[Sigia-l] regarding mental model diagramming and gap analysis

[Peter Merholz]

> I've heard about mental model diagram,& gap
> analysis. 
> Reference: http://adaptivepath.com/team/indi.php

I would suggest that a better place to start would either be the following
essay written by my partner Janice about how we used mental models and gap
analysis for PeopleSoft:
http://www.boxesandarrows.com//archives/rearchitecting_peoplesoft_from_the_t
op_down.php

or our presentation on Information Architecture from Mental Models:
http://www.adaptivepath.com/events/training/construct/files.php

 
> Have some questions about the two.
> 
> Where is the methodology for performing these two
> outlined? 

You'll find more information in those papers. Additionally, you can learn
more either at our Adaptive Path Workshops (next stop, Washington, D.C., in
August!)
http://www.adaptivepath.com/events/2003/wdc.php

or when Indi and I present at the UI Conference:
http://www.uiconf.com/8/fullday_merholz_young.html

> Is this scientific ? If yes, Any journal references
> where these methods have been published?

Nope. While there's a lot of rigor, I wouldn't call it "scientific." Nor has
it been written up in any journals. It's evolved over years and years of
practical application (originally by Indi, then added to by the Adaptive
Path team), and we find it works pretty well.

--peter