First Report Posted
I can’t post anything from my book, here, but I can post new content that is similar, or that may relate to future books. Today I’ve posted the first bit of content related to a learning experience. I will be adding more as I go, and I hope readers consider offering reports of their own for me to post.
Anyway, one thing I like to do is teach young technical thinkers, and I got an opportunity to do just that, recently, at Christmas dinner. A cheesegrater broke, and we flew into action.
Here’s the report I wrote. It’s both an example of an investigative report, and a little primer on how to write one. This is worth a look if you are trying to learn how to write credible, simple reports of your cognitive exploits.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Interesting stuff James.
What I would find to be interesting is to see the evolution of the report from its first draft, or even the notes that you wrote during the investigation, to the report in its current state.
I also find it useful to document the target audience in the first sections.
To write these reports, even about this specific topic, is a great alternative to the certification industry. A simple concept (not necessarily easy) and much cheaper.
Erwin.
[James' Reply: Can you say more about why it would be useful to say anything about the target audience? In practice, I find that the target audience is pretty obvious (because the processes of the organization dictate who that is). In practice, I write reports for specific people or groups who know who they are.]
February 4th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Interesting reporting exercise on a phenomenon where technology actually managed to complicate the straight forward process of getting cheese onto your pasta!
[James' Reply: Not only is it complicated, it's much more expensive than gourmet parmesan cheese would be, for cheese that's not as good.]
February 4th, 2009 at 6:21 am
As a novice software tester, I found this report very interesting. The way it shows how to conduct an investigation is really helpful.
What really caught me was to realize that when handled like a structured investigation the report appears to become more appealing and prone to further investigation by the people responsible for the product. An example like this is something that I was missing, it will really help me improve my reporting skills.
Another great thing about it is that it shows how to lead an exploratory session, in this case looking for the cause of a problem, not the problem it self (like in testing), but still very valuable.
Thanks a lot for sharing this token of experience and knowledge.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Cheese grating–now that’s something I can definitely relate to! Although personally I do it the old fashioned way, buying my parmesan from the Canterbury Cheesemongers (remind me to show you when next you’re down this way–a fabulous place!) and then using the handheld metal grater (my grandmother’s and still going strong). A perfect result, every time–or, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
February 5th, 2009 at 1:10 am
I am curious. The report is meant for a specific type of career path of which I have no knowledge, so when reading it and the rationale I took that into account. I was still wondering if it was meant to be satire or not.
[James' Reply: It would be silly to chop wood by shooting at it with a handgun, right? Yet, I have done that-- as part of practicing my shooting skill. This is a similar case. It's not satirical, it's just a real report about an unimportant subject. The same skills that technical people use to conduct and document investigations I used in making that report. The commentary on the report relates to any sort of investigative report.]
It is a less common but still oft practiced writing exercise to use formal report scaffolding for informal and even absurd topics for comic effect. I’ve done them myself when loosening up the word works. But I am guessing this is not meant to be comedy.
[James' Reply: You guessed right.]
I do have a question about inserting the patent information the way it was inserted. The sentence makes it seem as if the knowledge of the patent was there and identifiable information was clear by simple observation in the moment. The rationale makes clear that this was added later. Is it acceptable to do this for concision, and if so, why use a narrative at all if that is very important?
[James' Reply: That is explained in the commentary, isn't it? I added the patent stuff so that someone reading the report could readily refer to the mechanics of the device without me having to describe it much.]
Also, I did not see how the picture insert close-up of the threads was related to the text around it or the problem or the solution. Would this be something that is meant to familiarize a specific audience with their own product? And if so, why?
[James' Reply: The picture shows the actual stripped threads. One part of the problem was that the threads were stripped. One part of the solution was to push the pressure plate past the threads. That's how it relates.]
Please forgive me. Not having any background in a field that would require such reporting has certainly limited my understanding.
[James' Reply: What is your field? I'm curious.]
On a lighter note, I agree with going for the better cheeses and the old fashioned grater, but I disagree about 2 weeks being unreasonable time in which to use the product after opening it. If cheese lasts that long in my house after purchasing it, it is hiding on purpose.
[James' Reply: Parmesan cheese can sit for a loooong time in my house. I just forget it's there.]
February 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I teach philosophy to high school seniors and sophomore English.
[James' Reply: COOL!]
Thank you very much for explaining. I suppose my hitch comes from too much focus on narrative in my work and I figured my misunderstandings were coming from having to jump out of one paradigm into another. I had a preconception that a report narrative would be the exact flow of events as they happened and something like a useful reference would come later or prior and not within as if it had happened that way.
[James' Reply: It is not far from an exact narrative. It's close. I'd call it an enhanced and simplified narrative.]
Well, not exactly a preconception, I tend to read things with an eye for the questions I might face regarding the material. For example, what might confuse a tenth grader? He or she would wonder how on earth a person in the situation would have access to such knowledge so immediately if they were in the narrative zone.
[James' Reply: Interesting point. I should add that to the commentary on the report. It's a common thing, in technical reports, to describe an activity not in terms of the exact steps taken, but rather in terms the essence or ultimate meaning of the event. This is so common, I didn't think to say much about it (I did say a little). However, it does explain why some technical investigative reports sound as if they must have been prepared by perfect genius thinkers.]
Some would think this dude is a freaking genius and they were hopeless to compete or produce similar. (I assume given my experience with most of my students past and current that if they read the rationale at all, it would be because I forced the issue, so the report alone is where I focused with them in mind. The rationale was for me and for those few that would voluntarily read further.)
[James' Reply: If I were using this to teach with, I'd have the students read the report first, and have them ask questions about it. When they claim to have no questions, I would begin to break it down and offer questions of my own, or I would point to a sentence and ask "what does that mean and why is it in this report?"
I'd then walk them through the commentary. The commentary is really "instructor notes", but suitable for self-instructors, as well.]
And the other about the image was from the unasked question in my head which was if the cheese were softer, would the stripped threads even have been noticed or caused a problem? Would gravity alone have been enough to grate the cheese successfully regardless of the stripped threads? I see your point though in following through with the inquiry as it occurred to the queriers and thank you for being patient with me! It does occur to me that a link to the patent under the figure and a reference to the figure within the narrative might make the cognitive flow less jarring, but that is nit picky speculation with the kiddos in mind.
[James' Reply: Good idea. And this is the sort of issue I would reward a student for raising.]
I find this intriguing and your experience is one I am very interested in for myself but for my kids as well. I agree with what I have read so far about your estimation of the educational systems, always have. And I see more and more kids becoming disengaged and uninterested in learning at all because the system is killing that in them. If I could have an example of a self propelled learner for those that would fly with it, well, you can understand how important that would be for the kids. It may seem odd, but so many actually need some kind of permission to seek out learning on their own. It astonishes me every time, but then I realize that they have been encased in a system that inadvertently (I hope) dampens that drive along with social factors that can grease those intellect killing wheels.
[James' Reply: Our world is full of distractions, too. Online social games have especially captured the minds of kids.]
My hope for the future is something like a virtual Summerhill. Maybe a mix of one to one and virtual resources that would better serve students and reinvigorate what I regard as a sleeping giant of intellect now in large part rotting (in America anyway). I am aware of online academies. So far, I have not found one of merit if student interviews are taken into consideration. They, for the most part, are dumping grounds for schools to get rid of difficult students. Such an academy as I envision would most definitely require a learner to be self propelled and know how to direct that drive a bit.
[James' Reply: How about online mentoring? I'm doing something like that now. I will be blogging about that, soon.]
Sorry for the length and I will not go to such further as I continue to read, but I did think that it might help to let you know my purpose and interest in your learning processes. It is fascinating.
[James' Reply: Thanks. Please continue to contribute like this!]
February 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I have been writing guidance for many ‘user classes’ in our organziation.
These ‘users classes’ include Engineers
Our users have tasked to ‘read’ many procedures and standards (SOPs) and other technical documentation.
When there is an overview of the material to learn it’s useful if the audience can see if it is meant for their reading.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:20 am
A few questions/observations about this incident report:
- Did not consider getting another KRAFT Grate-It-Fresh Parmesan Cheese container and see if under the same circumstances, the same problem would arise?
[James' Reply: excellent idea for further research.]
- You state that having to use the cheese within 14 days of breaking the seal is an unrealistic requirement. Unrealistic to whom? You? Why do you consider this to be unrealistic? How long would you expect to last? Why so?
[James' Reply: When I was a kid, we used to keep a can of Kraft Parmesan grated cheese in the fridge for whenever we had spaghetti. We didn't have spaghetti on a regular basis. So, it sat a long, long time. Just like ketchup and mustard, and unlike milk and meat, it's a condiment. I bet a lot of people park it and forget about it. However, I've not done a systematic survey.]
- Perhaps if you had another fresh container you would have been able to compare the outcome/result of the grated cheese — thus being able to have another result to compare: Dried grated cheese as opposed to moist grated cheese.
[James' Reply: Good idea.]
- Did you also look at an absolute expiry date on the container? Were there additional requirements other than using it within 14 days of breaking the seal? For instance, was there a “use by” date as well that you were unaware of?
[James' Reply: I don't remember! That's sloppy of me for not looking closer at that.]
…. a few of my observations. Good article though. I have passed along to a few people who I think would benefit from this. Thanks James.
[James' Reply: Note to non-technical readers. James O'Malley is an experienced software tester. He's showing us how testers think.]