George Clark introduced issues pertaining to making mental maps.
The development of "Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM)" in the period
1971-73 produced algorithms for use by groups (or individuals in a
special case) in constructing joint mental maps. Here are some of the
aspects of this process design which, regrettably, still seem all to
unknown to people interested in LO, including those at "the top":
o Recognition that complex mental maps involve not only knowledge and
feeling, but also logic
o Recognition that the quality of these maps seems to require that they
are internally consistent
o Recognition that internal consistency is virtually impossible to
achieve in the absence of formal logic algorithms that work to help the
modeler be consistent
o Recognition of the capability of algorithms to make inferences based
on logical transitivity--that relational property that enables us to be
oriented in time and space
o Recognition of the capability of algorithms to sequence questions for
the modeler in a way that cuts down dramatically on the amount of time
required to construct the map
o Many other aspects relevant to cooperative group work
Some day, when (?), business school faculty will look outside their
self-sealing domains and find out what is available to do high quality
group work, with well-designed processes fully subject to scientific
scrutiny.
-- JOHN WARFIELD Johnwfield@aol.com