Introducing Patterns or any new idea into Organizations

1
Introducing Patterns (or any new idea) into
Organizations

• http//www.cs.unca.edu/manns/intropatterns.html
• Linda Rising Mary Lynn Manns Alan
  OCallaghan
• risingl_at_acm.org manns_at_unca.edu ajocallaghan_at_c
  s.com
• We dont do lectures instead, we engage people
  in interactive experiences that transform rather
  than simply inform.
• - paraphrased from Industrial Logic

2
Patterns the beginning

• Tutorial at OOPSLA 1994
• GoF Book
• Still selling well
• The first of many patterns books

3
What is a pattern?

• Each pattern describes a problem
• that occurs over and over again in our
  environment and then describes the core of the
  solution to that problem in such a way that you
  can use this solution a million times over
  without ever doing it the same way twice.
• Alexander, A Pattern Language, 1977

4
The Quality Without a Name

• There is a central quality which is the root
  criterion of life and spirit in all things.
  This quality is objective and precise, but it
  cannot be named. The search which we make for
  this quality, in our own lives, is the central
  search of any person. It is the search for those
  moments and situations when we are most alive.
• Alexander, A Timeless Way of Building, 1979
• http//www.math.utsa.edu/sphere/salingar/Chris.tex
  t.html
• http//www.sunlighthomes.com/t.patlang.html

5
Patterns - some definitions

• A solution to a recurring problem in a context.
• Patterns are not theoretical constructs but based
  on experience. They capture what experts do and
  enable these solutions to be shared with
  everyone.
• Distilled reusable knowledge. (Don Firesmith)
• Patterns dont give you code you can drop into
  your application, they give you experience you
  can drop into your head. (Patrick Logan)

6
Why are patterns important?

• Patterns provide an incredibly dense means of
  efficient and effective communication between
  those who know the language. (N. Kirby)
• Human communication is the bottleneck in software
  development. If patterns can help developers
  communicate with their clients, their customers,
  and each other, then patterns help fill a
  crucial need in our industry. (J. Coplien)
• Patterns capture important practices of
  existing methods and practices not codified by
  conventional methods (J. Coplien)
• Patterns offer both a form for capturing
  knowledge and a process for using that knowledge
  to create quality software.

7
Different kinds of patterns

• Architectural patterns
• Design patterns
• Organization and Process patterns
• System Test patterns
• Customer Interaction patterns
• Training patterns

8
Organizational patterns

• Jim Coplien has documented a pattern language for
  organizational and process problems.
• His goal was to identify characteristics of
  hyper-productive teams.
• Successful teams share an amazing number of
  patterns.
• Important patterns are missing from unsuccessful
  teams.

9
Patterns for introducing patterns

• Linda Rising wrote initial patterns with David
  DeLano
• OOPSLA Workshop 1996
• Shepherded and workshopped at PLoP 97
• Mary Lynn Manns used these patterns at U S West
  and created an extension of the pattern language
• Shepherded and workshopped at PLoP 99
• Rising and Manns met at ChiliPLoP 2000
• OOPSLA Workshop 2000
• Simulations at OT 2001
• OOPSLA Tutorial 2001

10
Pattern languages

• A pattern solves a recurring problem in a
  particular context
• A new context and new problems result
• Patterns always work together to solve problems
  in a particular domain
• This kind of collection of related patterns is
  called a pattern language

11
Alexanders pattern language

• The best example of a pattern language
• Alexander, C.A. et al, A Pattern Language, Oxford
  University Press, 1977.
• To build something, where do I start?
• What do I do next?

12
The Introducing Patterns into Organizations
Pattern Language building it

• Each pattern has one or more originators or
  authors
• Many pattern mining techniques
• Our experiences
• Others experiences
• Supported by other publications
• Individual patterns and the pattern language has
  evolved iteratively
• Format is based on Alexanders pattern format

13
The Introducing Patterns into Organizations
Pattern Language using it

• Organizations start at different points in the
  language and use different sequences through the
  patterns
• Organizations have different goals for
  introducing patterns such as
• Individuals use patterns
• Teams of individuals develop a common language
• Philosophy of Alexander is integrated
• A patterns repository is built

14
Introducing new ideas the forces

• Most people are skeptical (to varying degrees) of
  new ideas
• There are so many new ideas that we cant keep up
• We dont have reliable ways of evaluating new
  ideas
• Were all too busy
• Different organizations need different ways to
  introduce new ideas
• Some organizations have no or limited resources
• It takes time and energy to convince others of
  new ideas
• Organizational change is not top-down or
  bottom-up, but participative at all levels,
  aligned through a common understanding
• Change is not an event it is a process (often a
  long process)
• Result This is a hard problem!

15
Some of the patterns

• Roles
• Connectors
• Corporate Angel
• Dedicated Champion
• Early Adopters
• Evangelist
• Innovators
• Local Leader
• Pattern Mentor
• Respected Techie

16
Some of the patterns (continued)

• Some Techniques
• Information sessions Dealing with skeptics
• Big Jolt Adopt a Skeptic
• Hometown Story So Whats New?
• Study Groups Fear Less
• Brown Bag
• Do Food Proof of Concept
• Gold Mine
• Showing Relevance Just Do It
• Personal Touch Pilot Project
• Pieces of Clay

17
One sequence through the language

• Evangelist
• To introduce patterns into your organization, let
  your passion for the new approach drive you.
• Brown Bag
• Use the time when people normally eat lunch to
  provide a relaxed atmosphere for learning about
  patterns.
• Innovators
• When beginning to introduce patterns, Ask for
  Help from a group of co-workers who take an early
  interest in patterns.
• e-Forum
• Set up a bulletin board, distribution list, or
  listserver for those who want to hear more.

18
One sequence through the language (continued)

• Respected Techie
• Enlist the support of senior-level technical
  people who are esteemed by members of the
  organization.
• Just Do It
• To prepare yourself for spreading the word about
  patterns, gather first-hand information on their
  benefits and limitations by integrating them into
  your current work.
• Personal Touch
• Show individuals how patterns can be personally
  useful and valuable to them.
• Study Groups
• Form a small group of colleagues who are
  interested in a specific topic as a next step for
  newcomers to learn about patterns or a good way
  for those familiar with patterns to continue
  learning.

19
One sequence through the language (continued)

• Big Jolt
• To give more visibility to the patterns effort,
  invite a well-known person to do a presentation.
• Plant the Seeds
• Carry patterns material (seeds) with you to
  plant the idea of patterns whenever the
  opportunity arises.
• Royal Audience
• Arrange for management and members of the
  organization who have helped with the patterns
  effort to spend time with a Big Jolt visitor.
• Dedicated Champion
• Make patterns part of your job description so
  that your effectiveness can increase
  considerably.
• etc. etc. etc.

20
Summary

• The message of the patterns community is that we
  all have something to share and learn.
• Patterns provide a way to capture knowledge and
  transmit experience to others.
• The patterns in this presentation have been
  successfully used in companies around the world
  to introduce new ideas.
• Take the ones that can help you and begin to
  change your organization!

21
Recent changes to the language

• Added one pattern
• Just Say Thanks
• Changed names and focus of two patterns
• Ask for Help (was Corporate Resources)
• Early Adopters (was Grass Roots)
• Various additions and edits throughout