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Continue reading →: Smith’s Taxonomy of Quality Problems
If you’re going to select a strategy for process improvement, sometimes it’s good to know what category your problem falls in. Then, you can choose solutions for other problems in the same category that were solved! That’s the subject of Smith’s article in Quality Progress in 2000. In practice, Smith…
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Continue reading →: The Butter Test
I do not want to struggle with my butter. Or my software. This morning for breakfast, I chose the “nutritious” option of a slice of buttered rye. After the obligatory ninety seconds’ wait, my freshly toasted bread popped out of the toaster. It was hot, with a little steam coming…
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Continue reading →: What is Sociotechnology?
Technology is the “sum of ways in which social groups construct the material objects of their civilizations.” The things that we use – the “design artifacts” of the processes used to build them – are socially constructed to the same extent that they are technically constructed. The convergence of technological…
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Continue reading →: Why Software Reuse is Hard
If you were a software developer in the 1990’s or 2000’s, software reuse was kind of like the Holy Grail. You probably thought it was a good idea in theory from the start. Plus, managers were always enthusiastic about wanting to get more of it. But achieving software reuse in practice was,…
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Continue reading →: Software Reuse Antipatterns
In 2000, Scott Ambler wrote an excellent article on the organizational aspects of software reuse. He talked specifically about patterns and antipatterns: “A pattern is a common approach to solving a problem that is proven to work in practice. Conversely, an antipattern is a common approach to solving a problem…
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Continue reading →: Continuous Improvement Begins With Standards
Software is the executable representation of knowledge. [1] As a result, I find that software development provides a fruitful basis for exploring how problem solving is done by diverse team members in a cooperative (or even combative!) context. Here is one example. In June 1997, Tom Gilb wrote an article…
Hello,
I’m Nicole
Since 2008, I’ve been sharing insights and expertise on Digital Transformation & Data Science for Performance Excellence here. As a CxO, I’ve helped orgs build empowered teams, robust programs, and elegant strategies bridging data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML)… while building models in R and Python on the side. In 2025, I help leaders drive Quality-Driven Data & AI Strategies and navigate the complex market of data/AI vendors & professional services. Need help sifting through it all? Reach out to inquire – check out my new book that reveal the one thing EVERY organization has been neglecting – Data, Strategy, Culture & Power.
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