Are you Perturbed?

Perturbation is one of my favourite words and I wish I could use it more in daily use because a) it makes me sounds nerdy, and b) cos it's such a wanky word to use and I like wanky words. *wink*  I first came across this word in a Software Engineering lecture 6 years ago on Software Measurement. You can test assumptions about your business/process/software model, by changing a component of the model and seeing how the whole system reacts. Fundamental team development processes like "Agile", and "Scrum" come from the principles in Perturbation; 'accept that changes to the system will happen fast and frequently, and having processes that can adapt to fast changing situations'

Definition of Perturb:

In science, you would perturb a system to gain an understanding of how that system works. How? by gathering observations and studying its reactions in certain situations.  

An example

E.g. If you were conducting a scientific experiment to observe the characteristics of a burning candle, you could perturb its environment by covering the candle in an airtight container. You would then be able to make the observation that the flame will eventually extinguish (amongst many other observations). Then you would make smaller changes to the environment to determine why that is, and eventually come to the conclusion that the candle flame requires air in order to burn.

The concept of perturbation applies in everything you can do. Changing one part of the process/pattern and measuring the output is a function of 'continuous improvement' (ie, Growth).  

Personal and Professional Growth by Perturbation

Growth may not necessarily be positive, it could be negative. E.g. Changing from "Full Cream Milk + Cereal" to "Soy Milk + Cereal" is a negative result of perturbing my breakfast (its horribly gross! don't try it!). But now you know, and that counts as experience. Doesn't mean you shouldn't try Soy Milk with other cereals.

We hear of "Change Management" all the time, and how to step outside of our comfort zone. All these activities are small amounts of perturbation, and the outcomes of these processes is to allow you to understand more about yourself, and the world around you. 

True perturbation changes the foundation of your thinking, by challenging your underlying assumptions about the system. The results of perturbation gives you a completely new perspective on the world around you.

Inspirations

This post is brought to you by the ideas inspired on Melbourne's Sunday's brunch with Jason Fox, and Wei Soo and by a video that a friend posted on facebook.

1) Jason Fox:

Jason and I spoke about Gamestorming, and the ideas underlying playing and learning. He gave a wonderful example of how we can perturb our own environment. Imagine that you are being controlled as a 'virtual' you. Kinda like you're in the Matrix, and the real you is outside this "Matrix".

It's a simple mental exercise, but your whole environment has now been perturbed. Suddenly actions which you'ld never thought possible become possible. The consequences of failure become inconsequential; "If you fail, you can reset" or in computer gaming terms, you can "respawn". 

Don't you think it's a brilliant approach on thinking about new challenges and overcoming the fear of failing. 

2) Wei Soo:

Everytime I meet up with Wei, I leave with 10% of what he says;

a) because he's got so much awesome thoughts,

b) because i'm a terrible listener, and

c) i'm a slow learner.  

But I managed to keep one amazing quote, which is perturbed my thinking. I've paraphrased quite poorly, and I apologise to Wei for mangling the 2nd half of his sentence, but I hope you get the thought.

"Organisations are just legal fiction, entities that only exist in the eyes of the law"; (This next part is my terrible paraphrasing:) To change an organisation involves changing the perspective of the people in the organisation, because it's people that make up the organisation, its culture, vision and objectives. 

3) The Power of Words:

The woman perturbed the way the public viewed this man's situation, by changing the words to describe his situation. One small change to his sign, changes how we viewed the blind man's situation. Perturbation doesn't have to be big (Soy milk cereal!), it can be as simple as using different words to describe the work you do. 

Astronomers use the word Perturbation to describe when a planet changes its orbit. The forces required to make a whole planet change its path is the perfect analogy to explain perturbation. How will you change your orbit?