[Year 12 IPM] Re: top down, bottom up and middle out

Tue Sep 6 15:50:30 EST 2005

Is the attached what you mean by middle out.
Regards

John McIntyre
Good Shepherd College
Hamilton
it at gsc.vic.edu.au
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kgration at myrtlefordsc.vic.edu.au>
To: <ipm at fhc.vic.edu.au>
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 2:13 PM
Subject: [Year 12 IPM] Re: top down, bottom up and middle out

> Hello to all on the list,
>
> After the discussion last year regarding top down, bottom up and middle
out I'm still a little vague on exactly what middle out is . . . is anyone
else?
>
> Is there anyone out there on the list that can clarify this for me?
>
> Are students actually supposed to know what middle out is for the exam?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Kim
>
> ---
> Kim Gration
> ICT Manager
> Myrtleford Secondary College
> http://www.myrtlefordsc.vic.edu.au
>
> "Geoff Moss" <geoffmoss37 at optusnet.com.au> on Mon, 11 Oct 2004 15:32:38
+1000 wrote:
> > Oliver
> >
> > I usually relate the issue first to something students can relate to,
like
> > building a house or doing house renovations.
> >
> > With a house we adopt a top-down approach because we can plan and
organise
> > resources to complete the task within a time and financial budget.
> > Obviously, planning a whole house ensures all rooms and components are
as
> > compatible as possible and the resources used are common throughout.
> >
> > First the house has to be planned and the plans submitted for approval.
> >
> > The builder breaks the task into smaller tasks so he can plan the tasks
for
> > each tradesman and ensure the resources are on-site when required.
> > Surveying would need to precede the site works to ensure correct
location of
> > the dwelling.  Footings need to be prepared before the concrete arrives,
> > etc., etc.
> > He will arrange for the sparky to come when the frame is up to do the
> > initial wiring and then later at the finishing stages.  The plumber
would be
> > required early to undertake necessary underground/underhouse works.  The
> > brickie would be called in when the bricks are on site and the frame in
> > place.  All tradesmen would be organised, delivery of materials planned
to
> > be on site for the tradesmen.  These days, builders will not leave many
> > materials on site for too long before they are used.  Appliances would
need
> > to be planned for delivery as near as possible to installation.
> >
> > Imagine building a house, room by room, when  time and money permits.
You
> > would not be able to ensure that the bricks, and other building
materials
> > will be compatible.  Specifications and rules may change and you may
need to
> > modify as you go.  Imagine plumbing connections being done on an ad hoc
> > basis.
> >
> > [This was the situation for many after WW2.  Soldiers on return had
limited
> > funds and resources were scarce.  Many constructed a fibro-cement
dwelling
> > themselves because builders were not available or were too costly at the
> > time.]
> >
> > Also, using the kitchen renovation, imagine doing the benches say this
year,
> > plasnning the overhead cupboards nerxt year, installing a new sink
later,
> > and maybe a new cook top.  Later we may decide to have combustion
microwave.
> > We then decide to install an insinkerator - where will this go?  In the
> > bench or the sink - does this mean replacing the sink again.  Then we
decide
> > to buy and install an oven - what about our combustion microwave?  It is
now
> > partly redundant.  Now we want a new refrigerator.  Because we want
> > ice-making facilities (don't we all) we find it is too big for the
cavity.
> > Then we need to choose a smaller refrigerator or make the cavity space
> > bigger - this encroaches on other areas - Oh! the bernches will need to
be
> > modified again.  Did we have a pantry, do we need one.  Where will it
do?
> > Don't forget our internet-connected refrigerator.
> >
> > This is an example of bottom up planning.  There is no clear overview of
the
> > development.  There is difficulty with ensuring everything is
compatible,
> > there is duplication, there are additional costs.  There are continual
> > disruptions.  What about tuiling and painting?  The chances are there
will
> > be a real mess at the end.
> > The solution?  A top-down one.  A complete kitchen make-over.
Everything is
> > done at once and evrything is compatible.  The cost is defined, and
> > disruptions are limited to one period.
> >
> > A more relevant exampler for IT would be where a school decides to buy
> > individual pieces of hardware and software, when it suits.  Each
department
> > goes off and buys it own equipment and hardware.  No-one follows an
overall
> > plan.  Soon we find we have a range of different hardware - some not
> > compatible.  We may have duplication of software and hardware.  Each
> > department has its own scanners, printers, colour printers and nothing
has
> > been rationalised.  Then someone decides it may be a good idea to
network.
> >
> > This scenario was typical of some schools during the 80's.
> >
> > A far better idea would be to decide to have a networked solution with
an
> > overall plan to ensure economies of scale, compatibility and a reduction
in
> > duplication.
> >
> > Hope this helps as a starter.
> >
> > Geoff Moss
> > RMIT
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Murray O." <murrao at westbourne.vic.edu.au>
> > To: "IPM List" <ipm at fhc.vic.edu.au>
> > Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 1:47 PM
> > Subject: top down, bottom up and middle out
> >
> >
> > > I'm struggling to explain with examples the difference between top
down,
> > > bottom up and middle out problem solving approaches. Can any one share
> > > some
> > > example that students grasp.
> > >
> > > Any comments on the answers
> > > To question 4 part 2
> > >
> > > ii A company embarks on an ad hoc system expansion. The final cost is
> > > not considered until the end of the project.
> > > Vitta: bottom up
> > > Me: middle out
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Oliver
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
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