Posts by: Ming Fai

Three signs that your project has a good IT architect

Three signs: Clarity, Creativity, Simplicity(photo credit: blinkingidiot)When one is working on a IT project, how does one tell if one's team has a good IT architect?  Good architects should produce good architectures, and through them, good architects produces three signs in IT…

DSM: A useful tool for process improvement efforts

Design Structure Matrix, or DSM in short, is a tool I frequently see during my year here at MIT.  It is often mentioned in "System Thinking" talks, as well as talks on designing complex system.  While the DSM's uses are many, my project…

Using Stories to Bridge the Attention Chasm

Using Stories to Cross the "Attention Chasm"Many people believe that the attention of audiences follow a U-shaped curve, where audiences remember mainly what said first and last during presentations, leaving a significant chunk of presented material in what I call the "attention…

Deliver late or less: best options for a behind-schedule project?

Delivering late: a viable option for behind-schedule projects?(photo credit: marcp_dmoz)Projects that are behind schedule are usually faced with the following options:1. Add more staff to the project2. Work longer hours, including doing overtime and burning weekends (Ouch...)3. Work people harder, expect more…

Designing flexibilities into systems and enterprises

Does your system or enterprise need a spare tire? (photo credit: jbdenham)In face of uncertainty and rapid pace of change, flexibilities like a car's spare tire can be useful for systems and enterprises.  An example of a flexibility is stronger beams in…

Modeling Enterprise Architectures using System Dynamics

System Dynamics model for adoption of a new product (source: Patrhoue)System Dynamics, a field invented by MIT professor Jay Forrester, was created by adapting engineering control theory into social-economic domains.  It was first used to solve supply chains challenges, then urbanization issues,…

Five principles I use to plan my day

Make the day enjoyable! Doing my work outdoor with a hot drink.Have you ever invested a lot of effort to get into your dream college but then sloughed through it because there were just too many interesting classes and you ended up…

Where the CIO sits makes no difference to EA?

Photo titled "sit where you want".  Pretty apt for this article! (photo credit: DorteF)Enterprise Architecture deals with the blueprint of enterprises, so it might make sense that the blueprint function sits close to the Chief Executive Officer in the organization chart to…

Five gamification ideas to better engage your audience

Can you captivate your audience?(photo credit: apogee photography)Gamification has been all the hype for me in the past months, as it got prominently mentioned in several of the classes I took.  Are there anything valuable one can take from it after digging…

What impacts should Enterprise Architecture have?

Footprints on fresh snow(photo credit: dru!)Walking on fresh snow is one of my favorite activities, as I enjoy leaving the first footprints in the soft, fluffy snow.  My impact on the snow is evident to those that come after me.  What impacts…
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