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

[Arno Reichenauer]

<Listera> wrote:

> "Arno Reichenauer" wrote:
>
> > IMO, the quality of a process is measured in terms of its end results.
Nobody
> > cares how you got there if the result satisfies their needs.
>
> Did you really mean that? Or are you getting ready to join Andersen, Enron
> or WorldCom? :-)
>
> Ziya
> Nullius in Verba

Ok Ziya, to be more specific: the quality of a process that is supposed to
result in a desired outcome, no matter if it is an IA system or ice cream,
to my knowledge is measured in terms of its effectiveness (accuracy and
completeness of achieving specified goals)and efficiency (resources expended
in relation to the accuracy and completeness of achieving goals)(Correct me
if I'm wrong!). I'll stay with the ice cream: a process for making ice cream
would be effective to me if the result sufficiently satisfies my
expectations regarding the ice cream (in terms of taste, smell, texture,
color and so on). And efficient would be a process where the effort
necessary for a certain outcome is a reasonable one, e.g., I have my
home-made ice cream within some 20 minutes or so.

Again, I did not say that *I* am not interested in the process and what else
goes with it. That would be quite ridiculous with the topic of my PhD being
IA processes, wouldn't it? ;-) The statement should only help to demystify
the discussion about IA, definition and theory. I can't see the need for
such mystifications. We are expected to deliver certain things (whatsoever
that is in each specific case), and we know how to do it. That's it. Desired
result, process to get there. Just like with the ice cream. (Simplistic, I
know, but hey, it's weekend;-)

I do respect your opinion on IA theory/definition. If you refuse to define
IA, that's ok. But remember: others will (and there are reasons for it you
did not invalidate yet!). Time marches on, and some day there will be a
settled understanding of IA, if only due to habituation. And you might find
yourself trapped in settled definitions you don't like, invented by somebody
else without paying attention to your thoughts.

Arno