Let me continue with our example from my last article. We’re still interested to find out, how our department is connected to the Application systems.
To try out the pathfinder approach, I make a small experiment: I use the easy filter and focus on the method (neglecting the content of a database). First I check, whether there is a direct relation available and yes it is, with two different relation types in between!
In a second step, I try the pathfinder algorithm. I define that one “step” can be in between. Neglecting the relation types in between, there are 25 different possibilities. For example the Organizational Unit (Department) could contain groups which are connected to Application System types.
If I chose to consider different relation types in between, this enlarges the list to 31 possibilities:
They’re all correct and used in various topics but for me as a not experienced viewer it might be too much information. If someone is interested in a certain context, he will find a number of theses paths as not relevant.
In the next attempt, 2 steps in between can be considered. This brings us to 440 possibilities without and 964 possibilities with relation types in between! In a last step I consider three steps in between. This brings me to the result of 6889 possibilities without and 21751 possibilities with relation types in between.
21751 alternative routes to the application system type and this by using the easy filter!
This brings me to the question what could reduce this amount of options? With the easy filter, I tried a first kind of reducing the alternatives. Maybe using the real content of the database as additional option will help again?
In my next article, I will try to exclude non relevant steps by using some more filtering mechanism.
Let me know your opinion: How many steps are realistic in between when you search for related information? Do you also have ideas for a filtering mechanism? How intensive is your usage of filters and are your filters huge or more specific related to topics you address in your company?