3 ms·

Why don't people just explain it with actual computers instead of pizza? MBAs are not that dumb.

• visakanv 9y ago
  > Why don't people just explain it with actual computers instead of pizza? People use mental models and heuristics and metaphors to make sense of all sorts of things. Very smart people do this, too. Simplified maps can have their uses, even when you might personally be comfortable with a more complicated one.
  • TrickyRick 9y ago
    In this case however it just makes it more complicated, especially when the matter at hand can be as easily described as here. Basically it's a layer model, Software (SaaS) is built on Platforms (PaaS) which is build on Infrastructure (IaaS).
  • fragmede 9y ago
    The quote "if you can't explain it simply you do not understand it" has been mis-attributed to Einstein or Feynman in various iterations; whomever said it, the point stands. Analogies help people understand the layers of things, especially for something as abstract at software. Software devs often struggle to explain the difference between containers, PVM, and HVM. It has nothing to do with a person's intelligence, MBA, or sales, otherwise. Pizza is both tasty and fun - relating complex "serious" dry and boring work stuff to something else is a time-honored teaching technique.
• tatoalo 9y ago
  I've been an IBM intern for the last 4 months and I can say that even there they've used the pizza example. I honestly didn't get it until an actual IT architect explained it to me with real-life IT example. (I'm a SW programmer, not MBA btw).
• jondubois 9y ago
  For them to understand, you'd have to reduce the problem down to square pegs and round holes.