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| A philosophical question - Is lateral thinking a valued trait in engineering? |
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| coppice:
--- Quote from: rstofer on March 01, 2022, 06:30:49 pm ---In my view, July 20, 1969 proves that we should remove "can't" from the dictionary. Really, the concept just keeps getting in the way! Every time I hear "I can't..." or "We can't..." it's all I can do to stop myself from going non-linear. --- End quote --- The obvious response to "I can't" or "We can't" is "for what set of constraints?". The initial statements don't usually specify those. Unless a request defies basic laws of nature, a thing only can't be done because of perceived or real constraints. Usually, when you flush out the constraints some are completely bogus, and some can be talked through and addressed. If you talk things through, and the constraints can't be sufficiently relaxed with reasonable resources, then you have a properly specified statement, like "This can't be done with the resources we can throw at the problem". That's the most effective thing a good manager can bring to the conference table. |
| rstofer:
--- Quote from: coppice on March 01, 2022, 06:43:38 pm --- --- Quote from: rstofer on March 01, 2022, 06:30:49 pm ---In my view, July 20, 1969 proves that we should remove "can't" from the dictionary. Really, the concept just keeps getting in the way! Every time I hear "I can't..." or "We can't..." it's all I can do to stop myself from going non-linear. --- End quote --- The obvious response to "I can't" or "We can't" is "for what set of constraints?". The initial statements don't usually specify those. Unless a request defies basic laws of nature, a thing only can't be done because of perceived or real constraints. Usually, when you flush out the constraints some are completely bogus, and some can be talked through and addressed. If you talk things through, and the constraints can't be sufficiently relaxed with reasonable resources, then you have a properly specified statement, like "This can't be done with the resources we can throw at the problem". That's the most effective thing a good manager can bring to the conference table. --- End quote --- I like the idea of "change the rules!". Find another way to describe success. Sounds weird but it really boils down to "find another solution". Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where the rules are more important than meeting the goal. It's time to change jobs... |
| armandine2:
Of Tyros is a chapter in Vannevar Bush's autobiography "pieces of the action", in which he lambastes the ingenious Geoffrey Pyke for wasting everyone's time on the "ice island" plan. A lateral thought needs to be nipped in the bud early doors. |
| coppice:
--- Quote from: rstofer on March 01, 2022, 07:02:18 pm ---I like the idea of "change the rules!". --- End quote --- That sounds good. --- Quote from: rstofer on March 01, 2022, 07:02:18 pm ---Find another way to describe success. Sounds weird but it really boils down to "find another solution". --- End quote --- That sounds bad. The way most people find to redefine success has a very bad outcome. E.g. "A does better than B. Make A come up to B's level" usually gets redefined to "A does better than B. Make A and B level". This is almost universally implemented the easy way - kneecap B until they fall to A's level. |
| snarkysparky:
Whats the definition of lateral thinking. I could not find any significantly qualitative description. After interviewing a candidate for a programming position i asked whether he could problem solve with code. His resume was filled with all the stuff he had done, which seemed mostly like read the manuals and perform the correct setups. We need a person who will "design" a robust system by understanding basics of algorithms and core coding practice. Am i asking for lateral thinking ? |
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