| Control-Transformation-Facilitation (CTF) building blocks | |
|---|---|
| Context | Expertise Management Methodology |
| Decompositie type | IOR |
The PQR formula in combination with UCM constructs is a versatile device for modeling behavior. However, an activity system as a whole is made up by numerous sub-systems, such as organizations and communities, which may be decomposed into smaller sub-systems, until we end at the human activity system (which happens to be a very complex system in its own right). The PQR formula does not provide the means for structuring a large system composed of interacting subsystems. We need another conceptual device for this purpose.
EMont provides the concept of contexts for organizing PQR formulas into larger constructs. A context can be seen as a situation in which organizations, communities and/or humans play a specific role. Just like the PQR can be decomposed endlessly, the same holds for contexts. Therefore, we can describe situations within situations and even overlapping situations. The concept of context as a situation will be explored later in depth. In this section we investigate how we can derive contexts in the first place, and the conceptual device for doing so is called the Control-Transformation-Facilitation (CTF) building block.
The three elements of the CTF building block is depicted in the figure. The basic idea of a CTF building block is quite simple. The transformation process (or activity) transforms some input to some output, and, hopefully, value is added in this process. In order to perform a transformation, usually some kind of facilitation is needed, e.g., a secondary process that supplies the main process with goods, such as labor, material or information. To be sure that the transformation proceeds as planned, the transformation can be controlled by means of a control process. These ideas can also be found in, for instance, the function modeling methodology IDEF0.
The CTF building block can be applied recursively. In each part, a CTF building block can be placed, and so on. In this way, arbitrarily complex chains can be constructed. For instance, a primary process can be modeled as a PQR in the T-part of a CTF building block. By placing a new block in the F-part, we have actually modeled a secondary process that facilitates the primary process. (We show later how the PQRs in the various blocks are connected.) Analogously, the C-part can be decomposed into another building block. In this way, we model control constructs over control constructs. By the way, the CTF building block approach allows us to model cognitive processes. The T-part can be regarded as cognitive patterns composed of sub-patterns. In that light, the C-part consists of cognitive patterns reflecting on cognitive patterns, that is, we model meta-cognition, and even meta-meta-cognition, and so on.
A useful framework to utilize in CTF building blocks is the well known Plan-Do-Check-Act/Adjust (PDCA) cyclic methodology for continuous improvement. The Plan (P) activity concerns setting out a goal that should be achieved by a Do (D) activity. In the Check (C) activity, the outcome of the D-activity is compared with the preset goals. If there are any differences, corrective Act or Adjust (A) actions must be devised or executed, leading to new plans. Note that this is a never ending process of continuous improvement, much in the same way humans are continuously adapting to changing environments.
For research or consultancy projects, we find it useful to model the T-part of a CTF building block with the four activities recognized in SSM: finding-out, model building, discussing and debating, and taking action activities. By doing so, we can reflect on and give direction to research cycles. In short, we learn from engaging in problematic situations and document our findings in terms of EMont.
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