That Dog-Gone Computer Ate My Data!

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That dog-gone computer ate my datat“Safe and Reliable” are two words frequently used when articulating the features and benefits of computer back-up systems. But just how safe is “Safe” and just how reliable is “Reliable”?

After installing a reasonably expensive automated back-up and recovery system on our network, we followed the installation instruction guide and did a complete back-up followed by a complete system restore.

The successful completion provided a sense of confidence that, should disaster strike, we were only minutes away from initiating a restore of the data and being back in business.

For years we were under the delusion that our automated back-up and recovery system was functioning correctly. After all, there were no device errors reported through the sys-admin tools. That, coupled with our continuous cycling and replacing of the backup tapes, strengthened our belief that our “Safe and Reliable” system would be there at a moment’s notice. NOT SO!

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Finding the Right Tree Ring in a Forest of Information

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Tree DoctorDennis recently blogged about how RFI’s are similar to blood cells, in part because of how important the proper, healthy circulation of information is to the life of every project.

Yet he and I also have threads going about the problems caused by disorganized data.  It occurred to me that these two topics intersect. Yes, it is incredibly important that RFIs circulate freely and correctly.  But it is just as important that you have clear, precise information about when that RFI circulated and to whom.

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“You guys are so darn cool!”

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new enhancements make clients happyThe quote above came from a client recently. Why was he so happy? Because he had sent an enhancement request to Support and Support was able to tell him “we’ve already added that in our latest version.”

While we get many ideas from clients on how to improve our software (and I know that Development considers each suggestion), sometimes we come up with ideas ourselves in anticipation of our client’s needs.  And by “we” I do mean everyone at Spitfire Management.  As we teach the Spitfire Project Management System, as we answer questions about it and demo it and document it and implement it, we all think of ways that the system could work better. And we, ourselves, pass those ideas along to Development.

Sometimes those suggestions are not even major enhancements, but rather little tweaks that make it easier and faster for our clients to get work done. Because, really, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

What functionality do you look for in a project management system?  What user-interface features make work easier for you?  What makes you think, “Now, that would be cool!”? You never know; it may already be on our drawing board.

Email: Still the Right Tool for the Job?

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A few days back, Dennis discussed the need for Just One Version of the Truth – the need for sanity in knowing where the facts that matter are stored, reliably, always, definitively.Tombstone_squared_blank

Along that same vein, here’s another culprit: email.  Information stored in an email system is a disaster waiting to happen, a virtual sword of Damocles: how often does something slip and you later find the email that was supposed to alert you to the hazardous material recall–with the “obvious” subject sorry I missed you at lunch?   How long have you spent searching through emails knowing one of the replies to a reply by somebody had the piece of information you need? Continue reading →

RFIs – “A tier 1 control item”

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Why is an RFI like a blood cell? Chances are you never heard that question before.

They parallel each other in many ways:

  1. The count of each is proportional to the size of the Project/Patient
  2. Each requires circulation to be effective
  3. Each has the ability to deliver and receive: RFIs deal with information whereas blood cells handle oxygen and carbon dioxide
  4. Each can instigate other actions: RFIs spawn RFQs and Change Orders whereas blood cells spawn defensive actions to attack pathogens (and where would we be if blood didn’t clot!)
  5. Each requires supporting systems to operate effectively: RFIs require management, control, storage and distribution whereas blood cells require the circulatory system, lungs and other organs
  6. When they are out of control, the Project/Patient is at high risk
  7. Each acts as a lifeline for the Project/Patient
  8. Without each, the Project/Patient is dead

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