The document discusses the use of patterns to capture recurring problems and solutions. It describes behavioral and design patterns that have been used in various fields including architecture, programming, business processes, and human-computer interaction. Key parts of a pattern are identified as the name, problem, context, solution, examples, and related patterns. Specific socio-technical patterns are presented, such as "Special Roles for Special Purposes" and "Small Successes Early". The use of a pattern language to systematically organize interrelated patterns is discussed as a tool for problem identification, design, knowledge sharing, and cumulative learning across contexts.

1. Supporting Social Roles and
Diversity: A Pattern Approach
THOMAS John, IBM Research
2012, February 11

2. Potential Forms of Knowledge
Known, Predictable, Unchanging, Simple
Unknown, Unpredictable, Changing, Complex
Algorithms, Formulae, Programs, Machines
Patterns
Heuristics, Principles, Properties
Case Studies
Stories
Ethical values and fluid intelligence

3. Patterns
 Behavioral Patterns vs. Design Patterns
 Application Areas:
– Physical Architecture and Urban Planning (Alexander)
– OO Programming (Gang of Four and PLoP EuroPLoP)
– Business Process Patterns
– Pedagogical Patterns
– Human Computer Interaction & Socio-technical Patterns
• CHI ’97 Workshop
• Interact ’99 Workshop
• CHI 2000 Workshop
• CHI 2001Panel
• DIAC 2002 & subsequent on-line work on Pattern Language
• Liberating Voices and Public Sphere Project
• CHI 2002 Workshop
• CSCW 2002 Workshop
• CHI 2003 Workshop  DTD for XML
• ECSCW 2003 Workshop
• Etc.

4. Parts of a Pattern
– << Pattern Name >>
• Author, reviewer and revision dates:
• Synonyms
• Abstract (including evocative picture)
• Problem
• Context
• Forces (or Analysis)
• Solution (including schematic)
• Examples
• Resulting Context
• Rationale
• Related Patterns
• Known Uses
• References

5. A Pattern Language
 Christopher Alexander
 Architectural “Patterns” that capture
recurring problems and solutions
 Organized into a “Pattern Language” – a
lattice of inter-related Patterns.
 Examples:
– Eccentric Town Center encourages commuter
traffic to stop at Town Center
– European Pub
– Gradient of Privacy in homes: porch, entry,
living room, dinning room, kitchen, bedroom

6. Some Socio-Technical Patterns
 Community of Communities
 Reality Check
 Radical Co-location
 Special Roles for Special Purposes
 Small Successes Early
 Who Speaks for Wolf?
 Support Conversation at Boundaries
 Social Proxy
 Context-setting Entry
 Answer Garden
 Registered Anonymity
 Anonymized Stories for Organizational Learning
 Mentoring Circle
 Levels of Authority
 Rites of Passage

7. Special Roles for Special Purposes

8. Examples of Special Roles
 Moderator, Evaluator/Rater, Judge,
Facilitator
 Stake Warrior, Future Generations, Current
Reality, Underlying Assumptions
 Edward deBono’s colored hats
 Von Oech’s Explorer, Artist, Judge,
Warrior
 MC, “Father of the Bride”, Associate
Chair, Reviewer, Coach, Tutor, Personal
Trainer, Sales Manager….

9. Small Successes Early

10. Who Speaks for Wolf?
Visual by www.PDIimages.com

11. Support Conversation at the
Borders

12. Potential Uses of a Pattern
Language Approach
 Problem identification and formulation
 Lingua franca among stakeholders
 Problem solving (tool of thought)
 Design, maintenance (understanding
implications of change) and documentation
 Capture, find, and share reusable
intellectual assets
 Cumulate knowledge for use across
contexts

13. For more information:
 http://www.pliant.org/personal/Tom_Erickson/InteractionPatterns.html
 www.truthtable.com/patterns.html/
 www.research.ibm.com/knowsoc/
 www.truthtable.com/websitewelcome_page_index.html
 http://www.hcipatterns.org/
 http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/ http://
www.ibm.com/developerWorks/patterns/