APPLY
What to Apply?
To apply is to put into action or to put into service. Define what it is you want to apply – is it a definition to a word, a heuristic to a search, an algorithm to a solution, or what? Before proceeding, be prepared: "People should never embark on a project until their capability is assured as a result of developing or having access to all the skills required by the challenge" (Kline & Saunders, 1993).
Why to Apply?
Clarify why this application is appropriate – the achievement you are aiming for. There are four levels: (1) intention – is doing something better than doing nothing? (2) purpose – specify the desired result(s); (3) goal(s) – the outcome that will instantiate the desired result(s)? (4) objective(s) – the activities or tasks that will produce the goal. Throughout, align the four levels of why to be complementary rather than contradictory.
When to Apply?
Indicate when the application will be in effect – the start date and/or time, the duration of the application (periodic or continuous), and the pause or termination of the application (limited, indeterminate, unlimited). Medicine that is not taken for the length of time prescribed, may not be effective; programs that run beyond their useful life of application take up unnecessary storage space, and may interfere with other upgraded functions.
Where to Apply?
Recognize where the application will operate – which means the context, situation, and circumstances. The context can be historical (previous events, trends, etc.), sociological (will there be “winners” and “losers”?), psychological (distress or gratification), etc. The situation to be affected may be widely encompassing or narrowly focused, simply structured or complexly organized. Circumstances as people will experience them may be close at hand, within intermediate range, or quite distal.
How to Apply?
Specify how to implement the application – which primarily means knowing what to do and what NOT to do. Changes can have profound implications for other policies; unexpected and undesirable consequences; and the extent of their efficacy will always be limited by the resources committed, the duration of the application, the interaction of other factors, and the resistance of those effected. How must deal with all these issues.
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