Methods > Southbeach
Southbeach synthesizes principles from a myriad of analytical strategies and brainstorming approaches.
Rather than automating each methodology, Southbeach Modeller offers a cohesive notation and a unified creativity engine. It's a singular tool designed for multiple methodologies.
For instance, what's labeled as a 'harmful' function opposing a 'useful' function in Southbeach might be termed a 'blocker' in one approach and a 'problem' in another.
Most methodologies dissect 'problems' into segments, but their approaches can vary widely. In Southbeach, this breakdown is termed a 'separation', visualized in the software through tabs or canvas grids.
Distinct from basic drawing tools, elements within a Southbeach model derive attributes from the tab or grid cell they occupy. These inherent attributes, coupled with user-added tags, can be referenced in creativity rules. This facilitates model expansion, situational analysis, and the sparking of innovative ideas.
Do I need Southbeach?
If your aim is to find a specialized software dedicated to perfectly mimicking a single method, Southbeach may not be the right fit for you. However, if you're in search of a universal tool designed to handle a variety of standard methods, Southbeach is the ideal solution.
Utilizing a single tool that meets approximately 80% of your requirements provides significant benefits. It enables you to create templates, reusable models, creativity rules, reports, and tag libraries that are applicable across the entire spectrum of your work.
Process?
Process engineers, as an example, employ Southbeach to identify the beneficial and detrimental facets of a process they're revamping. With their teams, they utilize Southbeach to brainstorm ideas and strategize for process enhancement. Subsequently, they might turn to a specialized process modeling tool to articulate the specifics of the new design. However, only Southbeach can holistically capture the merits and pitfalls of the current design or a suggested modification, taking into account the viewpoints of all stakeholders and all requirements, thereby addressing the inherent contradictions.
Simulation?
In a similar vein, a systems dynamics expert might utilize Southbeach as a precursor to modeling stocks and flows, helping determine the prerequisites for a requisite simulation model. Southbeach could be more accessible and relatable to non-technical team members, as opposed to diving directly into the intricate mathematics of stock-and-flow models.
Enterprise Architecture?
Enterprise architects, we've observed, seamlessly transition between Southbeach and specialized EA tools for analogous reasons.
While Southbeach boasts advanced features like its comprehensive notation, tagging system, user-expandable rules, and reporting capabilities, it's not intended to replace a full-fledged EA tool that supports frameworks like TOGAF, UML, or SysML. Yet, several architects find it advantageous to integrate parts of their workflow into Southbeach. They employ it to delineate the advantageous and disadvantageous elements of current or prospective architectures, facilitate team interactions, and conduct stakeholder interviews.
The models they formulate, along with the insights derived, remain integral throughout a transformation initiative, ensuring consistent alignment among all participants.
