Some practical Tools for “Thinking Out Of The Box”

‘Silver Dyads, Golden Triads’

These were concepts about which I initially saw some ‘sketches’ in 1979, in a few pages of Warfield’s book, “Societal Systems: Planning, Policy and Complexity”

(Wiley, 1976). It was in fact just those few pages that IMPELLED me to study the whole book intensively (and a few other ‘subsidiary’ things besides) – which

then led to the OPMS.

Note: This presentation is being modified considerably

• Definitions

• Examples

• How to use Dyads and Triads?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 2

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

Let’s look at some pictures that COULD be worth many more than thousands of words!

(when you learn how to use them)

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 4

A ‘monad’:

A single idea standing on its own

IDEA

We represent it like this:

OR

IDEA

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 5

Now: consider the effect of the prose definition alone on your mind - versus the effect (next) when the structure representing the prose is available to

explain it.Definition: A “SILVER DYAD” is a set of two ideas

applied collectively and integratively

And that is precisely why we recommend the ‘prose + structural graphics’ mode !

If the above definition is clear to you,

would some of you like to clarify it? Relationship(s) should

be specified when ideas are specified

Structural Graphics

Representation

Now, here’s a suggestion, using ‘structural graphics’, that I believe does help to clarify the definition of “Silver Dyad”:

Silver Dyad

Would you agree that the structural graphics representation enables us to understand the prose with significantly enhanced clarity?

Prose:

Is this definition clear to

you”

Golden Triad

A set of THREE ideas that are applied collectively and integratively

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 7

Graphical Representation of Golden Triad

I1 I2

I3

Using the concepts of ‘Dyad’, ‘Triad’ and OPMS ‘collectively and integratively’, you can

simultaneously get an ‘overview’ of any situation AND the details as required! The process adds

enormous power to your thinking.

Here are some examples of Silver Dyads and Golden Triads -

in each case, relationships should also be specified

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 9

Some real-life examples of Silver Dyads’

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 10

MindBrain

Examples

The ‘stuff’ of Cognitive Research

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 11

WrongRight

This dyad studied since 1979 led to the concept of OPMS

in 1983, and all the development subsequently

HardwareSoftware MindBody AdultChild

The OPMS approach – practically applying

reason to intuition

ReasonIntuition StructuralGraphics

Prose TeacherStudent WomanMan

More Examples

The “intuition” is BUILT INTO many of the elements – the “reason” is BUILT

INTO the way appropriate relationships help us ‘organize’ the elements!

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 12

UserS/WDeveloper

QUESTION: HOW to apply them collectively and

integratively?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 13

UserS/w

Developer

Define & Explore Relationships…

What Is the Crucial Step?

User NeedsSRS

Precisely what OPMS enables and ensures!

It’s the elaboration of this dyad that leads to all your software!

I have found them to add significant clarity to my thinking when used in

conjunction with the processes embedded in the OPMS

I understand it has been mathematically proven that any

‘clustering’ of idea-elements more than three in number can

be reduced to a logical combination of monads, dyads

&/or triads!

In any case, dyads and triads do seem to be powerful tools to enable and enhance

clarity of thought

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 15

Here are some real-life examples of

‘Golden Triads’

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 16

Body Mind

Spirit

One:

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 17

ReasonIntuition

Before we look at the next Golden Triad, let’s recall the ‘Silver Dyad’ we had initially seen:

…which leads to…

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 18

Intuition Reason

Reality

…this Golden Triad

Define & Explore Relationships!

It has to be an

ongoing process

!

Here’s a partial (very small part) translation of the Triad: Continuingly explore intuition through reason – checking regularly against reality, which would enhance effectiveness of intuition…

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 19

View System – Examine Relationships – Study Structure.

Understand System

System Relationships

Structure

Click for another

Golden Triad:

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 20

For instance, a good bit of what I do in my workshops is simply to try and explain some

aspects of this particular Golden Triad!

Intent Structure

Lowest Level El.

Trigger Questions Define & Explore Relationships!

Some of these are Triads that I’ve been exploring in depth over the years– and I

can certify that the process works!

Another very useful Golden Triad:

Most of the remainder is done without a solid knowledge base, on GSC’s side, of the ‘domains’ being

discussed

Warning!

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 22

Possible example for S/w Co.

Define & Explore Relationships!

Marketing group of S/w Co.

Developer User

Software

These are very general – they will need to be made very specific!

Marketing Need

S/w Product/Service

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 23

BDMs User Needs

Marketing eXensys

Is this a useful triad for Holool Marketing?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 24

PMs ???

eXensys Development?

Could such a triad be defined for this group – and then more specifically for each PM?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 25

ObjectClass

Is this a ‘Silver Dyad for programmers?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 26

Class Object

Component

And is this a ‘Golden Triad’ for them?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 27

DeveloperUser

This Dyad (if it is ‘Silver’) …

…may lead to …

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 28

Requirement Design

Construction

…this Triad:

Is it ‘Golden’??

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 29

Procedures & Processes

Templates

Quality Policy

Could this Triad be ‘Golden’?If it is ‘Golden’, let’s call it “A”

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 30

Functional Requirements

Technical Specs

System

Could this Triad then be ‘B’?

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 31

Coding

Could this perhaps be ‘C’?

System Testing

Design

Coding

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 32

Functional Testing

Customer Satisfaction

Requirements Analysis

And could this be ‘D’?

Question:

Can we put all of that together in some useful and

usable way for Holool?

My claim is: using the OPMS approach, we certainly could! (If only YOU would generate

the elements)…

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 34

“leading to”

User Requirements

Customer Satisfaction

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 35

Trigger Question(s) Ideas

Structures

And here’s an example that could possibly help people overcome ‘start-up difficulties’:

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 36

Using these concepts (integrated with OPMS proper) , the difficulties listed below can be overcome:• Difficulties in getting ideas in

response to trigger questions (continuingly)

• Difficulties in changing the mode of work one is accustomed to…

• Difficulties in interpreting models – and finding out ‘what to do next’…

Just list your difficulty…

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 37

Here’s a ‘teaser’ about some other closely related concepts – also very useful to enable and enhance ‘thinking out of the

box’…

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 38

Element A Element B

Satisfaction & Frustration Cycles

Arrows mean “contributes to”

or “hinders”

Ramesh Pai Holool

Arrows mean “contributes

significantly to Mission of”

The Primary Satisfaction Cycle that has to be built at workplace

Example:

One needs to be quite familiar with the tools comprising the OPMS to use these cycles in a practical way. (I had first seen pictures like these in Warfield’s book on “Societal Systems” in 1979 – though it

took me many, many years to learn how to use them in practice)

Ramesh Pai Holool

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 40

By the way, any of the dyads and triads illustrated could well become a suitable

subject for a life-time of study and practical work. For instance, it could be claimed that the dyad below in one way

more or less ‘encapsulates’ all of ‘Ethics’

WrongRight

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 41

For another example, the following Silver Dyad could become the focus of studies

of the human being in many different ways:

AdultChild

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 42

Adult

Growth of ‘mind + body’

Child

Consider, for instance, the following ‘Golden Triad’:

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 43

Adult

Growth of ‘mind + body’

Child

Difficulties are likely to arise if we break up the complex and then try to treat the part as the entire whole:

Adult

Growth of ‘body’

Child Adult

Growth of ‘mind’

Child

24-May-2005 (c) gsc - dyads, triads 44

DeveloperUser

A software development organization’s primary focus might arise from this Dyad

and then related Triads and other structures. We need to arrive at the

proper understanding of what the Dyad means (and everything that develops from

it):