Two development groups were tasked with producing a set of reusable software components for the common features of a range of applications.
One group was a team of world-leading experts in object orientated techniques.
The other was a team of programmers, whose experience was in COBOL and data entry systems. The programmers were provided with basic object orientated training.
Both teams had to create a piece of code that defined the way in which data is presented to a file, printer, etc.
The experts created a wonderful piece of code. It was elegant, it performed well and it only took two man months to develop.
The COBOL Programmers downloaded a good enough, list object from the Internet at a total cost of $5.
And the point of the story - the programmers understood the purpose of object orientated techniques is all about reuse, not reinventing the wheel.
Video: The Cynics KM
Lotus promotional video remixed with voiceover on the cynic's view of knowledge management.
If you are interested in Knowledge Management, the
Knowledge Café
or the role of conversation in organizational life then you my be interested in this online book I am writing on
Conversational Leadership
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The community is for people who are committed to making a difference:
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