Methodology and Methods

[Protagoras]

Am I a lone pedant when it comes to the use of the word methodology?
I keep seeing methodology used where the word method would be more appropriate.

The definitions I learned many, many years ago were simply ...

Methods - strategies, tools, techniques
Methodology - analysis of methods e.g. to justify the selection of a particular method

[suityou01]

Nope. This is a pet peeve of mine.

Others include:

Using inferred when they mean implied.
Saying "Could care less" when they mean "Couldn't care less".
Pedofile when they mean pedorast.

I could go on ...

[cojak]

I ground my teeth on that back in 2010. I had to just let it go for the sake of my dentist.

[xoggoth]

Not a problem anymore. I need to Google to find out what any word means.

[jamesbrown]

A methodology is simply a collection or sequence of methods applied to a problem. The thing with pedantry is that you’re placing a “kick me” on your back

[suityou01]

A methodology is simply a collection or sequence of methods applied to a problem. The thing with pedantry is that you’re placing a “kick me” on your back

This is why I prefer the term "Standards bearer"

[malvolio]

A methodology such as Prince or COBIT implies a standard against which it can be measured to ensure you are (or aren't) conforming to its rules.

For example, ITIL is not a methodology but a Best Practice. You can't comply with ITIL (as in "ITIL Compliant") since there is no such standard*, but you can conform to it. Look at any of my many tender responses for ITIL implementations and it's always described as ITIL Conformant.



* Yes there is an ISO standard for Service Management, ISO 27001 and it successors, but that essentially describes a single implementation which will never meet the needs of any given single client environment.

[Protagoras]

A methodology such as Prince or COBIT implies a standard against which it can be measured to ensure you are (or aren't) conforming to its rules.

Interesting! I think that PRINCE is a method, not a methodology.

[jamesbrown]

A methodology such as Prince or COBIT implies a standard against which it can be measured

I don't think a methodology implies that, in general. Comparison to a benchmark may or may not be part of a methodology. A methodology could involve no comparison at all. You can have a methodology for getting to Mars, for example.

[malvolio]

I don't think a methodology implies that, in general. Comparison to a benchmark may or may not be part of a methodology. A methodology could involve no comparison at all. You can have a methodology for getting to Mars, for example.

Yes, but it would have pass/fail criteria. Performing perfectly but ending up on Venus for example...