[Sigia-l] IA system components - add to the list!

[Livia Labate]

> Boniface said:
: Methodology robustness is about how a methodology
: performs in various situations.

If that is not flexibility, I honestly don't see where you are going.

: "Modularity" is not the opposite of "stringent, highly structured".
: In fact, something that is "highly structured" often has high
: "modularity".

Highly structured is indeed not contrary to modularity as a modular
structure is very plausible. However, when you add that a robust methodology
is STRINGENT while highly structured, that is a different thing altogether.
You are qualifying that structure; let's make sure there are no
misunderstandings - Collins Cobuild Dictionary tells me: "STRINGENT - Laws,
rules or conditions that are very strictly controlled or enforced because
they must be obeyed."

Where is the modularity in that?

: "Stringent, highly structured" is about how tight and fine is the
: control. "Modularity" is about how fine something is organized.

Modularity is about the flexibility of a structure. Modules allow
specialized activities while still being part of a whole - a 'highly
structured' (and relational) system if you will, not about how fine
something is organized. There are several ways to have a 'fine'
organization, but if you expect it to be "robust" and "perform in various
situations" it has to be
flexible; adaptable & fit for the situation at hand (in case the term
flexible is being a problem).

: A toolbox is just a collection of tools. There is no organization to
: speak of. No wonder a toolbox is not "highly structured". In fact,
: there is no structure at all.

I wish I could just go and ask someone that *really* understands about
toolboxes: a car mechanic. Is his toolbox just a bunch of tools thrown
inside a metal box, picked randomly from the hardware store or it is a
collection of tools he uses to perform previously defined activities? A
collection of tools selected with those activities in mind? Is there a
structure, for example, a classification system?

I unfortunately don't know any car mechanics but I would assume the second
possibility. I used to have a large toolbox in my house and different sets
of tools served different purposes. It was flexible enough though that I
could get the hammer from the carpenter set and place it along the tools
from the gardening set to break some rocks before planting daffodils. Worked
for me.

: A methodology ensures what is done is indeed the right thing.

Assuming there is one right way to do it, of course.



Livia Labate
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