About Us

Mary Lynn Manns, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Management and Accountancy at the University of North Carolina, Asheville. Her doctoral work focused on the introduction of patterns into organizations. She is well know for her many presentations on this topic.

Mary Lynn teaches courses in management information systems, change leadership and management science. Prior to joining the Department of Management and Accountancy, she was in the Computer Science Dept. at UNCA for 18 years. She has taught courses in various programming languages, research methods, analysis and design methodologies, microcomputer applications, management issues, and object-oriented technology.

Currently, Mary Lynn is the project manager for the UNC Asheville Quality Enhancement Plan.

Contact Mary Lynn at marylynnmanns@gmail.com

Linda Rising, Ph.D. is well known throughout the patterns community as the editor of Design Patterns in Communications Software (Cambridge University Press, 2001), The Pattern Almanac 2000 (Addison-Wesley, 2000) and The Patterns Handbook (Cambridge University Press, 1997). Now an independent consultant, she helps lead the introduction of patterns into AG Communication Systems in Phoenix, Arizona.

Linda has authored four books and numerous articles and is an internationally known presenter on topics related to patterns, retrospectives, influence strategies, agile development, and the change process.

With a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in the field of object-based design metrics, Linda's background includes work in the weapons industries, extensive training and university teaching experience, and software development in a number of different domains.

Contact Linda about presenting, training, or facilitating for your organization at Linda@lindarising.org

Best Book of the Year for 2004 in the Journal of Object Technology
Manns and Rising describe fundamental methods that can be used to introduce change into an organization without sending it into a collective funk Since this is the first step in the solution of most problems, I give this book the nod as the best book of the year.

The spark for a new idea in an organization most often begins with one or more individuals who has heard about or used the innovation and is intrigued over the potential. It then becomes their task to enlighten the rest of the organization. This can be an easier undertaking if one has an understanding of the problems that may be encountered along the way and what can be done to address these problems. This book captures recurring problems and the corresponding successful solutions for introducing new ideas into organizations -- we document these in a form of knowledge management know as patterns.

The Fearless Change book is
available from:

Amazon.com

The book includes a complete version of the patterns, a framework for using them, and experience reports that describe how the patterns can help you introduce new ideas into your organization!