Summary
If you look across all disciplines, the one person whose achievements got to the heart of a behavior in nature was the 20th century mathematician Emmy Noether. While geniuses in physics received accolades for figuring out conservation laws in physics, she went an extra step, and this was a step most people didn't even know was there. She figured out where conservation laws came from. In this presentation, we are going to look at where Emmy would fit in high tech today. Today, our world is filled with a plethora of templates, one day courses, agile and lean approaches, blogs on how to get "quick wins" and many other forms of content directly or indirectly trying to satisfy our appetite for speed in high tech. This is reflected in a desire to get to key takeaways or insights as quickly as possible. Many times, these "lean" approaches can be incredibly useful, but not always. Sometimes in the rush to answer or iterate, something fundamental is missed. Insights that could have been discovered with just a little more up front thought and formalism of the problem space. Asking one more "why" question. And asking it like the kick*ss 20th century mathematician Emmy Noether.
Key Insights
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Noether's contributions bridged mathematics and physics, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Stepping back to view a problem holistically can lead to breakthroughs in understanding.
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Ecosystem mapping is a valuable tool for visualizing complex systems and relationships.
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Models are essential for problem-solving across disciplines, not limited to UX research.
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Collaboration and co-creation of models promote better understanding and innovation in projects.
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Challenging assumptions through model exposure can reduce bias and enhance the design process.
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The importance of mentorship in supporting youth entrepreneurship highlights the need for diverse perspectives in problem-solving.
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Quick wins should not overshadow the importance of understanding the full context of a system.
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Integrating different disciplines can lead to richer insights and solutions.
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UX research should not be siloed; it should engage with other fields to create comprehensive models.
Notable Quotes
"Nother's breakthrough came from stepping back to look at the broader system."
"Ecosystem mapping helps visualize the invisible connections between elements in a system."
"What system are we trying to understand and to impact, and why?"
"Everything everyone knows is only a model."
"Invite others to challenge your assumptions and to add their own."
"Ecosystem mapping can identify opportunities for improvement and innovation within a system."
"A journey map isn't like a service design blueprint; they are complementary visualizations."
"Challenging our own models allows for growth and reduction of unconscious bias."
"By understanding different perspectives, we can better identify key participants in a project."
"In a high-speed, tech-driven world, we should ask ourselves: what would Noether do?"
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