(c) gs chandyopms general presentation1 general presentation on ‘realizing one’s ideas’...

(c) GS Chandy OPMS General Presentation 1

General Presentation on ‘Realizing One’s Ideas’

(Example: “Effective Educational Systems”)

Here’s an idea to help people effectively work with and realise all their productive ideas!

Any kind of Idea!-- Small or large, at any level!-- Belonging to an Individual or to a group or groups!-- Individual, organizational or societal Mission!


The ‘Elevator Presentation’ (just eight slides, and it’s done!)

The ‘Technical Story’ – some HOWs? and WHYs? explored (for the Mission: “Creating Effective Education Systems

for India…”)

Realized and potential projects for OPMS

Briefly, on Structural Graphics

Some considerations to develop OPMS as a business

Contents


The ‘Elevator Presentation’In just eight slides, an overview of the the OPMS

process and what it can do for you. For a more detailed explanation, click

here ‘The Technical Story’)

Back to ‘Contents Page’


Good ideas are very ‘slippery’ and difficult to work with

All too often, they just disappear from the mind, leaving behind only a thought or vague regret that there was something

worthwhile to do still remaining undone …

At other times, one just cannot get hold of the needed resources to DO what’s needed to even to start, and one gives

up on the idea…

There are any number of reasons why ideas may fail. Here is one way to ensure

your ideas will really get going…

Try out The ‘One Page Management System’

(OPMS)


To handle any idea effectively, one needs to understand clearly and effectively act on the following simple fact:

Every idea is dependent on a host of other ideas!

The OPMS is designed to enable you to handle that crucial fact!

(Just check out, for instance, how many ideas will develop out of this simple fact!)


To tackle any kind of issue, resolve any kind of problem effectively, these are the things that need to be done:

• Grab hold of all good ideas available about the problem or issue - continuingly

• Record the ideas generated - continuingly • Put the ideas together in the right kind of

usable order – continuingly – create effective action planning

• Modify ideas to reflect the environmental reality - continuingly

• ‘Integrate’ every relevant issue that might come up - continuingly

The ‘One Page Management System’ (OPMS) enables one to do ALL of the above - most effectively indeed!


The OPMS process requires that every problem/issue be transformed into a ‘Mission’, for example:

• If the problem is ‘Overdependence on our shipping agency work’, the appropriate ‘Mission’ could be expressed as: “To diversify: purchase a vessel” (This is a real ongoing project for one of my clients)

• If the issue is ‘poor motivation in Department ---’, the ‘Mission’ may be expressed as: “To improve motivation in Department ---”

• If the issue is ‘poor results in my math exams’, the ‘Mission’ could be: “To understand topics of my math syllabus thoroughly and thereby to get excellent results in my math exams”

• If the problem is ‘poor quality of civic services in Mumbai’, the ‘Mission’ could be: “To ensure effective, world-class civic services in Mumbai”

• If the problem is ‘ineffective educational systems for the great majority of Indians’, the ‘Mission’ could be: “To develop top-class educational systems that will serve the real needs of all Indians effectively”

• If the issue is ‘ineffective governance in India’, the ‘Mission could be: “To ensure effective governance of the nation”

Individual Missions

Organizational Missions

National Missions

If you are interested in a Mission – any Mission – you WILL surely have some ideas that could help you accomplish

it… What you need is a practical way to integrate all those ideas effectively

into an effective Action Plan to accomplish the Mission…

In the ‘Technical Story’ behind OPMS, we shall present in outline a sketch of how an effective Action Plan may be developed on the

ambitious ‘Education Mission’ appearing below:

“To develop top-class educational systems that will serve the real needs of all

Indians effectively”

Any type of Mission!


The OPMS approach, in outline:

In brief, the OPMS approach enables you to: 1. Identify a ‘MISSION’ of current interest2. Record and clarify available ideas, by responding to a series of

well-designed ‘trigger questions’ relating to the Mission3. Organize the ideas generated, by creating models showing the

linkages between the various ideas and between the ideas and the identified Mission

4. Integrate all available knowledge about the Mission to create an effective Action Plan to accomplish it – linking up practical means to overcome difficulties, barriers, weaknesses; preparation to capitalize on opportunities available for accomplishing Mission, etc. The Action Planning process of OPMS is highly iterative

5. Modify the Action Planning as needed in the light of the realities of the situations confronted…

6. Implement the Action Plan – time lines, etc, to be established and effectively followed…


•Grab hold of all good ideas available about the problem or issue – continuingly

• Record and clarify the ideas generated - continuingly• Put the ideas together in the right kind of usable order – continuingly – create effective action planning

• Modify ideas to reflect the environmental reality – continuingly

• Integrate every relevant issue that might come up - continuingly

•Grab hold of all good ideas available! Record (and clarify) those ideas!

Idea Generation Tools

Put the ideas together into an effective Action Plan!

•Interpretive Structural Modeling

•Field Representation Method

Integrate everything to create a true system!

One Page Management System (OPMS)

How is all this accomplished?So here is what the OPMS helps you do:


Processes to accomplish these tasks quite well known in Management Science - but they’re generally not very effective

because of the lack of the requirements sketched next:

•Grab hold of all good ideas available! Record (and clarify) those ideas!

Idea Generation tools



•Field Representation MethodProcesses to accomplish this task barely known to Management

Science as it exists today!



Processes for effective integration of ideas not known at all to Management Science!

These processes that today are not known to management science are explained in outline at the

‘technical story’ underlying OPMS


OPMS Process Deliverables

• Identification of an agreed Mission – Mission – relating to an individual relating to an individual or groupor group

• Lists of ideasLists of ideas covering various aspects of the Mission• Initiation of an agreed Action Planagreed Action Plan to accomplish the

Mission • Practical meansPractical means to overcome BARRIERS, DIFFICULTIES

THREATS, WEAKNESSES and avail of OPPORTUNITIES • ReportsReports to monitor ‘What & Why – Who – When - How What & Why – Who – When - How

MuchMuch’ • Design of all needed sub-systems: marketing system, sub-systems: marketing system,

planning system, information systems – whatever the planning system, information systems – whatever the subsystems that may be required for the Mission! subsystems that may be required for the Mission!

• Significant enhancement of attitudes, behaviour and Significant enhancement of attitudes, behaviour and performance of individuals at each levelperformance of individuals at each level


That was the ‘Elevator Presentation’. Go to various other sections by clicking on appropriate links below.

• Back to Contents Page

• Realised and potential OPMS projects

• Making a business out of OPMS

• The ‘Technical Story’ underlying OPMS

• Structural graphics – explaining something about the language recommended


Realised, current and potential OPMS projects


A short listing, with brief commentary, of some Missions on which OPMS has been successfully applied – or for which

OPMS could be useful. Much more detailed listings of potential ‘OPMS Missions’ can be provided on request.


Applications of OPMS (successful in various degrees)• To arrive at an effective understanding of my math

syllabus and thereby to improve, significantly, my results in my math exams (This Mission successfully done by one of my students years ago, long before the software became available)

• To create the OPMS software

• To enhance personal effectiveness at … (several successes)• To become a top-level software designer (several successes)• To get myself a good and satisfying job (several successes)• To propagate and apply OPMS in India and abroad• To launch an organization to create and market the OPMS software

(success; through organization created folded ahead of full success)• To teach myself how to use PowerPoint effectively• To become a top level consultant in my field (one of my associates

has actually been very successful at this Mission).

Development of the OPMS software is a continuing

project

To propagate OPMS in India and abroad

Various applications of the OPMS (some realized; some are ongoing; others are only potential)

Version 1 (‘proof-of-concept’ prototype OPMS software) is ready! (And freely available to all who ask for it)A very sizable number of such ‘relatively simple’ Missions as shown

below were very successfully worked on before starting on the major Mission that has ruled my life for now over 20 years!

The major Mission for over 25 years!

Various successes (with limitations), within this project: an organisation was successfully set up as an instrument to design,

develop and market the OPMS software. OPMS software realised to prototype Version Level…


• To learn how to speak; read; and write English (/other languages) effectively for various purposes (business/ academics/…)• To learn subject XYZ….• To double organizational turnover within 1 year (under way)• To purchase a vessel of 5000 MT capacity (Project for ship-owning and operating - under way) …(and several others related to shipping)• To bring about an ‘Innovation Culture’ in this organization• To align new staff with the Mission of this organisation

Various other Missions (under way or being tried out)

‘Potential’ OPMS projects are available all around you (in the hundreds or even thousands)… Just check out the news on any day randomly, and you will find at least ten for sure! Wherever you find some individual, organizational or societal system malfunctioning (or not performing as intended) – that is a potential OPMS project!


The prototype OPMS software is available for free download!

Send an email to [email protected] to receive your invitation to join a group from where you can freely download the software and

find a good bit of useful information about OPMS

This is real, working software that we regularly and continuingly use in our own consultancy work – not a ‘lite’ version. You can

actually work on ANY Missions of current interest to you! (Limited free guidance to help you ‘start up’ is also available on request)

Use it to work on any Mission of current interest to you!


• “Garibi hatao!” (Indira Gandhi’s stirring slogan to vanquish poverty in India - largely unsuccessful to date)

• To develop and install educational systems truly suited to our needs

• To develop Mumbai into one of the best cities in the world (the Hindustan Times Project)• To make India one of the ‘least-corrupt nations of the world’ (currently one of the more

corrupt)• To tackle the issue of ‘global warming’ more effectively than has been done to date• To create the ‘new economics’ needed for our day and age…• To ensure that science is more effectively used to tackle major societal issues than is

the case presently…• To develop an effective understanding of science amongst policy makers of various

nations (US; India; others…)• To bring about effective public discussion on societal issues• To bring about 90% true literacy in India• “A Vision for Mumbai” (HT article series)• To ensure compliance to the ‘Rights To Information’ legislation in India• To ….(etc, etc, etc)• To impeach the war criminals, GW Bush and Gang!

Some potential ‘societal applications’ of the OPMS

To work on any of these Missions, you would need to get the right groups of people together: in many cases, this is the most difficult step of all! And it is crucial as well – in most cases, your project just cannot succeed without the right

people backing it. (Other resources too may be required – but everything else needed may follow automatically once you get

the right people working together effectively)

In the ‘Technical Story’ section of this presentation, we illustrate in outline how truly effective educational systems could be

developed for India

(We can develop such presentations as required for any feasible Mission of interest)


ANY kind of Mission, problem or issue that has not been

yielding to the conventional means would be tackled much more effectively through the

OPMS!

Just let me know the Mission of current interest to you, and I can demonstrate how OPMS could help

you put your good ideas to effective use to accomplish that Mission.


That was a listing of some ‘realized and potential OPMS projects’. (There are a whole lot of other useful potential OPMS projects; they are not difficult to find at all: on any day, just check out

the news - and you will surely find at least 10 such projects) Go to various other sections by clicking on appropriate links below.

• Back to Contents Page

• The ‘Elevator Presentation’

• OPMS – as a business

• The ‘Technical Story’

• Structural graphics – explaining something about the language recommended


Some considerations to develop OPMS as a business


• “Intelligent Systems for U and Me” (I-SUM Research and Development Pvt Ltd)

• ‘Helping Organisations Manage Information Systems” (HOMISYS – a consulting venture)

• JN Warfield Societal and Educational Institute

Three organizations are proposed as instruments

Linkages between these organisation illustrated, next slide


The triad illustrates the synergy we shall bring about between three different functions that we shall operate

in our societal systems through the OPMS instrument.

Write in to [email protected] for more Biz Plan and other information

Launched 2007

To be launched

To be launched


IDEA - IDEA - Evolution Stages


OPMS Evolution Stages

• Stage I

• Stage II

• Stage III

• Stage IV

OPMS OPMS ConceptConcept

FrameworkFramework

ProcessProcess

ToolTool

Has been thoroughly

proven

Is being standardized for

organizations

Small further development required prior standardization

to 2nd level

Prototype software

ready! To be fully

developed


Fundamental Concepts

• Fundamental philosophy: A problem is best resolved by the people involved in it

• Enables individuals and organization to benefit from ‘self-consulting’

• A vehicle to explore and exploit the vast latent knowledge and intuitive power of people in the organization – uses Socratic method of ‘teaching by ‘teaching by questioning’ rather than by ‘telling’questioning’ rather than by ‘telling’

• Helps createcreate wisdom from existing knowledge – integratesintegrates knowledge of people into consensus action planning


Concept (continued)

• Enables people to put down their intuitions in words that can be transformed into action

• Process of ‘Questioning Verbalizing Structuring’ ‘Questioning’ helps clarify complex issues and problems in the minds of the people involved

• A powerful concept that stimulates and simulates the human mind!


“Science of Generic Design”

“informs”

Interactive Management

“One Page Management System”

(OPMS)

John N. Warfield

Fundamental concepts


The OPMS Framework – this is what happens within it

Capturing Ideas Recording Ideas

Generating and Using Ideas

Organizing and Integrating Ideas

Creativity Innovation Problem Solving & Decision Making – for individual & groups!

Change Management

Knowledge Management Strategic Management

Implementing Ideas!

Individual Issues Organizational Issues Societal Issues

…and much else!


Various ‘layers’ of the OPMS (as it is now developing)


Idea Generation

Things to Do Strengths Weakness Opportunities Threats Events

Idea Organization

Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) Field Representation (FR) MethodIdea Integration

Action Planning Monitoring Mechanism

Idea Rater

Financial Evaluator SketchPad

SWOT Analyzer

Model Maker

OPMS Layer 1

To Layer 2

To Layer 3

Various layers of the OPMS – Layer 1

Most of the ‘detail work’ for creating any OPMS is done in Layer 1

OPMS software enabling people to work at ‘Layer 1’ is now available in prototype - and is freely available on request.


Before we go to Layer 2 of the OPMSOPMS, we need to explain two important

concepts related to organisations: Tangible Assets & Intangible Assets

INTANGIBLE ASSET MONITORING

(IAM)

TANGIBLE ASSET MONITORING

(TAM)

• Money – Accounts • Number of Hours Worked• Number of Items Produced• Number of Programmers Employed• etc, etc; …..

• ‘‘Invisible’Invisible’ aspirations of organization and people within it; • MotivationsMotivations of people within organization;• ‘Deep logic’‘Deep logic’ understanding by individuals of problem situations confronted and handled;• Deeper understanding of ‘systems at work’;Deeper understanding of ‘systems at work’;• etc, etc; …..

These are pretty well handled by available management theory and many tools are available to the working

manager

Tangible Vs. Intangible Assets the great leap forward!

Scarcely recognized by current theory

and tools

“significantly strengthens”

This development enables us to strengthen ALL of conventional management very significantly

Great leap forward!


Knowledge Management

INTANGIBLE ASSET MONITORING (IAM)


(TAM)

OPMS Dash Board

Change Management

Strategic Management

FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

To Layer 1

To Layer 3

OPMS Layer 2


Layer 2 of the OPMS: Linking up all arenas of ‘conventional management’ to ‘managing in the

world of ideas and development of ideas!


OPMS Dash Board

Change Management





(TAM)

FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

To Layer 1

To Layer 3

OPMS Layer 2

Within Layer 2

Change Managemen

t

How should an organization change itself to meet current and future challenges?


OPMS Dash Board

Change Management





(TAM)

FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

To Layer 1

To Layer 3

OPMS Layer 2

Within Layer 2


Action Planning specifically to reveal how the organization should ‘strategize for change’


OPMS Dash Board

Change Management





(TAM)

FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

To Layer 1

To Layer 3

OPMS Layer 2

Within Layer 2


OPMS can help ensure that available information develops into knowledge…

…that available knowledge is effectively managed to develop into wisdom…

…and that wisdom is actually implemented through effective Action Planning!





(TAM)

OPMS Dash Board

Change Management


FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

To Layer 1

To Layer 3

OPMS Layer 2



(TAM)

All tools and systems that are currently available for Tangible Asset Monitoring – Accounting Systems, Inventory Control, and

so on – reside here!





(TAM)

OPMS Dash Board

Change Management


FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

To Layer 1

To Layer 3

OPMS Layer 2


INTANGIBLE ASSET MONITORING

(IAM)

How to develop and monitor the ‘intangible assets’ of an organization?OPMS is the tool par excellence to

link up all aspects of tangible assets to intangible assets of the organization!


There are numerous other issues and concerns that are of relevance to the

effective management of an organization. These are broadly articulated in the next slide, dealing with Level 3 of the OPMS


PROCESSDimension

PEOPLEDimension

PRACTICEDimension

STRATEGYDimension

SYSTEMDimensions

STRUCTURE Dimension

Creativity Box Innovation Box

Problem Solving Box Decision Making Box

Mind Games

Assessment Tools Organization Auditor Evaluation Techniques

Matter Puzzles


OPMS Layer 3

To Layer 2

To Layer 1

Layer 3: Links to all dimensions that must be taken consideration of while we work towards any major Mission

Effective access to needed subsystems such as ‘marketing system’, information systems, planning system, and so on. Specialised tools to work in these subsystems…


Effective development and implementation of Layers 1, 2 and 3

of the OPMS OPMS will require close integration with a powerful and well-

designed ERP ERP product and process (not yet formally done, though

everything is in place to do that once we develop a collaboration with an

appropriate ERP developer)

We can demonstrate the existence of the following ‘satisfaction cycle’:

OPMSOPMS ERPERP““would significantly would significantly

contribute to”contribute to”

OPMS and ERP are probably ‘made for each other’!‘made for each other’!


• OPMS a concept

• Provides a set of practical processes

• that Help people resolve problems

• In true collaboration and consensus

• helps develop an Implementable Action Plan

• that has Participant Buy In

• Leads to truly Innovative Improvement

• with Feedback Loops in all systems developed

The Total Process


Helps users resolve

Problems

Innovative Improvements

Collaborative Manner

Participants Buy-in

Implementable Action Plan

Closed Loop Feedback

O

MS

P

OPMS OPMS ProcessProcess

The Tool

OPMS as a tool is designed to look like a MS-Office package having package components like Word, Excel, Access,

and Power Point; to be called as OPMS-Mind Package with OPMS-

Creativity, OPMS-Innovation, OPMS-Problem Solving, OPMS-

Decision Making.

The MarketThe Market


Segmenting, Positioning Segmenting, Positioning & Differentiating& Differentiating

Creativity & Productivity; Innovation; Problem Solving and Decision Making

in complex systems

Comprehensive Idea Management – Generation, Structuring &

Integration;True Knowledge Management

Power of Perception and Power of ‘Socratic’ Questioning

Market Segment

Concept Positioning

Concept Differentiation


Concept/Product - Comparison Matrix

AA BB CC DD EE FF GG

Balanced Score-Card

Theory of Constraints

5th Discipline7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Six-Sigma

People-CMM

6 Thinking Hats

Kaizen

OPMS

We are developing a series of studies comparing OPMSOPMS with various leading management theories and methodologies. In

an initial study done some years ago, OPMS OPMS was found to have several unique benefits and advantages.

We have actually been able to demonstrate that OPMSOPMS can be used for the purpose of enhancing the practice of any of

the other methodologies and tools.

Value PropositionValue Proposition


Value PropositionValue Proposition• Shifts from Technical Problem Solving to Creative and Adaptive Problem

Solving • Shifts from direct and sole focus on ‘Quantity’ to ‘Understand QualityQuality in

order to understand QuantityQuantity effectively’ (See – “What is modeling?”)• Moves from ‘Rationality’ and ‘Intuition’ as disparate aspects of issues

to “Rationality+Intuition” as an integrated whole in every issue taken up for consideration in the organization!

• Creates Heightened Thinking to help resolve fast-changing Complex Business Problems

• Enables and enhances Collaborative Learning - leads to effective effective Critical Thinking resulting in Consensual Understanding

• Enables breaking away from the conventional mode of thinking, learning and working - which all too often leads to ‘frustration cycles’ – into a highly productive mode that can always enable us to break out of frustration cycles.

• A powerful new paradigm develops in the way individuals and groups tackle their problems, work to accomplish their Missions

chandy.gs

Do not understand this I believe this must change considerably

Business ModelBusiness Model


Revenue Revenue BlocksBlocks

Software & Spin-offs

Enterprise/Management

Consulting

Training Programme

& Workshops

Research & Publications

First Block to Generate Income

Fourth Block to Generate Income

Second Block to Generate Income

Third Block to Generate Income

Ready now!

Ready in 6 monthsReady in 1 year

Prototype software ready. Software would be ready for marketing launch in

one year

Prototype software has been thoroughly tested in workshops


Training Programme & Workshops

• 7-days Facilitator Training 7-days Facilitator Training Programme (FTP) Module (to be Programme (FTP) Module (to be structured in line with the new structured in line with the new framework)framework)

• 2-days Workshop Module (in 2-days Workshop Module (in line with new frameworkline with new framework)

2 FTP & over 50 Workshops have been conducted previously


Research & Publications

• OPMS Book Content is being worked out

• Huge amount of material is available for the book – we could say that around 40% of the work towards the book is over

• Publishers are being shortlisted & would be contacted soon

• Website Content is being compiled


Software & Spin-offs

• Prototype demonstrating OPMS concept is developed – has been widely tested, vetted by users in various organizations

• Prototype on new 3-Layer Framework now to be developed

• Immediately (as the OPMS product is created), we can start developing a huge number of ‘spin-offs’, across a number of disciplines and fields – from ‘education’ to – ‘e-governance’ from ‘software’ to ‘psychometrics’. The outlines of several of these have already been charted.

Write to [email protected] to find out how to get hold of the

prototype OPMS software


Enterprise/Management Consulting

• Consulting Model outline ready – details under development

• Will be based on the OPMS framework


Outline of our ‘Consulting ‘Consulting Model’Model’

• Demonstration – over 1-2 days• Initiation – 1 month• Installation – including training of ‘In-house’ or

‘Associated’ Facilitators’ – 1 Year• Customization of process (for

organization’s specific needs)

• Customization of softwareas required

2nd and 3rd Years

Organisation StructureOrganisation Structure


CEOCEO

Head-Finance Head-Strategy Head-Operation

Manager-Strategic Planning

Manager-Business Development

Manager – Management Research

Manager- Software Development

Research Analysts Software DevelopersStrategists Facilitators

Organisation ChartOrganisation Chart

Company EntityCompany Entity

Company Name

““Intelligent Systems for U and Me”Intelligent Systems for U and Me”

A private limited company has been formed and registered at Bangalore (“I-SUM Research & Development, Pvt Ltd”)

Detailed Business Plan available on request; write to [email protected]

Company’s Vision• To propagate the Concept of the OPMS as an integral part of the Human Habits of natural Thinking, Learning and Working.

• To make the Product available on each and every PC (much as MS Office is available today, catering to different needs)

• To provide the Practice as an alternative to the conventional modes of Consulting.


Core Values:• To nurture creative and productive aspects of human

nature, enabling people at all levels to capture IdeasIdeas and implement them effectively for individual, organizational and societal benefit

• To instill Integrity in all our organizational processes• To involve Interactive discourse in a natural and normal

manner right across the organization as a practical means to gather the wisdom that is readily available

Financial Financial ProjectionsProjections


OPMS Projected Revenues - 3 YearsOPMS Projected Revenues - 3 Years

REVENUE STREAMS - PRICING & SALES

Units Price Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Vol Renenue Vol Renenue Vol Renenue

OPMS Workshops & Consultancy Rs

Workshops ( 2-Day) 50,000 25 1,250,000 50 2,500,000 50 2,500,000

Consultancy 500,000 2 1,000,000 10 5,000,000 10 5,000,000

Sub Total 2,250,000 7,500,000 7,500,000

OPMS Softwares and Spin-offs Rs

Single-User Version 10,000 500 5,000,000 2,000 20,000,000 5,000 50,000,000

Network-User Version 1,000,000 2 2,000,000 5 5,000,000

Web-User Version 1,000 100 100,000 1,000 1,000,000

Sub Total 5,000,000 22,100,000 56,000,000

OPMS Facilitator Training Prog Rs

Small Group Prog (3-5) 25,000 2 50,000 3 75,000 2 50,000

Large Group Prog (10-12) 50,000 2 100,000 3 150,000 2 100,000

Sub Total 150,000 225,000 150,000

OPMS Book and Publications Rs

OPMS Book 500 1,000 500,000 2,000 1,000,000 2,000 1,000,000

OPMS Publications

Sub Total 500,000 1,000,000 1,000,000

TOTAL SALES Rs 7,900,000 30,825,000 64,650,000

Indicative figures

Project MilestonesProject Milestones


Website uploaded

Workshop Module

Facilitator Training (FT) Module

Consulting Module

Publication: OPMS Book

Software Product Launched

“would probably precede”


Project Milestones TargetProject Milestones Target~ ~ One Year Horizon

• Website Uploaded by … 3-4 months3-4 months• Workshop Module by … 3-5 months3-5 months• FT Module by … 3-6 months3-6 months• Consulting Model by … 4-6 months4-6 months• Book Mss. Ready by … 8-9 months8-9 months• Initial Release Software Product … 9-11 months9-11 months

Months from Start


Main Contents Page

Current and Potential Projects

The ‘technical story’ behind OPMS

The ‘Elevator’ Presentation

That was an outline of the ‘business story’ behind OPMS. For more details, write in to [email protected] to get hold our Biz Plan, the prototype OPMS software, etc. (We shall require that you sign a ‘Non-Disclosure Agreement’)

About ‘prose + structural graphics’


Creating an OPMS for Mission: “Designing effective educational

system(s) for India’s real needs…”

The basics of how to do it

The ‘Technical Story’ underlying OPMS (in non-technical terms)

“Designing effective educational systems for India’s real needs…”

…and how to use the OPMS we create to accomplish this ambitious Mission!

Here’s how to create an OPMS for this ambitious Mission:

The ‘technical’ story (in mostly non-technical language)



Based on Warfield’s approach to complexity in systems, there has developed over several years a uniquely powerful generic aid to problem solving and decision making which can enable significant enhancement to the way we tackle issues of all kinds: ● Individual issues (of most kinds); ● Organizational issues (of all kinds); and ● Societal issues (of most kinds).

The One Page Management System…

No limitations whatsoever on the kind of ‘Mission’ on which you could

apply it!

…for creating systems to help accomplish any Mission: individual, organizational, societal

John N. Warfield, in the course of his investigations of ‘complexity in systems’,

has developed tools that could help individuals and groups organize and

integrate their understanding of complex systems of ALL kinds

The ‘complex system’ to be designed could be a national system to help us develop

effective Action Planning for the ‘Education Mission’

“Developing effective educational systems for India’s real needs”

You’ll obviously need to get the right groups together to work on this Mission…

…without that as a basis, there’s no hope of achieving it!


To use OPMS effectively, we need to explain a small enhancement to the language we

conventionally use: we call this enhancement ‘prose + structural graphics’

The structural graphics clarify and detail the relationships between the elements in a complex

system (which are generally left ambiguous in conventional prose).


A ‘Language’ to discuss complex issues:A ‘Language’ to discuss complex issues:

‘‘proseprose ++ structural graphicsstructural graphics’ (p+sg)’ (p+sg)

Idea 1Idea 1 Idea 2Idea 2…the ideas - and the

relationship(s_relationship(s_ between the ideas, shown as

meaningful arrow(s)…

“Idea 1 leads to Idea 2”

So what is/are ‘structural graphics’?

The picture and its translation (along with any other explanation required) constitute

‘‘proseprose ++ structural graphicsstructural graphics’’ (p+sg)

Here’s a simple structural Here’s a simple structural graphic:graphic:

=We repeat: the structural graphics clarify and detail the

relationships between the elements in a complex system that are generally left ambiguous in

conventional prose.

Structural Graphic

Prose Equivalent

leads to

The arrow(s) stand for The arrow(s) stand for specificspecific relationship(s), relationship(s),

e.g.:“leads to” e.g.:“leads to” (in this case)(in this case)And it is this simple idea that can be built on to enable us to tackle the most complex of problems and issues much more

effectively than can be done when we think and discuss in the conventional way, through ‘prose’

The ideas that people get while they consider or work on issues in the system are precisely those

that should go into the ‘design of the desired system’! Our OPMS process ensures that this

happens as a matter of course.


These structural graphics can come in various shapes and forms, as (very roughly!) illustrated in

the next slides…


ABC EFG


ABC

EFG

HIJ

These structural graphics have the useful property of helping significantly to clarify the minds of people who use

them!

Try them out… even your informal ‘doodles’ and sketches that you make as

structural graphics can significantly enhance your understanding of the

systems you live in and work in! (You just need to specify the relationships

clearly!)

In each case, the ‘elements of the ‘system under consideration’

may be shown in boxes or ovals, and the relationships between the

elements are shown as lines or arrows linking up the

boxes/ovals...

The relationships should always be specified in detail! (as illustrated…)

“help accomplish”

“may prevent”

These are ‘sketches’ (informal models) that can help us clarify our understanding of the systems confronted

It’s the relationships between the elements of the system that are the key to understanding the system!


These structural graphics, when allied with the conventional prose that you already know

how to use well, constitute a very powerful ‘extension’ to our normal way of thinking and

discussing – we call the combination ‘prose + structural graphics’ (p+sg)

OPMS software will soon be including practical means to enable you to make ‘sketches’ of these structural graphics.

Until such time as our ‘Sketchpad’ modules are ready within OPMS – try out the ‘Free Mind’ and ‘Mind Mapper’ software,

which offer some limited sketching facilities (links provided at section on ‘Structural Graphics’)… (these useful software packages do not provide the full power of ‘OPMS thinking’,

but they are useful for a start).

What we had shown are the ‘informal’ structural graphics associated with the OPMS.

We shall now show some of the formal structural graphics associated with OPMS,

realised through the Warfield tools for modeling in complex systems


One very important type of ‘formal’ (and entirely rigorous) structural graphics is John N. Warfield’s powerful modeling

tool, ‘Interpretive Structural Modeling’ (ISM): it enables us to clarify our

understanding of the structure of the systems under consideration…

Next, we shall illustrate the development of an Interpretive Structural Model as an important step in creating an OPMS


We illustrate the process in outline for an ‘individual Mission:

“To create effective educational systems for India’s real needs”

First, we try and find out something of what we know on the issue by responding with appropriate ‘elements’ to a Trigger Question about the Mission…(the elements as

imagined by one specific individual based on his understand and his reading about education – everyone interested should articulate his/her own elements, and all those elements should be added to the Action Plan!)

To do the action planning effectively, we create an Interpretive Structural Model with the elements

generated


Some responses to this trigger question:

• To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section• To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders - students, teachers, parents, others...• To ensure that the real stakeholders in education have a real voice• To ensure that all good ideas provided by different groups of people interested in education

are properly integrated into our action planning• To create educational systems meeting the real needs of those being educated• To ensure that truly passionate and committed teachers are available for every educational

stream• To provide a proper place in society for good teachers• To pay teachers well, give them the kind of rewards they really want• To provide all needed avenues for teachers to develop themselves• To ensure that students at each level have a proper voice in the educational systems catering

to their specific needs• To develop effective professional education courses• To put into place, at an initial level, effective practical means for people to discuss and

resolve issues• To ensure that teachers at each level have their proper voice in the actual actioning in the

educational system• To get stakeholders in education effectively together in various groups, to discuss

educational issues and how OPMS could help• To convince people at large that the conventional mode of prose discussion is not effective• To convince people that prose + structural graphics (p+sg) would be most useful to develop

effective Action Planning on this issue• To convince people that p+sg is in fact an essential requirement for making real headway on

this complex issue

There are various such trigger questions to elicit ideas about different aspects of a Mission, and literally thousands of elements

may be generated in due course – but THINGS TO DO to accomplish the Mission should generally come first… (Illustrated here are

elements generated by one individual, based on the thinking and reading he had done on the issue – you of course would generate an entirely different set of elements reflecting your own different

background, etc).

1st Trigger Question: “What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO ‘To create effective educational systems for India’s real needs?”

First, we need to find out the ‘elements’ that we need in our ‘system’. Here’s how to get hold of those!

Some more elements:

● To create a wide number of examples to get people interested in using OPMS on educational issues ● To implement OPMS intensively and extensively into various educational institutions● To get good teachers involved in designing effective teaching systems through the OPMS● To ensure that political issues arising are effectively responded to and handled by the educational system

ALL useful elements should be integrated into the Action Planning in order to get real commitment

from all interested!

The elements can keep on coming in, from anyone who is interested in the ‘education project!


We shall now show a simple two-element Interpretive Structural Model, articulating the

implicit linkage between two of the elements in the list:

Prose transation: “To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section MAY CONTRIBUTE to give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders” (In conventional circumstances, such relationships are left entirely ambiguous.)

To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders (B)

We now develop this starter model by adding various ‘elements’ to

it… all these are also ‘perceptions’ to be validated.

“To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section” (A)

“To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders” (B)

The two elements are:

The OPMS then asks the users a couple of questions to elicit their perceptions of how these element may “contribute to” each other

In this case, the user felt element ‘A’ “may contribute to” element

‘B’ – so the model shown will reflect that perception…

…had the perception been the other way around, the model would obviously reflect this perception!

To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section (A)

On next slide, we add next element on list: “To ensure that the real

stakeholders in education have a real

voice” (C)

Arrows in this and the next such modeling slides stand for: “may (or should) contribute to”. (As one becomes more certain about the model being constructed, one can make the relationship more certain “CONTRIBUTES TO”).


“should contribute”

Some underlying issues: There may be considerable disagreement between different people about how various elements are perceived to

“contribute” to each other. Effective discussion engendered in the Interactive Management and OPMS processes enable people to arrive at

a true consensus.

This is a ‘representation’ of the mental model of the specific person who is considering the issue. (The mental model may be ‘right’ or

‘wrong’ – we claim that creating such models is useful to help find out how the mental models that are held by the person reflects his/her own reality. And other people could see the whole thing quite differently).

To ensure that the real stakeholders in education have a real voice” (C)



Prose transation: “To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section SHOULD CONTRIBUTE to ensure that the real stakeholders in ed. Should have a real voice, which in turn SHOULD CONTRIBUTE To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders”

To create educational systems meeting the real needs of those being educated

Add one more element

We should EACH time translate these models fully into prose – you’ll soon find it much easier to read these models than

standard prose!

Prose translation: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


We continue exploring the ‘deep logic’ hidden in the

‘structure’ of those elements in the system…





To create educational systems meeting the real needs of those being educated

Add yet one more element…

•To ensure that all good ideas provided by different groups of people interested in

education are properly integrated into our action planning




•To ensure that all good ideas provided by different groups of people interested in

education are properly integrated into our action planning

Remember it is very important to write up prose translations of all models created till you are entirely familiar with this new language of ‘structural

graphics!

Effective and usable understanding of the ‘systems’ involved develops

as the users start understanding the linkages between

factors as here illustrated!


If ‘A’ ‘B’,

and if ‘B’ ‘C’,

then ‘A’ MUST ‘C’(where ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ are elements and stands for

the specific transitive relationship under consideration)

This simple idea has huge impact – in This simple idea has huge impact – in regard to construction of these models regard to construction of these models

as well as to their interpretation.as well as to their interpretation.

Models constructed using the above rule would be logically consistent AND, further, the construction of even very large models would also be quite efficient because of the transitivity of the single relationship used in each

such structure.

The process helps the people easily perceive the logical inconsistencies that may be embedded in

their thought processes!

Mistaken ideas are easily corrected through regular use of this process (assuming, of course, there is a basic desire to correct

one’s own mistaken ideas)

Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is based on a SINGLE transitive relationship running right through

the model.

Going ‘one level deeper into the process’, it is also possible (I claim) to bring about effective change even in the minds of at least some of those people who do NOT

have a basic desire to correct their own mistaken notions! This is a very sizable claim, and would require much more work to be done on it to justify it rigorously.

Logically, we are able to justify adding elements, in specific, appropriate positions to our graphical structures (as we’ve

done in the past few slides) because the relationship “CONTRIBUTES TO” is transitive, which means the following:


Using this algorithm, we’ve used the OPMS software to create a model comprising about 20-odd elements (next

slide). Time taken to create this model: about 15 minutes.

A diverse group of 8-10 people interested in the issue of creating effective educational systems for India might take about 2-4 hours to create a ‘consensus model’ (depending

on the diversity of their background).


The model does not fit onto a single screen, so only a part of it is visible here. Next screens, we display

the model in sections


TOPMOST (FOURTH) LEVEL OF MODEL

THIRD LEVEL OF MODEL

SECOND LEVEL OF MODEL

FIRST (LOWEST) LEVEL OF MODEL

“leads to”

Prose translation: “First Level LEADS TO Second Level LEADS TO Third Level LEADS TO Topmost Level”



“may contribute”




Use up-arrow repeatedly to move to top level




Use up-arrow repeatedly to move to 3rd level


FIRST (LOWEST) LEVEL OF MODEL (Working level)





FIRST (LOWEST) LEVEL OF MODEL

“leads to”

Prose translation (from below): “To create a wide number of examples to get people interested in using OPMS on educational issues MAY CONTRIBUTE to put into place, at an initial level, effective practical means for people to discuss in resolve issues (in consensus)… …. ….” [IMPORTANT: Such prose translation should be done for all parts of all models!!! Soon, you’ll find you are very easily thinking in terms of these structural graphics].

Complete model constructed using the OPMS prototype software. Write to

[email protected] to get your free copy of OPMS software!

Use up-arrow repeatedly to move to 2nd level


The model illustrated in the previous slides is a representation of the ‘mental model’ of one person considering the issues involved… To

arrive at a realistic understanding of any group issue (such as this one), we shall need to take into effective consideration the views of ALL

stakeholders involved, enable them to develop a proper understanding of each other’s views,

and from that understanding to develop a realistic representation of the whole system…

Warfield’s ‘Interactive Management’, which is the foundation of OPMS, is designed to ensure effective

learning by all involved and the development of ‘consensus wisdom’ on all group issues.


Focus on ANY element in the structure:

WHY?

HOW?

Read DOWN the structure to find out the

HOW of the focus element!

Read UP the structure to find out the WHY of the focus

element!

The “HOW?”s and the “WHY?”s of every element are built into the model constructed with “contributes to” as its structural

relationship!

We now explain one very important characteristic of any model predicated on the transitive relationship

“contributes to” …

This property holds for EVERY element in the structure – check it out for yourself!


Some features of ISM• ANY transitive relationship may be modeled through

ISM (a single relationship per model) –• An ISM based on on “contributes to” clarifies the

“HOWs?” and the “WHYs?” of EACH and EVERY things done or to be done!

• ISM enables individuals and groups to explore the relationships between factors in their systems to any depth and degree of detail as required

• A simple model of, say 20-25 elements on 1 or two pages would be the equivalent of some 30-40 (or even more) pages if translated in full into standard prose: ISM enables huge compression of long prose passages!

• ISM is one of the powerful modeling techniques created by Warfield that help individuals and groups to explore complexity in systems.

The relationship “contributes to” is probably the single most important of all relationships that can help us arrive at a working understanding from

scratch of the systems under considerationSome important transitive relationships in systems:

“enhances”“supports”“is more/less important than”

“contributes to”“aggravates” (in case or problems/

difficulties encountered) “precedes” (PERT and Gantt Charts – well known in ‘Project Management Software’)

and a whole lot of others…


Any number of ideas can be easily added, if they’re relevant to the Mission on “Education”!


John Warfield’s ‘Interactive Management’ comprises a whole set of methodologies to:

i) enable problem solvers to generate & clarify ideas along with

ii) two powerful modeling tools to enable them to ‘structure’, or organise ideas generated.

You’ve just seen ISM, one of the modeling tools.


Apart from ISM, Warfield has created another powerful modeling tool, ‘Field Representation and Profiling Method’ (FR) designed to help us put elements in a system into appropriate ‘similarity classes’ or

‘categories’ – which then help us explore the relationships (transitive and other) between elements and categories.

We illustrate the Field Representation Method with three examples – one example being a general

structure of the utmost simplicity; the second one relates to our Mission of “Developing effective

educational systems for India’s real needs”, and the third one is a pretty complex Field…


Here’s a list of some diverse Missions • To become a top level software designer• To double organizational turnover within one year• “Garibi hatao!” – (The ‘anti-poverty’ slogan of Indira Gandhi’s government – the slogan

was excellent, but the initiative as a whole failed rather miserably)

• To master my math syllabus and thereby get excellent results in my math exams

• To get myself a satisfying and well-paying job• “To create an effective system of governance to meet India’s needs”• To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals• To qualify myself for the best job opportunities available• To launch a new product in the US market in 2008• To set up my own consulting business• To become a global leader in software services by 2015• “To ensure 90% true literacy in India within 10 years”• To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals

Our first example of FR follows…

We shall now use the Field Representation process on this confusing list to clarify things a bit…


In your opinion, is

“----------” (element 2)

similar to (/in the same category as)

“------------” (element 1) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational

structures that may be needed to accomplish the specific Mission]

?

The first step of the FR process involves inserting the ‘elements’ into

categories/’similarity classes’

A: Dimension 1 ● To become a top-level software designer

We start by inserting the first element into a blank ‘Dimension’, as illustrated below…

…and then we ask ‘modeling questions’, as shown, next …

General ‘modeling question’, for creating Field Representations…

First element inserted in Dimension 1


In your opinion, is

“To double organizational turnover within 1 year” (element ‘2’)


“to become a top-level software designer” (element ‘1’)

[keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be needed to accomplish the specific Mission]

?

More specifically (in this case):

Response Is “NO”, so this element goes into a

different category as shown, next slide…


Here’s how the Field Representation develops:

A: Dimension 1 B: Dimension 2 ● to become a top-level ● To double organizational software designer turnover within 1 year

In your opinion, is

“Garibi Hatao!” (element ‘3’)


“to become a top-level software designer” (element ‘1’) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be

needed to accomplish the specific Mission]

?

Response: “NO”, so new question

asked…

In your opinion, is

“Garibi Hatao!” (element ‘3’)


“To double org. turnover within 1 year?” (element ‘2’) [keeping in mind the kind of organizational structures that may be

needed to accomplish the specific Mission]

?

Next trigger question:Response again: “NO”, so a new dimension is

created…

A: Dimension 1 B: Dimension 2 ● to become a top-level ● To double org.

software designer turnover within 1 year

C: Dimension 3 ● Garibi Hatao!

and so on…

A: Dimension 1 ● To become a top-level software designer

Next trigger question:

If the response to a modeling question is “NO”, the question is asked again w.r.t. another element, or a new Dimension is created and the question-element is inserted there. If the response is “YES”, then the question-element is inserted in the same Dimension…

Second element in Dimension 2


FR: “ System of ‘Types of Missions’ ”

A: Dimension 1• To become a top-level…• To master my math syllabus• To get myself a satisfying and

well-paid job• …

B: Dimension 2• To double organizational turnover…• To get over the ‘attrition problem’• To align individuals in organization…• To launch a new product in US market

C: Dimension 3O “Garibi Hatao!”

O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs”

O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs”

O “……”

Important!The titles of the categories are

arrived at only after all elements are appropriately inserted into blank categories (see next…)

System Tie-Line



A: Individual Missions• To become a top-level…• To master my math syllabus• To get myself a satisfying and


B: Organizational Missions• To double organizational turnover…• To get over the ‘attrition problem’• To align individuals in organization…• To launch a new product in US market

C: Societal MissionsO “Garibi Hatao!”



O “……”

System Tie-Line


• Individual Missions

• Organizational Missions

• Societal Missions

IMPORTANT: The appropriate titles of the Dimensions of this Field Representation came to light only AFTER all elements were inserted into those Dimensions via

an appropriate ‘modeling question’!


A: Individual Missions• To become a top level software designer• To master my math syllabus and thereby get excellent

results in my math exams• To get myself a satisfying and well-paying job• To qualify myself for the best job opportunities that

become available• To set up my own consulting business• To become more effective at what I do• To learn to use PowerPoint effectively• …


• All the Missions in the ‘Individual Missions’ category (and many others besides) have been successfully worked on by various persons

• Many have successfully worked on their Missions after the prototype software was created – a few were able to do this even before the software was developed!


B: Organizational Missions• To obtain needed financing for a major project• To align individuals in the organization to the

organization’s goals• To double organizational turnover within one year• To get over the ‘attrition problem’• To launch a new product in the US market in 2008• To become a global leader in software services by 2015• To obtain needed financing to market globally• …


• A few of the Missions in the ‘Organizational Missions’ category have been successfully worked on at different levels.

• We have been conducting OPMS workshops for organizations only after the prototype OPMS software had become available.


C: Societal Missions

• “Garibi hatao!” (Indira Gandhi’s famous slogan, which has alas never been effectively worked on)

• “To create an effective system of governance to meet India’s needs”

• “To develop an effective educational system for India’s needs”

• “To ensure 90% true literacy in India within 10 years”• “To become one of the ‘least corrupt’ nations in the world

within 10 years (instead of being one of the ‘more corrupt’ nations)”

• …


• Thus far, I’ve not managed to get any group, government or NGO, to take up any of the many potential ‘societal Missions’ that OPMS could be used for.

• I have identified a huge number of potential projects – even a quick glance through any day’s news will fetch at least 10 potential projects that are crying out for the OPMS treatment!






C: Societal MissionsO “Garibi Hatao!”



O “……”

System Tie-Line

The ‘SYSTEM TIE-LINE’ stands for any of the relationships that may be

inherent in the system under consideration

On examining the ‘system’ with just the three dimensions that have developed

here, we are now able to perceive that a couple more dimensions are required to render this into a truly useful and usable

‘system’…






C: Societal MissionsO “Garibi Hatao!”O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs”O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……”

System Tie-Line

TD: Type of organization E: Resources reqd. Required o ~~~~~~~~~~~~ O Self-organization o ~~~~~~~~~~~~ O Incorporated Company o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O Government or non-governmental organisation

Two more dimensions needed to create a useful ‘system’

Check out ‘understandability’ of the system as it appears now - after addition of these two extra dimensions - against the original list of

objects (reviewed, next slide).


Some diverse Missions• To become a top level software designer• To double organizational turnover within one year• “Garibi hatao!”• To master my math syllabus and thereby get excellent results in my

math exams• To get myself a satisfying and well-paying job• “To create an effective system of governance to meet India’s needs”• To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals• To qualify myself for the best job opportunities available• To launch a new product in the US market in 2008• To set up my own consulting business• To become a global leader in software services by 2015• “To ensure 90% true literacy in India within 10 years”• To align individuals in the organization to the organization’s goals

We claim that a significant enhancement in understanding

develops through FR categorization – just review that Field

Representation! (Reviewed, next slide)


FR: “ Systems required to handle different kinds of Missions”




C: Societal MissionsO “Garibi Hatao!”O “To create an effective system of governance for India’s needs”O “To develop an effective educational system for our needs” O “……”

System Tie-Line

TD: Type of organization E: Resources reqd. Required O Self- organization o ---------------------- O Incorporated Company o ----------------------

O Government or non-governmental organisation


So, let’s recap WHY we do this ‘categorization’

• The mind is able to get a better ‘overview’ picture of the whole by looking at a few categories rather than looking at a large number of disparate elements

• We can start understanding the relationships between the factors in the system when we look at those categories rather than the disparate elements in the list (illustrated later)

• By creating such a Field Representation of ‘Missions’, we are enabled to understand the ‘structures’ of the kind of systems needed to accomplish each type of Mission

• The human mind has learnt over millennia to categorize factors in a system in ways that are useful to enable understanding of the systems confronted. The Field Representation process just utilizes this existing, well-developed human skill and thereby provides us a practical means to create ‘graphical pictures’ of systems that encompass all dimensions of the system under consideration.

• Most importantly, such representations, when effectively done, are models that satisfy this fundamental law of systems:“Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety” (explained, next slides)


Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety:

(‘Simple Simon’ version)

“The dimensions of a proposed solution to any problem should match the dimensions of the problem itself”A great many of our individual, organizational and societal

systems are designed without the designers having kept this fundamental law in mind – which explains why so many of our

systems do not perform optimally or even may fail catastrophically

Take a look at the news of ANY day (including today), and you will see scores (if not hundreds) of examples to validate the claim just made – and to demonstrate the desperate need of society to have

accessible practical means to ensure that our systems are designed to satisfy Ashby’s Law!


We illustrate Field Representation (FR) method once again – now with a structure

created from the elements in our list of elements created for the Mission of

“Bringing about an Innovation Culture in the Organization”

(The Field appears on two slides as it does not fit into one screen)


Field Representation: “System to develop and put into place effective Educational Systems for India at every level in every field

SYSTEM

TIELINE

A : STAKEHOLDERS IN EDUCATION● To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section(1) ● To get stakeholders in education effectively together in various groups, to discuss educational issues and how OPMS could help(14)B : GIVE STAKEHOLDERS THEIR PROPER VOICE!● To ensure that real stakeholders in education have a real voice(2)● To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders - students, teachers, parents, others...(3) ● To ensure that all good ideas provided by different groups of people interested in education are properly integrated into our action planning(4) ● To ensure that students at each level have a proper voice in the educational systems catering to their specific needs(10) ● To ensure that teachers at each level have their proper voice in the actual

actioning in the educational system(13) C : EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS● To create educational systems meeting the real needs of those being educated and of society(5)● To develop effective professional education courses(11) ● To initiate specific educational institutions into using OPMS for their specific interests of various kinds(19) ● To implement OPMS intensively and extensively into various educational institutions(20) ● To get good teachers involved in designing effective teaching systems through the OPMS(21)

Continued, next slide


D : DEVELOPING PASSIONATE, COMMITTED TEACHERS● To ensure that truly passionate and committed teachers are available for

every educational stream(6) E : PLACE OF TEACHERS IN SOCIETY● To provide a proper place in society for good teachers(7) ● To pay teachers well, give them the kind of rewards they really want(8)

● To provide all needed avenues for teachers to develop themselves(9) F : PRACTICAL MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE ISSUES● To put into place, at an initial level, effective practical means for people to discuss and resolve issues(12) ● To convince people at large that the conventional mode of prose discussion is not effective(15) ● To convince people that prose + structural graphics (p+sg) would be most useful to develop effective Action Planning on this issue(16) ● To convince people that p+sg is in fact an essential requirement for making real headway on this complex issue(17)● To ensure that political issues arising are effectively responded to and handled by the educational system G : CREATE OPMS EXAMPLE PORTFOLIO (for educational issues)● To create a wide number of examples to get people interested in using OPMS on

educational issues(18)

SYSTEM

TIELINE

Field Representation: “System to develop and put into place effective Educational Systems for India at every level in every field (contd.)

Model created using the OPMS prototype software. Write to

[email protected] for information on how to get your free copy!


Field Representation: “System to develop and put into place effective Educational Systems for India at every level in every field

SYSTEM

TIELINE

A : STAKEHOLDERS IN EDUCATION● To discover who the real stakeholders are in each different educational section(1) ● To get stakeholders in education effectively together in various groups, to discuss educational issues and how OPMS could help(14)B : GIVE STAKEHOLDERS THEIR PROPER VOICE!● To ensure that real stakeholders in education have a real voice(2)● To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders - students, teachers, parents, others...(3) ● To ensure that all good ideas provided by different groups of people interested in education are properly integrated into our action planning(4) ● To ensure that students at each level have a proper voice in the educational systems catering to their specific needs(10) ● To ensure that teachers at each level have their proper voice in the actual

‘actioning’ in the educational system(13) C : EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS● To create educational systems meeting the real needs of those being educated and of society(5)● To develop effective professional education courses(11) ● To initiate specific educational institutions into using OPMS for their specific interests of various kinds(19) ● To implement OPMS intensively and extensively into various educational institutions(20) ● To get good teachers involved in designing effective teaching systems through the OPMS(21)

Let’s now look at a few things that we can do with this Field

Representation

We can create ‘relational sketches’ showing how one factor in a

system may affect others (in the same or other dimensions)…

Now watch the linkages developing in the Field Representation below!

To ensure that teachers and students at each level have a proper voice in the educational systems SHOULD HELP to give due weight to the

ideas of all stakeholders…


ideas of all stakeholders WHICH IN TURN SHOULD ENSURE all good ideas provided by different groups are properly integrated into our

action planning…

A huge number of such relationships can be traced through the Field. (The elements are also related across different dimensions). The more such real relationships are traced through the system,

the better the user will come to understand the Field AND the system(s) that it represents!


ideas of all stakeholders WHICH IN TURN SHOULD ENSURE all good ideas provided by different groups are properly integrated into our

action planning WHICH IN TURN SHOULD HELP to create educational systems that meet the real needs of those being

educated…


D : DEVELOPING PASSIONATE, COMMITTED TEACHERS● To ensure that truly passionate and committed teachers are available for

every educational stream(6) E : PLACE OF TEACHERS IN SOCIETY● To provide a proper place in society for good teachers(7) ● To pay teachers well, give them the kind of rewards they really want(8)

● To provide all needed avenues for teachers to develop themselves(9) F : PRACTICAL MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE ISSUES● To put into place, at an initial level, effective practical means for people to discuss and resolve issues(12) ● To convince people at large that the conventional mode of prose discussion is not effective(15) ● To convince people that prose + structural graphics (p+sg) would be most useful to develop effective Action Planning on this issue(16) ● To convince people that p+sg is in fact an essential requirement for making real headway on this complex issue(17)● To ensure that political issues arising are effectively responded

to and handled by the educational system G : CREATE OPMS EXAMPLE PORTFOLIO (for educational issues)● To create a wide number of examples to get people interested in using OPMS on

educational issues(18)

SYSTEM

TIELINE

Field Representation: “System to develop and put into place effective Educational Systems for India at every level in every field (contd.)

There are plenty of relationships to be traced here, too, on the next part of the Field Representation! (Not done in his illustration)

2nd Page


A : STAKEHOLDERS IN EDUCATION

B : GIVE STAKEHOLDERS THEIR PROPER VOICE!

C : EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

D : DEVELOPING PASSIONATE, COMMITTED TEACHERS

E : PLACE OF TEACHERS IN SOCIETY

F : PRACTICAL MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE ISSUES

G : CREATE OPMS EXAMPLE PORTFOLIO (for educational issues)

Here’s something else we can do with the FR: We can create an ISM with the TITLES of the Dimensions

in the Field Representation. (We look once more at the titles…)

Next slide, we illustrate the ISM created with the titles of these dimensions (using a transitive relationship that’s a bit more

complex than straight ‘contribution’)

Titles of Field Dimensions:


CREATE OPMS EXAMPLE PORTFOLIO (for educational issues)

● Proper PLACE OF TEACHERS IN SOCIETY● DEVELOPING PASSIONATE, COMMITTED TEACHERS

PRACTICAL MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE ISSUES

GIVE ALL STAKEHOLDERS THEIR PROPER VOICE!

EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

ISM created from ‘Dimensions of Education Field Representation’

Two elements in a single box with bullets before them (as above) means that each holds the specified relationship to

the other element in the box

The explanatory and clarificatory power of the FR is huge – but one has to use it regularly to understand its

value to help us understand our systems…

We can also create ISMs using the elements within each of the Dimensions of the Field Representation – this

enables us to explore within each Dimension or aspect of the system(s) under consideration

(Illustrated, next slide)

“should help provide stimulus for”


To ensure that real stakeholders in education have a real voice in the system

● To ensure that teachers at each level have their proper voice in the actual ‘actioning’ in the educational system

● To ensure that students at each level have a proper voice in the educational systems catering to their specific needs

● To enable all stakeholders (parents, management, others) have their proper voice

To ensure that all good ideas provided by different groups of people interested in education are properly integrated into our action planning

To give due weight to the ideas of all stakeholders…


ISM from elements in Dimension: “Give Stakeholders Their Proper Voice!”


Now, we illustrate Field Representation (FR) method once again – now with a quite

complex ‘second-order’ model -- a ‘model ‘model of models’of models’: this is the ‘One Page Management System’ (OPMS).OPMS).

The OPMS powerfully ‘enables’ people to accomplish the Missions of current interest to them, by enabling them to see their systems with utmost clarity, in a highly ‘actionable’

way...


The ‘SYSTEM TIE-LINE’ provides us a practical means to show how elements in various Dimensions may impact on the Mission

and on the THINGS TO DO in our Action Planning’ – e.g. how do the various BARRIERS impact on the activities to be

performed to accomplish the Mission?, etc, etc…

All aspects of ANY ‘Mission’ – no matter how large or ambitious, can be captured on a single page, with

linkages to all all details!

This is a ‘generic’ model, applicable to

any Mission!

This is a ‘2nd order’ Field Representation: a ‘MODEL OF MODELS’ – it comprises of

ALL the elements and ALL the models arising during the course of any Mission into appropriate classes that have been found useful through years of people

working on Missions.

This Dimensions contains: THINGS TO DO to accomplish the Mission and all the action models constructed using the elements in the THINGS TO

DO list

All the BARRIERS/ etc that may hinder or prevent accomplishment of Mission – AND

all the models with BARRIERS, etc.

All the BARRIERS, etc, that may hinder or prevent accomplishment of Mission AND all the action models constructed using

those elements

Linkages should be developed between elements in the various dimensions of our OPMS in order to clarify our minds about our systems and how to

develop effective action in them!

On exploring such linkages, we find that we’re naturally begin to ‘understand the system better’ – and

are also enabled to develop all needed sub-systems for our ‘System to accomplish the chosen Mission’. The whole system we create will be highly effective

because we have understood the relationships between the factors in the system!

Linkage across Dimensions: How do the BARRIERS, etc, hinder or prevent

accomplishment of THINGS TO DO (and the Mission)?

Linkage across Dimensions: How to develop appropriate THINGS TO DO that would help us to overcome the BARRIERS,

etc??? That important question becomes entirely clear to us!

Use of ‘System Tie-Line

Use of ‘System Tie-Line


THINGS TO DO

BARRIERS

More THINGS TO DO

Hinder specific

to overcome

We get a series of models like the following, which would help clarify

how to accomplish desired objectives: the models are detailed

in regard to which BARRIERS hinder which specific THINGS TO

DO, and exactly what are the THINGS TO DO to overcome

specific BARRIERS!

We get a whole series of such models linking up specific elements in the various

dimensions of the OPMS to specific elements in other

dimensions

The model means: “BARRIERS hinder specific THINGS TO DO – and we are enabled to identify more THINGS TO DO to overcome those BARRIERS”

Enable us to identify

Action Plans to develop the strengths required (but not

currently available) to accomplish Mission

How to prepare to avail the OPPORTUNITIES within the ‘window of opportunity’!

How to overcome weaknesses that may hinder or prevent accomplishment

of our Mission!


It’s called the One Page Management System because:• All the information related to the ‘Mission’ is crystallized onto a single

page – and any part of it can be accessed because of the linkages in the model

• From this one page, linkages would develop to show you how:• THINGS TO DO would contribute to each other and to the Mission;• BARRIERS/DIFFICULTIES and THREATS might hinder or prevent

accomplishment of THINGS TO DO – and you can find out other THINGS TO DO to overcome those BARRIERS, etc.

• What STRENGTHS are required to accomplish the Mission (and how to acquire them);

• What OPPORTUNITIES are available to accomplish the Mission – and how to prepare to avail of them;

• How existing WEAKNESSES might hinder or prevent accomplishment, and how to overcome those WEAKNESSES;

And a whole lot else!

It really is an It really is an ‘Operating System for the Human Mind’!‘Operating System for the Human Mind’!

This huge claim can be justified in detail in a live workshop session

The whole process of developing an OPMS is highly iterative, which ensures that mistaken/weak ideas are continuingly weeded out so that the Action Plans developed represent the best thinking that’s available

on the Mission!


Linkages developing through OPMS:

• How to overcome BARRIERS, WEAKNESSES, etc ?• How to develop needed STRENGTHS?• How to use available STRENGTHS to overcome WEAKNESSES?• How to prepare to avail OPPORTUNITIES that may arise?• Which EVENTS/ACTIVITIES should come first?• What is most important to do for accomplishment of Mission??• Etc, etc, etc, etc …


• Get out all good ideas available

• Record (and clarify) those ideas

• Put the ideas together in some kind of usable order – i.e. create an ‘action plan’

• ‘Integrate’ all aspects of the action plan

We revert to a slide shown much earlier:•Get out all good ideas available!

•Record (and clarify) those ideas!Idea Generation tools



•Field Representation Method



How is all this accomplished?

Prototype OPMS software is ready and is freely available. Just write in to [email protected]

to find out how you may download, install and use it!


It’s all based on the It’s all based on the followingfollowing

‘Fundamental Model’ ‘Fundamental Model’


Mental ModelsReal World

Trigger Questions

ElementsRepresentations of Mental Models

ACTION

Bold arrows mean “lead(s) to” Means “applied to”

ComparisonWe claim that OPMS is by far THE We claim that OPMS is by far THE most effective means available to most effective means available to

create needed changes in our mental create needed changes in our mental models, and to guide appropriate models, and to guide appropriate

action on the real world!action on the real world!

Feedback

OPMS Process

This fundamental model, through the OPMS, enables a

powerful ‘problem-solving loop’ to develop in the

individual/group mind


Fundamental Model

Interpret

Action

Monitor

Capture

Crystallize

Model

Our powerful ‘Model For Applying Science to Global Issues’ develops

by systematically building on this loop

“Problem-solving loop“leads to”

“enables”


Enabling Process

Effective Application of General Principles of Problem Solving in Complex Systems

Specific application to various areas – human behaviour; political functions;

governance, etc.

“enable(s)”

Integrated approach to problem solving for global issues

The OPMS approach fits in very well with all the major ‘Theories and Principles of Science and

Integrated Systems – including human behaviour’. It leads to the

most effective possible consensus problem solving on

complex issues


Information about John Warfield’s books, papers, etc: http://www.jnwarfield.com

and see also the ‘John Warfield Collection’ maintained at the library of George Mason University

http://www.gmu.edu/library/specialcollections/warfield.htm

The OPMS is based on the seminal contributions to systems science by Professor John N. Warfield.


For more information about OPMS and/or free use of the prototype OPMS software along with some (also free; but quite limited) guidance on how to use it; how to interpret models created; “what to do next”; etc, please contact:

G.S. Chandy email: [email protected] (gs_chandy….)

Bangalore:Terrapin Station (near Delhi Public School)Sathanur Village,Bagalur P.O., PIN: 562149Bangalore, IndiaTel.: +91-80-65700814

Currently camped at Mumbai:c/o Sahi Oretrans Pvt LtdWestern India House, 3rd Floor(Above Bombay Store)

Sir P.M. Road, FortMumbai - 400 001, IndiaTelephone: +91-22-40335424 (Personal line) +91-22-40335454 (Board line)

Our Journey Begins Our Journey Begins Now…Now…

Thank You!

…as soon as you want to start working effectively on YOUR ambitious Mission…

…just write in to [email protected] to ask for the prototype OPMS software… (it’s freely available)



The ‘Elevator’ Presentation

Briefly, about ‘Prose + Structural Graphics’

Realized and Potential OPMS Projects

Some business considerations relating to OPMS

That was the ‘Technical Story’ behind the OPMS. In mainly non-technical language. Anyone can use the OPMS without knowing the

underlying technology stuff. However, if you want to convince others to use OPMS, you would need to know a fair bit about this ‘technology’.

(But that too is quite easy indeed, via the OPMS!)


Briefly, about ‘Prose + Structural Graphics’

(Under preparation – in due course, there will be a full section on this topic. For now, we have included a brief explanation in outline

about ‘prose + structural graphics’ in the section ‘The Technical Story’ – see slides 70 to 75 at ‘The Technical Story’. Click here to go

back to main ‘Contents Page’ - from there you can go easily to ‘The Technical Story’)


FreeMind MindMapper

Until the OPMS ‘sketchpad facility’ is available, one can make quite useful ‘relational sketches’ of elements in a system using the

‘FreeMind’ or the ‘Mind Manager’ software. You can access the specific sites by clicking the respective links below. (You have to be connected

to the Internet to access these websites)

Freemind is free software

MindMapper is commercial software

(c) gs chandyopms general presentation1 general presentation on ‘realizing one’s ideas’...

Documents