S4 E12 - Dr. Jabe Bloom - Temporal Design and Digital Transformation
May 21, 2024
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Dr. Jabe Bloom, a design studies and organizational theory expert, discusses temporality, design decisions, timeful design, continuous adaptation, bounded rationality in digital systems, recombining in design, shared problem-solving, economies of developers and operators, intentional objects, question formulation in digital transformation, and shared responsibility in digital transformation, emphasizing continuous negotiation and context-driven design.
Understanding temporality in design decisions influences human experiences and project planning.
Embracing 'timeful' design involves continual re-evaluation and adaptation in dynamic contexts.
Acknowledging bounded rationality in decision-making recognizes human limitations in modern digital systems.
Collaborative negotiation and shared boundaries are crucial for defining system qualities and responsibilities in design.
Deep dives
Jave Bloom's Work in Design Studies and Temporality
Dr. Jave Bloom completed his dissertation in design studies, focusing on how time and complexity influence design decisions. His insights stem from extensive experience as a consultant and CEO in various technological roles. Through his work at Ergadautic, Dr. Bloom now engages in discussions about organizational design and technology structures to enhance outcomes.
Temporal Informed Design and Understanding Temporality vs. Time
In the podcast, the distinction between time and temporality is explored, emphasizing how humans experience change through time. Temporality is described as the qualitative version of time, indicating how individuals engage with projects that inherently involve past and future considerations. Dr. Bloom delves into the concept of temporality, highlighting its relevance in shaping human experiences and decision-making processes.
Time Full Design and Creating Timeless vs. Temporal Design
The podcast discusses the notion of time full design versus timeless design, where temporality and contextual relevance play critical roles in design decisions. Drawing parallels to human experiences, Dr. Bloom explains how design evolves and adapts, similar to how individuals interact with projects over time. The concept of designing in time, akin to playing jazz in time, underscores the dynamic and responsive nature of design processes.
Rationality, Heuristics, and Bias in Decision-Making
The discussion extends to concepts of rationality in decision-making processes, highlighting the limitations imposed by bounded rationality. Dr. Bloom emphasizes how individuals, due to cognitive constraints, resort to heuristics and biases when making decisions. Understanding the role of biasing in decision-making sheds light on the challenges posed by limited information and time constraints in rational choices.
Recombining in Design and Shared Responsibility in Systems
Dr. Bloom introduces the concept of recombining in design, emphasizing the collaborative aspect of defining system qualities and responsibilities. The podcast delves into the importance of shared boundaries and negotiation in design systems, promoting a balanced approach between various perspectives and responsibilities. Aligning with the scope economy principle, Dr. Bloom underscores the necessity of creating conditions for mutual understanding and collaborative problem-solving in complex systems.
AI, Technical Debt, and Design Responsibility
The conversation transitions to implications of AI in relation to technical debt and design responsibility. Dr. Bloom stresses the critical role of defining constraints and fostering flow in AI systems, emphasizing the need for informed decision-making in system design. The discussion points towards the significance of shared responsibilities, clear boundaries, and qualitative considerations in navigating complex AI landscapes.
Future Book Projects and Exploring Design Theories
Dr. Bloom shares insights on potential future book projects, contemplating the exploration of design theories and their practical applications. The podcast hints at the possibility of a philosophical design theory book or a publication focusing on the three economies concept to enhance understanding and encourage further research in design and technology domains. Dr. Bloom's goal is to distill complex concepts into actionable insights for a broader audience.
AI, Ergodicity, and Potential Research Directions
The conversation delves into AI, ergodicity, and potential research avenues in exploring nuanced concepts in decision-making and system design. Dr. Bloom and the host reflect on past conversations and propose future dialogues encompassing AI, design theories, and practical applications. Exploring diverse topics ranging from reliability to system behaviors, the podcast anticipates engaging discussions on integrating AI with ergonomic principles in system design and reliability assessments.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jabe Bloom, an expert in design studies and organizational theory. Recently completing his PhD at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Bloom brings a fresh perspective on the intersection of temporality, complexity, and design, particularly in the context of digital transformation in IT and other industries.
We dive into the nuances of temporality versus time, exploring how these concepts influence design decisions. Dr. Bloom elaborates on how temporality is a qualitative measure of change and its impact on human experience and project planning. This foundational concept sets the stage for understanding "timeful" design, which embraces the dynamic nature of contexts and proposes continual re-evaluation and adaptation.
Dr. Bloom challenges the traditional notion of design as a finite process, suggesting instead that it is an ongoing interaction with the environment. This perspective aligns with DevOps principles, where software development and operations are seen as continuous and evolving processes. He highlights the importance of context and proposition in design, where solutions must be constantly re-assessed to remain relevant as contexts change.
One of the key takeaways from this episode is the idea of "bounded rationality". Dr. Bloom explains how this concept, which acknowledges the limitations of human decision-making capabilities, applies to modern digital systems. He also delves into the concept of "recombining," which involves ongoing negotiation and collaboration across organizational boundaries to address complex problems that cannot be solved by isolated teams.
Dr. Bloom's insights into the temporal nature of objects and systems offer a profound shift in how we perceive design and operational challenges. By viewing software and other technological artifacts as temporal objects, he advocates for a more fluid and adaptive approach to design and implementation, one that continually responds to changing contexts and user needs.
