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

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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:

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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:

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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.

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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