Technology or process improvement?
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
low votes
When I clicked the link, it was 3.6 with 3 votes. I don't consider that low. More important: who cares? I agree with what you said in that reply. I would use an online service to get directions, but I would also have my map book in the car if I'm going somewhere I've not been before. As for your question in this thread, I would try to avoid adding technology if the problem can be solved without it. Why add a computer when an old-fashioned cash register would do? Why use a cash register when a cigar box would do? I prefer the simple and reliable whenever possible. So maybe I'm stuck in the 1960s. But I like it there. BDF
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Marc Clifton wrote:
low votes
When I clicked the link, it was 3.6 with 3 votes. I don't consider that low. More important: who cares? I agree with what you said in that reply. I would use an online service to get directions, but I would also have my map book in the car if I'm going somewhere I've not been before. As for your question in this thread, I would try to avoid adding technology if the problem can be solved without it. Why add a computer when an old-fashioned cash register would do? Why use a cash register when a cigar box would do? I prefer the simple and reliable whenever possible. So maybe I'm stuck in the 1960s. But I like it there. BDF
Big Daddy Farang wrote:
When I clicked the link, it was 3.6 with 3 votes. I don't consider that low. More important: who cares?
I don't. It just spawned a question that I thought is interesting.
Big Daddy Farang wrote:
I would try to avoid adding technology if the problem can be solved without it.
Me too. Marc
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective?
I didn't vote either way. You are right, of course, and maybe wrong at the same time. The answer is, as it should be, "it depends." I do have a GPS, maybe my justification was valid, maybe not. At the time I was travelling often for work, new locations, tight deadlines. One too many accidents on the road pushing me off my planned route and struggling with a full sized city map in LA traffic? I don't thinks so. I got the GPS to handle auto-routing in unfamiliar territory. If it were just a one-time use, write it off as a laughing experience. But visiting new cities regularly, with maps, and more maps, and more maps, and more maps, etc. ad absurdem isn't really a solution either. The question should always be answered on a case-by-case basis. If I had more time to pull over search through maps to plan a new route back to where I need to be, no problem. But that isn't always the case. Add to the situation I love to just see what I can see. My vacations are usually one destination with a lot of filler time to see other things nearby. One such vacation, changed the plan mid trip so that I could wander out through the nations and visit some archeological ruins and other such boring-to-some out of the middle of nowhere locations. I even waved at the guards outside the Nevada test site after making some car repairs on that trip. Since I used to travel alone, a GPS is an extra safety tool. An added benefit, is since I am in the 3D business, I use it for source data for the worlds I create. I used my own auto-track to add simulated vehicles to highways. With a Z-offset above the ground and a crazy person behind the wheel :-D I even have some helicopter simulations based on my auto tracks. And hiking alone, I'd be crazy to go without one.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Balance in all things. Having said that, I'll refer again to "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" and goal-based reasoning; If you really want the new gadget, then simply formulate an argument to support that decision. But, I would try solutions that don't require new gadgets first.
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Hello Marc, Personally, for quite a while I have been enjoying improving processes by re-engineering and find new things in old gadgets we had for a while. Don't you notice that most of us "computer guys" seem to get carried away with science and forget about Engineering? Engineering is the process of taking innovations and invention made by science to better optimization and performance level. You can notice that from the feeling that overwhelms us when we get to learn new technology. However, we don't put the same effort into improving and optimizing the new found knowledge. Actually, those of us who do put extra effort into improving things are the ones who formulate existing technologies to look like new ones (e.g Ajax, Soap). They end up to be leaders and we keep thanking them. Kind regards Raz
Ghazi Hadi Al Wadi, PMP, ASQ SSGB, DBA
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies?
... but I would prefer the improving the process to bringing in shiny newfangled technology.
Cheers, विक्रम
And sleep will come, it comes to us all And some will fade and some will fall
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies?
Neither. Redefine the problem as the desirable state of things, and move on with your life. :rolleyes: Seriously though: both. There are exceptions, of course, but usually new tech requires a change in process in order to be effective. And while naturally you should adjust and refine your processes, at some point you're fairly hard up against the limits of your environment and the only way to improve things further is to change something - often, that's upgrading your tools. I am, right now, extremely unhappy with the "process" i use to get my work done. A big part of this is that i've become far too lazy and burned out; however, working to correct this uncovers the deeper problem of fatigue caused by the sub-par tools i use: in this case, improving the process demands improving the tools.
every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies?
The first step is confirm there is a problem. :-D
Marc Clifton wrote:
So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^]
You call 3.3 low votes? Yes, you do have a problem. :-D
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
Process first. I work at a university, and I am amazed at how quickly folks are inclined to throw technology (sometimes very expensive technology) at a problem, when problems tend to be much more process-related. Data management issues are notorious for this - dept A has an operational need and changes a code in their data... analysts that would use dept A's data to provide information for executives are not using the new code (or may not know it exists)... executives get bad information, make bad decisions... hire a consultant who tells them that if they spend just $100,000 on *their* plug-in system, these problems go away... All these problems are avoided when dept A communicates well their operational need for a coding change to those who rely on the data for business information. At $0.00 cost. No new technology. There certainly are occasions where new technology may be an appropriate part of the solution. But in *all* cases a better understanding of business processes is always helpful.
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So, given the couple of low votes I got here[^], I'm curious, do you think that, given a problem, the solution is adding some technology to the process or trying to change a process without any new technologies? Yeah, I realize this is too broad of a question, but I'm looking for your philosophy. If I come to you with a problem, do you first go for some technology to help solve the problem or do you ask me about my process and look at ways to solve the problem from that perspective? Marc
I know this sounds like a non-answer, but I would use a process such as a fishbone diagram to find the best solution. That solution might involve changing your process, changing the technology, or some other solution such as additional training.