0000

Thanks, Steve.

Best Practices are a great way to remove the need for skill or judgment from employees you don’t train or trust. And let’s face it, large companies fear uncontrolled employees more than they fear mediocrity.

If you haven’t already read it, check out “Shop Class as Soulcraft – An Inquiry into the Value of Work” by Matthew Crawford. It doesn’t sound related but it is. Enjoy!

Comment on How to Fix Any Computer, Part I by Pat P

Pat P — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:04:43 +0000

While I understand your Repair Map as relates to Linux, I’d offer the following comments:

1) Most of your “Commandements” are respected in Linux;
2) Once a Linux machine is installed, failures are less frequent, thus avoiding repairs where others won’t.
3) I’d suggest taking a new look at recent versions of Linux like Ubuntu and LinuxMint. You’ll find that using and repairing has evolved a great deal.

I personnaly switched to Linux after I learned to ensure my protection with this simple sequence:
1) use a simple too to automate a periodic backup on external drive.
2) learn how to reinstall Linux in less than 10 minutes.

It’s been 3 years now and never had to reinstall. Not bad for time/cost savings compared to Windows and Mac.

Comment on “Data Driven”: In a Car, Is the Driver a Bug… or a Feature? by Google’s Watching You: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly | Lexician

Google’s Watching You: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly | Lexician — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:57:50 +0000

[...] new policy will do everything but drive your car and polish your shoes. Oh, wait, they’re already working on driving your car for you.Like vitamins, it’s good for you. So they say.Maybe.It’s certainly good for Google as [...]

Comment on Avoiding “Uncharted” Rocks in Project Management by Costa Concordia: A “Titanic” Mess | Lexician

Costa Concordia: A “Titanic” Mess | Lexician — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:31:35 +0000

[...] Mess2012 January 21by Steven B. LevyThis is the third in a series of articles this week (here and here) on project management lessons we can derive from the cruise ship disaster.I want to start by [...]