MANAGEMENT VISIONS

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-ISEM Phase 2 - Oct 13, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:43:03 GMT

This week my tutorial is a review of "PRIDE"-ISEM, Phase 2, System Design; includes discussion on Chronological Decomposition (design technique). This is Part XI of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "Feel Good Types" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-ISEM Phase 1 - Oct 6, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:24:48 GMT

This week my tutorial is a review of "PRIDE"-ISEM, Phase 1, System Study & Evaluation (Feasibility Study); includes discussion on specifying Information Requirements. This is Part X of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "The Attributes of a Tough Task Master" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-ISEM Navigation - Sep 29, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:21 GMT

This week my tutorial is an introduction to the construction and navigation of the "PRIDE"-INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (ISEM), Part IX of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "Going it Alone?" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-ISEM Concepts - Sep 22, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:37:03 GMT

This week my tutorial is an introduction to the concepts and principles of the "PRIDE"-INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (ISEM), Part VIII of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "Death of the Business Letter" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-EEM Phase 5 - Sep 15, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:54:03 GMT

This week my tutorial is on PHASE 5 of the "PRIDE"-ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (EEM) - EEM EVALUATION, Part VII of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "360 Degrees" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

GETTING BURNED

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:37:59 GMT

I had a situation where I was working with a young Systems Analyst who was ambitious but a bit naive as to the field of information systems. Nonetheless he wanted to boldly tackle a major systems project for his company and asked me for advice. I encouraged him to first study the parts of the business the system would serve, specify the end-user information requirements, and produce an overall system blueprint. "No, no, no, I've already got it worked out in my head," he told me and started programming. Although he was very proficient in how to write program code, his software didn't adequately serve the needs of his users and his project failed miserably.

Regardless of how you try to coach someone, I find it disheartening that a lot of people have to burn their fingers before they learn something. Maybe this has something to do with the cockiness of youth whereby there is a great temptation to leap before you look. It seems impetuousness has a lot to do with this, particularly for those who yearn to make a name for themselves. It's one thing to have an academic knowledge of a subject, quite another to have practical experience.

When you try to use logic to persuade people, they argue about it. 2 + 2 is no longer 4, but 5 instead, or it's no longer black and white but some shade of gray. When you use examples and case histories to illustrate your point, they believe it is an obsolete analogy to the subject at hand. Frankly, the people who tend to get burned are those who know just enough about a subject to be dangerous, and they will argue you to the ground simply because they are combative and want to wear you out. This leads me to believe there is a fine line between intelligence and stupidity.

I guess what I finally learned is that there are certain people out there who need to get burned and learn the hard way. Consequently, I find I no longer argue as vehemently as before and let people make their own mistakes as long as it doesn't affect me personally. I'll still be willing to offer my advice, but I'm just not going to try to shove it down anyone's throat.

In closing, I am reminded of the story of two bulls, one old and one young, who were standing on a hill overlooking a herd of cattle. Being a bit impetuous, the young bull said to the elder, "How about we charge down the hill, snort loudly, and make love to a couple of cows?" The old bull replied, "I have a better idea; let's quietly sneak down the back of this hill, slip around from behind, and get the whole herd."

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a listing of Tim's Pet Peeves, click HERE.

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-EEM Phase 4 - Sep 8, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:39:04 GMT

This week my tutorial is on PHASE 4 of the "PRIDE"-ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (EEM) - ENTERPRISE INFO STRATEGY, Part VI of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "The SFB Quotient" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-EEM Phase 3 - Sep 1, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:50:41 GMT

This week my tutorial is on PHASE 3 of the "PRIDE"-ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (EEM) - PHYSICAL ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS, Part V of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "Making your problems mine" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-EEM Phase 2 - Aug 25, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:14:57 GMT

This week my tutorial is on PHASE 2 of the "PRIDE"-ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (EEM) - LOGICAL ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS, Part IV of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "How much do we really use our head?" and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."

MGMT VISIONS - PRIDE-EEM Phase 1 - Aug 18, 2008

timb001@phmainstreet.com — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:04:38 GMT

This week my tutorial is on PHASE 1 of the "PRIDE"-ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (EEM) - EEM PROJECT PLANNING, Part III of our series on the "PRIDE" METHODOLOGIES FOR IRM (special broadcast). My "Pet Peeve of the Week" is "Thinking Small," and we also have our "Letters to the Editor."