June 22, 2009

Out of Context

Author: cadrivera

What is context? How can someone or something be out of context? Checking www.answers.com, context is defined as, noun:
1. The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.
2. The circumstances in which an event occurs; a setting.

In the world of yahoo, google and bing (insert smiley here) there is a wealth of information that abounds. To interpret this mass of information one needs a proper guide, a standard baseline, or taken in the appropriate context.

But in any interpretation of the presented information, there will always be a question of human objectivity. This is very true when making comparisons. There will rarely, or very rarely be a apples to apples, and oranges to oranges types of comparisons. This only happens in fruit stores, and if your lucky!

Enter a discussion into Total Cost of Ownership or TCO, and each vendor would have the figures significantly tilted to their advantage. Different criteria and categories are inserted and deleted depending upon what needs to be the result. And this is legal, because for a certain logical perpective this is correct. This then leads to a maze where there are infinite entrances and exits.

When deciding on a software or hardware solution to apply, the decision will ultimately be hinged on the information presented by vendors, and independent parties biased to other vendors. To corelate the information is an exercise doomed to failure as the biases are always present to make a stronger, more believable case. And this is legal.

This is where context makes an appearance. When taken into proper context, things may become clearer. Not crystal clear, maybe a little muddy. Some items are removed, while others get greater attention. A good understanding of requirements comes into play because the “context” should be in alignment with the requirements.

There are and always will be situtations where context is the function of a want or need. There will also be cases where context is a current situation. Whatever the context, things will either be in it or out of it.

Ultimately the final decision boils down to information taken in and out of context. Using assigned weights which are subjective in nature and interpreted using information obtained anywhere, all to provide ample justification. Again this is legal.