September 1, 2008

"PRIDE"-EEM PHASE 3 - PHYSICAL ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS (SPECIAL)

This is Part V in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of Phase 3 of the "PRIDE"-Enterprise Engineering Methodology (EEM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE

NEXT UP: PHASE 4 - ENTERPRISE INFORMATION STRATEGY

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"All companies have a culture. In order for employees to function and succeed, it is essential they understand and believe in the culture."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

Friends, be sure to check out our book entitled, "MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD - A Handbook for Entering the Work Force" which is a survival guide for young people as they transition into adult life.

Bonnie Wooding, the President of the Toronto Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) said, "Many of our members are just starting their careers and I will be recommending that they read this book, especially Chapter 3, Professional Development - a primer for business skills and filled with basic common sense advice that is simple, easy to follow and extraordinarily practical; and Chapter 5, Do’s and Don’ts of the Workplace, an excellent resource for those questions you are too embarrassed to ask for fear of looking foolish."

The Miami Hurricane recently reviewed it (10/22/2007) and said,

"the abundance of information the book provides is a good start for anyone about to take the first step into the real world. Though the concept of adulthood may seem intimidating, it's comforting to know that someone has at least written a guidebook for it."

Reviewer Bill Petrey praised it by saying, "Every young person entering the workplace for the first time should be given a copy of this book."

The book includes chapters to describe how a young person should organize themselves, how to adapt to the corporate culture, develop their career, and improve themselves professionally and socially. Basically, its 208 pages of good sound advice to jump start the young person into the work force. Corporate Human Resource departments will also find this book useful for setting new hires on the right track in their career. It not only reinforces the many formal rules as contained in corporate policy manuals, but also includes the subtle unwritten rules we must all observe while working with others. The book lists for $25 and can be ordered online through MBA or your local book store. Complementing the book is a one day seminar of the same name which can be purchased separately for $4,000.00 (U.S.) plus instructor travel expenses. For more information on both the book and the seminar, visit our corporate web site at: http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/morph.htm
ISBN: 978-0-9786182-5-4

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "MAKING YOUR PROBLEMS MINE"

Have you ever noticed how people try to make their problems yours? Let me give you an example, we have a small garbage dumpster next to our office building and other people began using it to dump their trash as soon as we got it. Of course, we then put a lock on it but this didn't seem to deter a few people who put their trash on top of the dumpster. We even had one instance where someone deposited an old sofa on the dumpster which caused me to pay the garbage man a little extra to dispose of it. In other words, people were transferring their problems to us.

There seems to be a lot of this going on, particularly among Customer Service people. A lot of the service people I talk to seem to be more interested in compounding my problems as opposed to solving them. Nobody really likes to deal with problems, but if that's what you're getting paid to do I fail to see the rationale of complicating life as opposed to simplifying it.

You see this "pass the buck" mentality just about everywhere, not just in the office but at home as well. It has become so prevalent it's like a giant merry-go-round with everybody passing their problems on to someone else. Here's an idea; why not pull the plug on the ride and have everyone address their own problems, it's what we call "responsibility," something a lot of us cannot seem to accept.

As to our dumpster problem, we picked through a couple of bags of garbage that had been dropped off on us and found the name and address of the person who dumped it. We then dutifully returned the bags of trash to their rightful owner who was unhappy to see it returned. I think we need to see more of this type of action, instead of letting the buck stop on our doorstep, how about returning it to its rightful owner?

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

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

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Reading the Signs":

A J.G. in Pampa, Texas wrote...

"'Parking for Drive-Thru Service Only.' Wow... I don't even know what else to say to that one."

An F.D. in Edmonton, Alberta wrote...

"One thing that has always perplexed me is why they have Braille on drive-through ATM's?"

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "How much do we really use our head?":

An S.S. in Wisconsin wrote...

"I agree totally with the thought that people operate mostly on autopilot, and that all our advances in technology have actually made us lazy, because anymore there's some gadget to do just about everything for us. I'm no exception, but it still irritates me sometimes to even see a cashier fumble for the right change unless the register tells them what to give back. As a society we have pretty much conditioned ourselves to look to other things to tell us how to act and what to do. It's sad, really, and to be honest I kind of feel sorry for my girls' generation, which is quickly becoming one completely reliant on technology instead of self reliance and good ol' fashioned elbow grease."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2008 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

August 25, 2008

"PRIDE"-EEM PHASE 2 - LOGICAL ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS (SPECIAL)

This is Part IV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of Phase 2 of the "PRIDE"-Enterprise Engineering Methodology (EEM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE

NEXT UP: PHASE 3 - PHYSICAL ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Enterprises with identical missions will also be identical in terms of their logical structure."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY USE OUR HEAD?"

Ever wonder what goes through people's heads? Or maybe you have heard yourself say, "What the hell are you thinking of?" It shouldn't come as a surprise to find a lot of people don't use their head during the day. A couple of years ago I wrote a paper entitled, "Increasing Brain Power." Although the intent of the paper was to suggest ideas for sharpening worker acuity, I made the observation that we typically don't use our head as much as we assume we do.

First, we typically rest or sleep for eight hours each day whereby the brain is not truly engaged. We then spend eight hours for work and eight hours for personal time. In the typical work day, office workers are normally 70% effective, meaning we spend about five and a half hours on productive work. During personal time, we perform pet projects and hobbies, pay the bills, run errands, attend a meeting or function, relax, and wake up or go to sleep. During this time we typically spend two hours on concentrated work. All of this means in a typical work day, we only spend about eight hours to really exercise the brain. But from a management perspective, we can expect to get only three hours at peak performance. Actually, this number fluctuates based on how well the worker is able to engage the brain. Some people are able to engage their brains for several hours, some for only an hour, and some not at all.

I guess what I am getting at is that people tend to operate at a primal level most of the day representing nothing more than their basic instincts and reflex actions (I call this the "autopilot" mode). We see this on our commutes to and from work, we see it as we shop in stores, and we see it as we "zone out" watching television. Basically, people prefer to tune out than to tune in to what is going on. As a systems man, I tend to make the analogy that we take in more input than we produce output. Because of this, we are highly susceptible to subliminal messages from the media and are easily influenced.

We commonly make extensive use of technology to assist us at work. But because technology often supersedes our thought processes, it actually causes us to be less sharp intellectually. To illustrate, not long ago a study was performed by Kings College in London for Hewlett Packard, the purpose of which was to study the effect of technology on worker performance. According to Dr. Glenn Wilson, the author of the study: "Results showed clearly that technological distraction diminished IQ test performance." Basically, the study said that excessive use of technology can have an adverse effect on a person's brain power. This is somewhat disturbing as technology permeates our society.

So, the next time you have a confrontation with the human animal, just remember they are probably not operating at the same level as you are; they could be a lot smarter or a lot dumber than they may appear.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

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

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Who's in charge here?":

An I.L. in Kansas City, Missouri wrote...

"All you have to do is look at how screwed up this planet is and you will know that no one is in charge. The inmates are running the asylum."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Thinking Small":

A J.D. in Tampa, Florida wrote...

"I'm no business analyst, but I'm thinking a few things are happening, which changed (and continues to change) the corporate landscape. First is the idea that many trends are cyclical. We may return to a "think big" mentality soon enough. But the other thing is the explosion of small entrepreneurs, work-at-home sole-proprietorships. You can blame corporate lay-offs, down-sizing, and bankruptcies for dumping large numbers of workers back into the fray of unemployment. Also, many workers are fed-up with, or not interested in, working for the large corporate machine. Too much politics and b.s. to contend with, where often you're rewarded socially for *not* working too hard and making everyone else look bad (a socialist state within the corp.), or you just don't mix well with the personalities involved. You don't have to "fit-in" if you're a sole proprietor. I'm one of the latter group - I work for myself now, and the fruits of my labors go directly to me, not some ivory tower CEO whom I never met."

An R.G. in Richmond, Kentucky wrote...

"Hey! I'm one of those bean counters. All we do is tell you how much it will cost. The execs decide what they will spend. I, for one, try very hard to think long term. My personal budget projections go out 4-5 years. However, I do understand what you mean. Instant gratification seems to be the mantra these days. Even more so than I remember in the 80's."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2008 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

August 18, 2008

"PRIDE"-EEM PHASE 1 - EEM PROJECT PLANNING (SPECIAL)

This is Part III in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of Phase 1 of the "PRIDE"-Enterprise Engineering Methodology (EEM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE

NEXT UP: PHASE 2 - LOGICAL ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Organizations progress when the impact of good actions and decisions outweighs the impact of poor actions and decisions."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "THINKING SMALL"

I don't necessarily like to make a comparison of generations; every time I do, I'm accused of clinging to archaic ideas from a bygone era. Nonetheless, it seems a lot has changed in the work force since I got into it in the 1970's. Keep in mind, I've primarily been in the Information Technology (I.T.) field long before it was called that (it used to be "MIS" or "DP").

If I were to pick out one specific aspect to differentiate generations it would have to be that we think a lot smaller these days. Coming out of the 1960's we were taught to think big, to challenge the status quo, and "to boldly go where no man has gone before." We talked about racing the Russians to the moon, designing supersonic jet aircraft, saving the environment and civil rights, building skyscrapers, roads, bridges and tunnels that changed the face of the planet, and introduced computer technology to revolutionize business. But you don't hear such talk anymore. Now we're into smaller things, "gadgets," such as cell phones, games and other personal electronic devices. In the I.T. field, you no longer see companies trying to build enterprise-wide systems. Instead, they are delighted if they can write a single program in 30 days.

I'm not sure why this happened. I tend to believe we have gone from a generation of conceptualists to a generation of detailists. Whereas one group wanted to see the big picture, the other is focused on the job at hand, regardless how it interfaces with others. We have also gone from long term planning to instant gratification. I think long term planning is now down to 30 days or the next payroll cycle. Have we grown impatient for results? Definitely. We now expect and demand to communicate instantaneously around the world, to be up and walking shortly after a medical operation, and to have information and entertainment at our fingertips. The problem with this mindset though, there is the temptation to apply Band-Aids to quickly fix problems when major surgery is really needed. This is very prevalent in the I.T. field. I know we all like to be specialists, but we still need people who can orchestrate all of the elements together. Take cooking for example, do we still know how to prepare a full meal or do we settle for something frozen we can cook with the microwave?

Perhaps the reason we are enamored with thinking small is that it requires far less commitment and patience than to think big. Tackling an assignment that takes a few minutes is much more tempting than taking the long road. For example, "flipping" a house is a lot easier than building a new one.

I tend to believe it is more rewarding to see something long term come to fruition, be it an offspring, a portfolio, or a major project such as seeing a man land on the moon. This requires patience, vision, and a little confidence in what you are doing. I think we can thank the bean counters of the late 20th century for changing this mindset. Instead of long-term strategies and investing in people, we only looked at the bottom line and slashed everything that got in our way. Who knows, maybe it's just simple greed that drives us all.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

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

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Wristwatches":

An R.G. in Richmond, Kentucky wrote...

"I haven't worn a watch in four years, ever since the battery wound down on my last one. I never seem to have a problem knowing the time and acutally have a pretty good internal clock. I never did understand why people spent so much on Rolexes, etc."

And a T.F. in Arkansas wrote...

"I'm with you, Tim -- I'd rather have a watch than a fancy-schmancy cell phone. However, that phaser attachment would be way cool."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Auto Dealership Ads":

An M.B. in Clearwater, Florida wrote...

"I am one of those beeatches who insist on having the dealer advertising removed when I buy a car. They always look offended, but if they want the sale, they have to comply."

A B.D. of California wrote...

"I've often wondered if the children of those guys who do the car dealership radio commercials get the same tone when they bring home a poor report card or don't do their chores around the house. Can you imagine that? Crazy. If you're not easily offended by four letter words, there is a parody car dealer commercial on YouTube for a dealership called "Big Bill Hell's." Same loud-mouthed tone, only they sort of tell it like it is. Considered by many to be an internet "classic."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2008 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

August 11, 2008

"PRIDE"-ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (SPECIAL)

This is Part II in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide an overview of the "PRIDE"-Enterprise Engineering Methodology (EEM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE

NEXT UP: We'll start walking through "PRIDE"-EEM beginning with PHASE 1 - EEM PROJECT PLANNING

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Never embark on a journey without knowing your destination."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "AUTO DEALERSHIP ADS"

I've seen a lot of bad advertisements in my day, everything from ads on television, to radio, to billboards, to print media and the Internet, but I would have to say that local automotive dealers have been consistently the worst I've seen. I think "obnoxious" is perhaps the best adjective to describe local car ads and maybe they have to be as it is a highly competitive market. I think they try to put their best foot forward but inevitably they end up becoming overbearing and look like classless bumpkins.

I used to think California had the most obnoxious car dealers in the country, but I believe just about every one else has caught up with them. On television you commonly see loudmouthed sales managers, or you have the dealership owner who is usually a "Jolly Wally" type who means well but has no business being in front of a camera. Local sports figures are commonly used by dealerships, but I think it's only so the dealer can get his autograph.

Most dealers use some sort of gimmick and catch phrase for the public to associate with their dealership. This is probably not a bad idea, but most are pretty cheesy expressions which makes most people groan. These catch phrases are then splattered everywhere on television, radio, newspapers, the dealer's web page, and on auto decals and license plates. This last item particularly bugs me; You buy a new car from the dealer and after it is prepped to take home you find it has become a rolling billboard for the dealer with his name and slogan neatly labeled on your car and with his license tag frame. I always admired the audacity of the dealers for putting their crap on our cars. Remarkably, few people ask for it to be removed or to be paid for advertising the dealer's company.

Flags are often used to draw attention to car dealerships, particularly down here in the South. Quite often you'll find huge American flags waving overhead to appeal to your sense of patriotism when you buy a car. I find this particularly amusing for dealerships featuring foreign cars, like Japanese, German, or Korean. Come on, who is kidding who here?

Then of course there are the key chains, shirts, and other trinkets that bear the dealer's name and slogan. I find it interesting when they want us to pay for such items as opposed to paying us to advertise their firm.

Auto dealerships rarely offer first class advertisements. Most simply can't afford it and slap together some loud ad which would make just about any Madison Avenue ad exec cringe. The one exception seems to be Oregon's Suburban Auto Group with their legendary "Trunk Monkey" series of commercials. Whereas other dealerships aren't taken seriously because of their ads, Suburban tries to lighten things up and in the process has garnered nationwide recognition. The point is, auto dealership ads really don't have to be as bad as they are.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

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

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "New York City":

An F.V. in Chicago, Illinois wrote...

"I've yet to see a clean city. People are pretty much slobs so if you pack them in you're bound to see some pretty nasty things. I guess there's more Oscar Madisons than Felix Ungers."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Wristwatches":

A J.H. in Proctorville, Ohio wrote...

"I have worn a wrist watch all my adult life, and here of late (since I have been retired) I have been thinking of sticking my watch in the safe and going without! I constantly carry a cell phone with me and the time is close at hand, so knowing the time isn't a problem. So, I think I'm going to "peeve" right along with you on this one! I'm going to go stick my watch in the safe, and see how it goes for a week or two. 40+ years of habit MAY be hard to break though... we'll see! Thanks for all your articles, I really enjoy them."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

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This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

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