What good is a Rubber Duck?
From the The Professional Project Manager Blog
by Sean Whitaker
This series of articles examines, and offers insights and opinions, on all aspects of the profession of project management. I welcome your comments, feedback, support or dissent. I am passionate about the profession of project management and if, through our discussion, we can add value to the profession and practitioners then I am happy.
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Have you heard of Rubber Ducking?
I just heard of this incredibly simple concept for problem solving.
Its been around for a while so I don't know why I haven't heard of it before. Its called rubber ducking and it is a process to identify errors and work out solutions. It is called rubber ducking after the first software engineer who used it to develop software and get rid of bugs.
Apparently he would have literal rubber duck toy with him and when he found problems in the code he was developing he would explain the problem to the duck and in this process of explaining the issue to an inanimate object he would usually find a solution. It's actually a really good idea and one that I was using without knowing it was called rubber ducking (nor talking to an actual rubber duck).
Even though this started in getting solutions to software code, it is a great way to get solutions to any problem. It is also a great way to check if you actually understand something yourself because if you cant explain it to a rubber duck then you probably don't know it that well.
So, next time you have a problem that needs to be solved try explaining it to a rubber duck, your dog, your reflection etc and see if you can generate some solutions.
Posted on: November 23, 2019 10:24 PM |
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Comments (7)
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Luis Branco
CEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, Ldª
Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Sean
Interesting your perspective
Thanks for sharing
Do you consider that all problems can be solved according to this approach?
Abel Camelo
Project Manager | Business Consultant| Angular Consulting
Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Thank you for your sharing.
I worked in a project where several team members had their own ducks and used that approach.
;-)
LORI WILSON
RETIRED - Technical Project Manager| RETIRED - LifePoint Health
Clarkston, Wa, United States
I haven't heard of this method before, but I know for me that often if I talk something through I achieve some clarity and often come to a solution - so it makes sense. Thanks for sharing!
Alfred Horton
CEO & President| AOC Connect, LLC
Lovettsville, Va, United States
I like this approach. I often have an internal conversation when problem-solving, and I am wondering how this externalizing may help. Thank you.
Dear Sean,
I suppose if people saw you talking to yourself they might think your mad :-)
Daire
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