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

Wed Sep 7 15:22:37 EST 2005

Did members of the list get this the other day or not?

No replies yet!

Cheers,

Kim

--- Original Message ---
From: kgration at myrtlefordsc.vic.edu.au
Sent: Tue, 06 Sep 2005 14:13:55 +1000
To: ipm at fhc.vic.edu.au
Subject: 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
> >
> > For Help, Subscribe,Unsubscribe, FAQ and more see 
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> > 
> 
> 
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---
Kim Gration
ICT Manager
Myrtleford Secondary College
http://www.myrtlefordsc.vic.edu.au