StoryTelling

Systems analysis delves into our desire to better understand our world. I have been fascinated by my own career observations of an evolution from event analysis (discrete phenomenon that trigger a sequence of actions) to use cases (sort of the same but more textual) to storytelling ( a richer technique that includes behaviors and feelings that the system occupants have before, during and after).

I have worked with all of the above and also storyboarding techniques. This represents only a small sampling of what goes on and what is efffective.

I wonder what your experiences have been and how any of these techniques or variations thereof have worked for you.

How does storytelling enhance our ability to meet or exceed customer expectations?

- BeckyWinant 2-25-03

When they won't listen to logic, I tell them science fiction stories of what will happen in the future if they keep on using technology the way they currently are. Sometimes they listen. JerryWeinberg 2003.02.26

Jerry, I like that.

It reminds me of a friend who is a retired psychologist. John uses storytelling a lot to illustrate behavior and problem solving. When I first listened to John's stories, I thought: Wow, that's an interesting situation about how that person solved his problem. Years later, I realized that John just may have made a few of these stories up or spun variations on a theme. I also thought he was very clever and certainly more effective than saying to someone: Here's what you're doing wrong, or here's what you need to do.

Becky 2-27-03

"Here's what you're doing wrong, and here's what you need to do," is never a very good way to approach a person, unless you want to get rid of her. - JerryWeinberg 2003.02.27

Maybe that's a start to StrangeFiringPractices ?

- BeckyWinant 2-28-03

Updated: Friday, February 28, 2003