Mental Model Task Force

Owned by Rieks Joosten
Last updated: Mar 11, 2023 by Drummond Reed
3 min read

Status

This is a proposed task force (TF) of the ToIP Concepts and Terminology Working Group (CTWG). It has not yet an active TF. We currently anticipate it becoming active in Q2 2023. At that point, an announcement will be made to the ToIP All-Member mailing list, and this status note will be updated.

Introduction

TOIP is a community in which people from all sorts of backgrounds (want to) participate. Their culture may not be Western. English may not be their native tongue. They may be experts in technical as well as non-technological topics that are relevant for TOIP. A gathering of people with so many differences, even if they are motivated to work together, is the raw ground on which misunderstandings thrive.

The mission of the CTWG Mental Model Task Force (MMTF) is to help (participants of) WGs/TFs to design and document mental models, i.e., (small) sets of concepts (ideas), relations between them, and constraints, such that together they form a coherent and consistent whole that helps the WG/TF e.g., for architecting, designing, and implementing both IT components and their governance processes.

This is no easy task. First, the design (and documenting) of mental models is currently a craft, of which some good examples exist. Second, using a mental model typically requires its user(s) to shift their reference perspective, similar to a person that gets a new pair of glasses: it takes time (and some perseverance) to get used to it to the point that the person is no longer aware that she uses them (similar to the four stages of competence). Nevertheless, mental models (or the terminology used therein) has already been used in WGs/TFs in the context of YOMA, and governance.

Scope

In scope for the MMTF is the following:

  • develop and maintain guidance (and associated documentation) for
    • creating awareness amongst WGs/TFs about mental models and the benefits of knowing and using them,
    • using mental models in the praxis of the WGs/TFs, adapting them when necessary
    • developing new mental models, and documenting them such that they can be used (also by others)
  • contribute to the further development of the CTWG terminology tools, so that it can support the guidance
  • maintain the CTWG mental models.

Meetings

Schedule:

Meetings are (tbd). We should put this in the ToIP Calendar for full meeting details including Zoom links.

See our Meeting Pages for agendas, notes, and links to recordings of all meetings.

Deliverables

The table below lists all CTWG deliverables that have been approved to move beyond Pre-Draft status.

Name of DeliverableDeliverable TypeLink to
Draft Deliverable		Task ForceStatus


TBD

MMTF



TBD

MMTF



Chairs / Leads

How to Join

You can join this WG by signing up for the Foundation mailing list at lists.trustoverip.org. Our mailing list is concepts-terminology-wg@lists.trustoverip.org.

Members as well as observers are welcome (see the caveat below).

Participation

For the protection of all Members, participation in working groups, meetings and events is limited to members of the Trust over IP Foundation (including their employees) who have signed the membership documents and thus agreed to the intellectual property rules governing participation. If you or your employer are not a member, we ask that you not participate in meetings by verbal contribution or otherwise take any action beyond observing.

Intellectual Property Rights (Copyright, Patent, Source Code)

The WG inherits the IPR terms from the JDF Charter. These include: