Paradigm Shifting (2013)
(Diminishing Barriers, Software Architectures)
Diego E. Malpica Chauvet et al.
okc.mx, diego-malpica@openknowledge.mx

In this paper we propose a method for building "Paradigm Shifting Maps" that would help to identify the paradigms that define a Solution Architecture.

2 Definitions

Lets define some concepts that may help us to identify our current paradigms and to shift between them according our goals.

2.1 Buzzword

A buzzword is a word or phrase used to impress, or an expression which is fashionable. Buzzwords often originate in jargon. Buzzwords are often neologisms[6].

2.2 Paradigm

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the basic meaning of the term paradigm as "a pattern or model, an exemplar". The historian of science Thomas Kuhn gave it its contemporary meaning when he adopted the word to refer to the set of practices that define a scientific discipline at any particular period of time. In his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Kuhn defines a scientific paradigm as: "universally recognized scientific achievements that, for a time, provide model problems and solutions for a community of researchers[1].

2.3 Paradigm Shifting

A paradigm shift (or revolutionary science) is, according to Thomas Kuhn, in his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), a change in the basic assumptions, or paradigms, within the ruling theory of science.[5]

2.4 Paradigm Shifting Map

Maps has constituted a high value tool along the human history, they resume our knowledge from a defined point of view. We define Paradigm Shifting Map as the one that help us take decisions regarding witch paradigms would be better for a determined context.

3 Hands on Practice

Regardless your knowledge area you can classify your paradigms and build time lines.

With in each class of paradigms we need to find its relevant dates for each paradigm.  Each paradigm is influenced by its predecessor.  It is important to document document goals as a way to know the conditions that prevailed when a paradigm appears.

Here it is a "Paradigm Map" of  2013/04 for Information Technologies.

Figure 1

To distinguish the paradigms that are relevant we use the following color code:

• New and promising, not everything is good just for being new, the main criteria for this selection is to find the paradigms that has explicitly stated and quantified  a benefit, even in informal ways, for reducing costs, complexity or increase efficiency.
• Target these are the ones that are feasible considering our capacities, resources, and restrictions.
• Golden Old and Valid, old is not a synonymous of obsolete. Proven technologies are gold.  However you will always need to review that they are a good for your curremt context since they usually may imply some trade-off's.
• Granted Obsolete this are the ones that may have negative implications in the current context, that may be initially hidden as Golden Old and Valid.

Finally we make a thick circle using the color code with in the date that best represent the kind of paradigms for your current context. This Representative date may be the average date of the paradigms of the same kind. The following map represents the paradigm shifting that we are applying for our project "Concept framework".

Figure 2

4 Results

We have been applying the technique of paradigm shifting in our projects the must representatives ones are:

The "OODVS Framework", that was the base for obtaining a Mexico National Innovation award for Information technologies.

"Concept Framework" and "Open Knowledge Consulting Dynamic Knowledge Repository" our current leading efforts for building high value solutions.

4.1 Specific Results for the "Concept Framework" project