by Dwayne Phillips If someone asks a question in English, please answer in English. Please avoid some other private language. In recent conversations, I asked, “Your research, how far ahead in time are you working? Your work may become reality in 1, 5, 10 years?” The answer was, “TRL 4.” (see this for a translation) […]
Entries Tagged as 'Communication'
Speaking English or Some Other Private Language
September 1st, 2022 · No Comments
Tags: Clarity · Communication · Conversation · Language · Respect · Vocabulary
Three Pages, a Thousand Words Plus Figures
August 18th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Any topic and just about any situation. Please provide three pages that contain a thousand words and several figures. Right or wrong, we reach a point in life and history that we need information on this or that. What format? Try the title of this post. On three pieces of standard-size paper […]
Tags: Communication · Expectations · Ideas · Information · Language · Writing
The Right Word and the Wrong Word
August 4th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips It is important to use the right or correct word and avoid using the wrong word. This is an old fundamental in writing and speaking. Why am I writing about this? Because I continue to encounter professionals who make this error often. What is the right word and the wrong word? Consider […]
Tags: Choose · Communication · Fatigue · Vocabulary · Word · Writing
Rigidly Flexible
July 28th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips As a writer and just about anyone else, we must be flexible in a rigid manner. The same is true for almost every adjective and its antonym. A writer must be flexible. Except when the writer must be rigid. Except when exceptions arise. The same goes for just about any adjective and […]
Tags: Adapting · Agility · Alternatives · Choose · Communication · Language
Inconvenient Facts
July 18th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips These inconvenient facts seem to be everywhere. They are inconvenient, however, only when we have a story to tell that denies reality. There are some old sayings like, “opinions being mugged by facts,” and “don’t confuse my opinion with facts,” and “there is nothing like facts getting in the way of my […]
Tags: Analysis · Appearances · Communication · Data Science · Knowledge · Observation
How’sit Goin’?
July 14th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips This is one of the fundamental questions that persons working projects need to answer. We know what we are attempting, but we don’t know the actual progress and how that compares to the expected progress. There are several fundamental questions that should be asked and answered by people working on projects. Among […]
Tags: Communication · Management · Questions · Work
Computing and the TPS Report
July 11th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Though we hate to admit it, the goal of us who work in computing is to produce a TPS report. The “TPS Report” is the butt of all office jokes. It is meaningless paperwork that serves no purpose. For a full explanation, see the Wikipedia page on it. Those of us who […]
Tags: Cloud Computing · Communication · Computing · Jobs · Work
Modern
June 16th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I see a trend in people using the word “modern” to describe technology. I find that unfortunate. Just this morning, I read: modern data stack modern programming practice modern machine learning modern artificial intelligence modern compilers And then I quit. I guess I am one of “those people” who expect others to […]
Tags: Alternatives · Communication · Technology · Writing
Time to React
June 6th, 2022 · No Comments
By Dwayne Phillips Time is a marvelous tool. Allow time between an action or event and the reaction or the feedback for the event. I have spoken at large gatherings many times in my career (500 or 600 persons attending, most of them staying awake). I enjoy it. When I am finished speaking, I am […]
Tags: Communication · Event · Listening · Reaction · Talk · Time
Yes-No Questions
May 26th, 2022 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips The basic yes-no question is quite easy to answer. It is either “yes” or “no.” Recognizing the question is a bit more difficult, but not impossible. There is a type of question for which the answer is either “yes” or “no.” It is quite easy to answer as there are only two […]
Tags: Analysis · Communication · Conversation · Questions · Trust