Monday, April 20, 2009

Rapid Prototyping

I really haven't been enjoying my entrepreneurship class lately. The accounting stuff--yeah, in a lot of ways, I enjoy the way all the numbers (not really math, just numbers) interconnect, how if you enter this here--that balances there, and knowing the reason behind things that have bothered me for years, like how much Social Security tax is coming out of my paycheck.

The entrepreneur stuff? I dunno, maybe it's just the way something that could be fabulous and eye-opening has turned into a search and type-it-out for rote answers, and the ever-on-going teacher-jones for papers that look like someone had way too much time on their hands.

So here I am, reading along in the book--which btw is fabulous--and trying to force myself to do the assignments (which are boring). And every now and then I go in and stir the pot on the message boards. (which "was" fun, but got sad and predictable)

But, the other day--as I was reading, I came across a concept I'd seen before. Rapid Prototyping. Maybe I was just reading a business book or something, but the first time it went by too fast or maybe I just wasn't thinking.

The idea behind rapid prototyping is that transforming an idea into an actual model will point out flaws and lead to improvements in the original design. The three principles are R-rough, R-rapid and R-right.

Rough--in the early stages perfection is a waste of time. Just make it good enough to figure out what works and what doesn't.

Rapid--each new model moves closer to the successful design.

Right.

The final model is an amalgam of a lot of other models, each focusing on a particular problem.

WIPs are a writer's way of rapid prototyping.

6 comments:

Alice Audrey said...

I visualize some guy in a lab with a plastic model, but this is how I write books.

Unknown said...

I think we all write books like that, too. It seems to work even though it takes longer. :)

Kaycee James said...

I like the idea that my wip is a rough prototype. Very rough. :-)

Unknown said...

It gives you permission to write, Kaycee. I think that's the best part. Not having to be perfect.

Kaycee James said...

I agree with you, Jodi. It's nice not having to be perfect the first go round. :-)

Jeanna said...

Just as long as you're not doing math, Jodi.
I can see your point.
And those message boards, at least from the online classes I take show how little people have to contribute or at least are willing to. What a thankless job to be a teacher.