Although the words may not ring familiar, anyone going through a high school junior level chemistry class should remember the method of conducting science experiments:

• Observe a phenomenon
  
• Formulate an hypothesis
  
• Design an experiment to test the hypothesis
  
• Perform the experiment
  
• Draw conclusions based on the data gathered
  

Through the analogy of motorcycle maintenance, the author illustrates how the scientific method is used effectively in everyday operations. This made me think about applications of the method in everyday life. Of course, I found that in the world of LIMS and software development, there is the opportunity to practice the scientific method - we constantly find ourselves troubleshooting issues during the development and support of our applications. We don’t think about phenomena, hypotheses, and experiments in those terms (at least I don't) regularly, but in reality, the art of a good troubleshooting session lies in following the scientific method. In other words, a troubleshooter, like a good mechanic or a scientist, doesn't draw conclusions prior to formulating a hypothesis, creating an experiment, and conducting the experiment.

I tell anyone that listens that I love working support desks for LIMS projects. My reasons for liking it have always been vague. I'll say something like: "I like solving puzzles (but in real life I hate puzzles) or “I like the fact that each problem is like it's own little project and has a beginning and end.” But I realize now that the real reason is that I like following the scientific method in order to learn. Before joining LIMS implementation teams, I was an analytical chemist. Troubleshooting problems in a support organization brings me closer to my roots of chemistry experiments.

Now, Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance made the point in his book that those that excel at the scientific method do so because they are in touch with the quality aspects of the job. That gets into the "Zen" part of the method. And again, in the book, motorcycle maintenance is the example used. Never mind. Read the book- whether you agree or disagree, it is worth the time spent.

I don’t know if I completely agree with the idea that quality gives birth to the subjective and objective (read the book), but I have come to believe that those that enjoy LIMS troubleshooting (I mean really enjoy it) are those that were trained in the scientific method and use it without thinking about. Conversely, those that do not excel or enjoy LIMS troubleshooting do not know the scientific method. I am going to be exploring this more and more with my associates to see if this theory holds true.