Moderation instead of Modelling: Some Arguments against Formal Engineering Methods

The more formal the used engineering techniques are, the less non-technical facts can be captured. Several business process reengineering and software development projects fail, because the project management concentrates to much on formal methods and modelling approaches. A successful change of work and organisational processes and structures needs primarily the agreement among all involved groups. To come up with a shared understanding, the quality and the quantity of communication are critical success factors. The moderation--instead of modelling--of human activities is of crucial importance. To change an organisation means to persuade people to behave in a different way than before. A model per se does not change anything, only an agreement among all affected parties is the basis of a real change. Participatory design and the adequate moderation of all necessary learning processes are the crucial success factors.