MANAGEMENT VISIONS

March 30, 2009 - CONCLUDING COMMENTS ON "PRIDE"

2009-03-23T09:58:00.003-04:00

MGMT VISIONS Internet Radio Show Click one below

CONCLUDING COMMENTS ON "PRIDE"

This podcast is Part XXXV of our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM and represents the concluding chapter of the series. Over the last 34 weeks I have patiently taken you through all aspects of the methodologies; from concepts and philosophies, to the actual steps necessary to execute "PRIDE."

Obviously, a lot of thought has gone into the design and development of the methodologies over the years. Since the first parts of it were introduced in 1971, "PRIDE" has been challenged by our customers, competitors, and academia, This has forced us to refine the product in terms of clarifying the concepts and defining our terminology. After so much scrutiny, we believe it to be tried, proven, and intellectually honest. This is very important to us.

But "PRIDE's" comprehensiveness is also its weakness as people lack the broader vision to comprehend the scope of the product and its integration. Some people are only concerned with nothing more than the programming phases of "PRIDE"-ISEM, others are only involved with the physical design phases of "PRIDE"-DBEM, and others for Project Management, and others for Business Systems Planning, etc., etc. Those people in the industry who have the ability to visualize the comprehensiveness of "PRIDE" are few and far between. Consequently, "PRIDE" has always been way ahead of its time; perhaps too far.

As an example, years ago when we first introduced "PRIDE" in the early 1970's, people typically bought "PRIDE" for the wrong reasons; instead of its design and development concepts, they bought it primarily for Project Management purposes. This is analogous to installing a Production Control department in a manufacturing company without an Assembly Line. It is the Assembly Line that is more important, not Production Control. But here we are nearly 40 years lately, and the industry still believes it is a Project Management problem. Sad, very sad. This leads me to believe that the industry will never catch up with "PRIDE" and it will slowly be lost over time until another generation finally rediscovers it.

Another reason why people resist "PRIDE" is because it imposes discipline on developers through standards, something I.T. people stubbornly resist like a wild horse to a bit. I have always found this interesting. In the past, programmers have criticized us for our attitudes towards systems people. What they never realized was that we were actually their best friend in the sense that we emphasized the need for the vital upfront work needed to properly specify the development of software. In a pristine "PRIDE" development environment, programmers are the true beneficiaries of the methodologies. Instead of getting specs on the back of envelopes or cocktail napkins, "PRIDE" stressed the need for upfront analysis.

In the hands of strong management, we have seen "PRIDE" do wonderful things. For example, it was responsible for developing Japan's next generation of on-line banking systems, which, I might add had no problem whatsoever with the Y2K problem. It was also used by many Fortune 500 companies to engineer their core systems. But this was all a time when management could visualize the bigger picture.

Since we opened our kimono in 2004, thousands of people have visited our "PRIDE" site and reviewed the methodologies. Hopefully, this helped the industry and someone, somewhere along the line learned something. The message of "PRIDE" was simple, "Shapeth Up and Getheth Thine Act Together." All it tried to do was bring order out of chaos. Yet, we found there are many people in the industry who thrive on chaos and, as such, have made the systems world much more complicated than it needs to be. "PRIDE" may be a considerable body of work, but when you think about it, the lessons inculcated were simple, e.g.; "A system is a product that can be engineered and manufactured like any other product"; "The only ways systems communicate is through shared data"; "Information = Data + Processing"; etc.

This podcast represents our last for "Management Visions." In the future, we will be rerunning past episodes. In addition to "PRIDE", we have discussed a wide variety of management issues. We have appreciated all of your comments and questions over the years and we wish you the best. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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...

"There is only one problem with common sense; it's not very common."

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 "BRAINWASHING"

In the past you have heard me lament about the erosion of our moral values, and it is my contention that our religious institutions have dropped the ball on this one. Their message may be good, but it is not generally turned into practice anymore. I've seen way too many people go to church to absolve themselves of their sins for the past week, only to continue unethical business practices on Monday morning. I think this is because our places of worship tend to say the same tired things over and over again and, in the process, have lost the hearts and minds of their constituents. Our moral values are now shaped by the Media using brainwashing techniques which are somewhat subliminal, but very effective. The intent of brainwashing is not just to manipulate perspectives, but to also put things into action. Organized religion knows how to deliver the message, but fails to put it into practice.

Brainwashing is typically born from calamity, such as the loss of a war, or hard economic times. It is illustrated by Nazi Germany in the 1930's and 40's, the Korean War, and is still put to good effect in Third World dictatorships. It is omnipresent in the free world as well, maybe not as obvious as in the Third World, but it is definitely present in our culture nevertheless.

Brainwashing is intended to produce a desired result, and many believe the end justifies the use of such techniques. It has been my observation there are three basic building blocks for brainwashing:

1. Information management - meaning the control of the media outlets, what can and cannot be said to the public, and who can say it. As you may recall in Nazi Germany, no author or artist could be published or exhibited unless they were a member of the Third Reich and proved good behavior. Control of the media is essential as it is known that life imitates art, not the other way around. Whoever controls the media, controls information, and subsequently our culture.

2. Repetition of the message is essential for conditioned response as in the case of Pavolv's Dog. If you say something enough times, people tend to believe it, regardless if it is right or wrong. Such repetition must be relentless and tends to be long term in nature in order to penetrate the human psyche.

3. The message must capture the hearts and minds of the people. Here, basic human instincts are exploited, such as greed, status, social class, and patriotism. The message tends to be simple and filled with pathos as complicated messages tend to be lost on most people and there is a desire to draw on the passions of the public. Basically, you need to pander to the masses and tell them what they want to hear; e.g., "You are great; you are being abused and mistreated", etc. Again, the intent is not simply to comprehend the message, but to motivate people into action. Emotional extremes are particularly effective in this regard; e.g., Love of Country, Hate for its enemies. The message also becomes more credible through testimonials and endorsements by recognized celebrities and other seeming experts. In fact, the message must be well choreographed and glitzy to assure it becomes fashionable and popular. Technicians skilled in the arts are vital to make the message appealing to the masses. People must believe the message is the popular consensus of the masses, not just a handful of people, thereby minimizing resistance to it.

Behind all of this is a deep seeded contempt for the human spirit, that people are cattle and easily swayed. Using brainwashing techniques, lying and misleading people is perfectly acceptable as long as it ends with the desired results. Thereby truth and honesty are often sacrificed in the process.

The question now becomes, is our Media engaged in brainwashing and, if so, what are their objectives? I believe it is there to orchestrate and exploit the American middle class thereby simplifying the implementation of social and economic changes. Why the middle class? Simple, because it is the economic engine of the world.

From this perspective, the Media is more powerful than the politicians charged with governing us. Perhaps our officials are nothing more than caretakers and the Media is truly pulling the strings, or perhaps the two are in cahoots. Either way, it is disconcerting that a "Big Brother" is doing the thinking for us and in the process, quietly engineering our thoughts and values.

It is also very unsettling that we are the unwitting dupes in all of this.

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 "Count Your Blessings":

A D.T. in Raleigh, North Carolina wrote...

"Well said! Tough times are survived by tough people, but STRONG people help others through their trials as well. Courage is not absence of fear, but acting DESPITE the fear. Pain and discomfort are relative to our expectations and standards."

A C.G. in Mason, Ohio wrote...

"Tim, what a great essay! It is very timely for me and I am certain it will be for many others. I just hope the people who need this now have a chance to read this."

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

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

"I once competed against 34 people with Masters Degrees in Social Work, having only a BA myself, for the exact job I'd always wanted. I had more course work in the specialty needed for this job than most of those with the higher degree. Finally, it was down to just two of us for the final interview, when the Board of Directors, which was doing the interviews, asked the fatal question. It was an illegal question too, but I knew I was damned if I didn't answer it by claiming it to be illegal, and damned if I did answer, because I knew the supposed psychological reasons behind the question. I answered truthfully, and knew immediately by the looks on their faces that I'd lost the job. The question: 'Are you an only child?' I agree, if they are going to pull this kind of stuff, they should just have all applicants take the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory first, and sift out the personality types that are considered unfit for the job in question before they interview."

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

March 23, 2009 - "PRIDE" IMPLEMENTATION

2009-03-16T10:10:00.005-04:00

"PRIDE" IMPLEMENTATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXIV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe how to install/implement "PRIDE" in an organization.

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

NEXT UP: Concluding comments on "PRIDE" (the final chapter)

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...

"There is only one problem with common sense; it's not very common."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "JOB INTERVIEWS"

Something that really irritates me in the corporate world today is how companies interview candidates for a job. Instead of having you describe who you are, what you've done in your professional life, and what skills you know, Human Resource types today ask questions like:

"Where do you want to be five years from now?"

"How do you handle pressure?"

"How do you deal with conflict?"

"Tell me something nobody knows about you."

"Did you notice the receptionist outside had six fingers?"

"What is your favorite color?"

"If you were an animal, what would you be?"

Instead of getting to the meat and potatoes of what the person knows, interviewers are asking pseudo-psychological questions aimed at examining the personality of the candidate. It kind of reminds me of the asinine question Barbara Walters asked of movie stars years ago, "If you were a tree, what kind would you be?"

These questions are aimed at determining what your personality type is (such as A, B, C, D) and how you present yourself, e.g., how articulate you can present an argument, and how well you can fit in with the corporate culture.

Instead of dancing around the issue, and using amateur psychological techniques, why don't they just ask for a psychological profile of the candidate instead, as prepared by accredited professionals? Somehow the interviewing questions asked today remind me of the neurotic Personnel Manager, Granville Sawyer, in the movie classic "Miracle on 34th Street."

Another interviewing phenomenon I have trouble with is what is now called "speed interviewing," which I'm told is derived from “speed dating,” whereby a number of people are interviewed briefly in a rotational format. It kind of reminds me of how people audition for "American Idol" and some of the other entertainment contests. It might be nice for a first blush, but hardly a way of honestly getting to know someone.

The last thing I think is lacking in interviewing is professional courtesy. It used to be if you sent in a job application, you would get a written note acknowledging the company received it and what they intended do with it, which perhaps was nothing. Further, after an interview, the candidate would be sent a letter thanking him/her for their time and let them know what their status was. But you don't see such letters anymore, not even in this age of e-mail. To me, this says a lot about the professionalism of the employer, which is probably not very good.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A P.D. of DeKalb, Illinois wrote...

"I spent 14 years in IT, mostly in applications development, so I know exactly what you mean here. I came into the industry with a business background rather than a technical background, and I think it was a great help to me. The technology completely changed about every four years, but the business and the user groups remained the same. Everyone in IT is in a state of constant learning about technology, but few take the time to learn the business."

An S.S. in Turkey wrote...

"It takes two to tango. I don't believe that the responsibility of determining what the end user needs should fall solely on the system designer. The end user must shoulder some responsibility and determine exactly what end result is wanted and communicate that to the system designer in jargonless language too. All too often I see end users only explain half of an ill thought out idea and then change their mind several times." ;-)

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Finding a Recession-Proof Business":

A D.T. in Raleigh, North Carolina wrote...

"As ugly as it is getting, I still consider this a very dramatic 'correction' to many markets. 'Life normalized' is a term I feel comfortable using. Keeping up with the Jones'? Bah! Forget the Jones' - worry about your own standard of living and get back to living within your means. Let the Joses' mind their own business.

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

March 16, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT CONTROL

2009-03-09T09:49:00.005-04:00

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT CONTROL (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Control as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE" Implemantation.

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...

"Projects will only be completed if people want to complete them."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "FINDING A RECESSION-PROOF BUSINESS"

Finding a business that can endure today's economic recession can be tricky. People are tightening their belts more today than in the past fifty years. We are seeing businesses close down, CEO's being replaced, and some rather substantial cost-cutting measures, including salaries and employment. So you have to ask yourself what companies are thriving? Which ones are going to make it and which ones won't?

No, I am not an economist, but it has been my experience that whenever belt's are tightened, people start to think of themselves first and others second. In other words we start to focus on our basic human needs and worry less about luxury items. Let's consider the effect the recession is having in a few key human-centric areas:

Food: Eating out at restaurants is diminishing, particularly the high priced establishments. In my area of Florida alone, over 35 restaurants have closed their doors recently. Not surprising, people are more inclined to cook at home, which means boom-times for value priced items. For example, I understand sales of Hormel's SPAM product are way up. With this in mind, I wonder when the Food Channel will replace some of their gourmet shows with a show featuring something like, "Cooking on a budget."

Health: Drugs are still doing fine, but people are more inclined to buy generic as opposed to name brands. We will probably see a sharp decline in cosmetic or elective surgery, but we will still need to replace hips, hearts, knees, and other vital parts of our bodies. I have a friend who manufactures titanium hips and knees. He tells me business couldn't be better.

Transportation: As we all know, new car sales are way down which means people are trying to extend the lives of their current vehicles. This means companies selling auto parts should be prospering, as well as independent mechanics offering competitive prices. The airlines will always be viewed as a necessary evil but for any of them to succeed, they have to streamline their operations.

Communications: I think cell phones will hold steady, but look for people to change or eliminate their land lines. I have also seen a lot of people cut down on the pay channels on television, as well as their ISP connections.

Housing: Like the automotive industry, sales have stagnated which means people are trying to make do with what they have. And like the automotive after-market, look for the sale of home improvement items to increase, particularly those products designed to save energy and money. This should be boom times for basic hardware stores.

Education: Private schools will be hurt by the recession as people will be more inclined to send their kids to affordable public schools. This includes state universities over private colleges.

In a nutshell, the companies that will succeed are those that address the basic needs of the human being with no frills attached. Luxury items, such as electronics will struggle in the meantime.

But success will also require companies to manage smarter than what they have been doing. They have to think faster to seize opportunities, be more organized and disciplined in their operations, and be more adaptive to change. In other words I think you'll see a "no frills" management style emerge as companies fight to survive. Those companies with bloated bureaucracies and micromanagers will have to be cut down to size in order to manage smarter.

So, what company is recession-proof? That which addresses basic human needs and is managed so the company can turn on a dime without missing a beat.

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "The Imagery of Profanity":

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"I'm not bothered by swearing or crude language except when young children or my elderly parents are present. These words may be of historic origin, but I believe they are more offensive to older folks and not the words we want young children to learn. I have, on occasion, spoken up when crude language gets out of hand. At a wedding reception, I reminded some drunken young men that they were not at the frat house and there were elderly people present who deserved respect. One whippersnapper mouthed off to me and I told him that if he insisted on garbage talk, he should go outside by the dumpster. I'm no prude. I use these words, but the place and company need to be considered."

A B.H. of Boulder, Colorado wrote...

"The "F" word apparently originated from the acronym for charges made: For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." ;-)

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Our Right to Fail":

A J.T. in Winter Haven, Florida wrote...

"I could not agree more! It is very upsetting to have the government bailing out banks, auto, and people that made plan stupid decisions on home buying. I do not feel the government should bail any one out that gave stupid loans for over priced homes."

An M.O. of New Jersey wrote...

"I believe the bottom line is greed."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

March 9, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT REPORTING

2009-03-02T10:35:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT REPORTING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Reporting as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Control.

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...

"Without an effective way to record and verify the use of time, all other project management activities are useless."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "OUR RIGHT TO FAIL"

As a youngster, one of the things I learned early on was that winning and losing was a natural part of any game I played, be it baseball, football, hockey, Monopoly, cards, you name it. Somebody wins, somebody loses. Nobody likes to lose, but as I have written in the past, there is nothing to be ashamed of if you have tried your best, but still failed. In fact, I have more respect for the person who valiantly tried and lost, as opposed to the person who won by cutthroat tactics.

The point is, failure is a natural part of life and an inherent property of evolution (see Charles Darwin). It is a strong message telling us that what we are doing is not working, and we can either learn from it and change or ignore it and perish. It's nice to have a safety net, but where would we be if nobody took a risk? Without failure, life stagnates. We cannot make progress if we are not allowed to fail. Entrepreneurs, adventurers, and other Type A personalities understand in any venture there is a certain element of risk, whereby they will either reap the rewards of success, or taste the agony of defeat. They weigh the risks carefully, then work overtime to assure success, but they clearly understand there is no such thing as a guarantee for success.

There are people today who want to eliminate our right to fail, that nobody should experience the pain or embarrassment of defeat. This is why I have a problem with the bailout plans our government has devised for the banks, automotive industry, and other financial institutions. I contend the bailouts will only be a temporary fix, and the companies will not make the severe and necessary changes to survive in the years ahead. Only failure will cause them to make the required changes. To my way of thinking, the government bailout plans are only delaying the inevitable.

All of the greed and corruption we allowed to creep into our business practices have finally come home to roost. Consequently, companies are no longer maintaining a competitive edge in business, and are losing money due to unscrupulous self-centered interests and just plain stupid business decisions. The companies are all sorry for the problem and promise to never allow it to happen again. Hell, an accused murderer or rapist couldn't say it any better. They all want redemption without having to worry about paying a penalty. I'm sorry, but that is not how the game is supposed to be played, but then again there are those who want to change the rules so that nobody loses. This is just plain wrong.

If you believe companies will make the necessary changes in their policies and operations, simply because the government is going to bail them out, you are taking it in the arm. Like it or not, failure is the only real catalyst to invoke true changes. Nothing is more powerful to truly change someone, than failure; ask anyone who has experienced it.

Nobody likes to take their medicine, but I'm afraid it is time to pass out the Castor Oil and tablespoons. It may sound silly and I don't expect a lot of people to jump on the bandwagon, but it's time to "Protect our right to fail!"

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Bicyclists, The Tour de Farce":

An M.O. of New Jersey wrote...

"Tim, I agree with you totally. Also stopping and starting to get around the Tour de Farce uses up a lot of gas. They should not be on the roadways. They have the bike trails and, if not, they should look for them and use them."

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

An M.B. in Clearwater, Florida wrote... "One thing you probably already know is that Florida has the highest bicycle accident fatality rate in the nation. One cause that I can see, compared to where I come from, is that we have no road shoulders here in most places. So those TdF guys are not showing much in the way of basic smarts and self-preservation instincts. One thing you may not know is that the TdF types are slowly but surely taking themselves out of the gene pool with those hard, narrow, pointy bicycle seats they use. There is a direct association between riding on those and male infertility. If you think I'm kidding, look it up! Therefore, if wanting to be a TdF guy is genetic, you may have far less of a problem with them in the future." ;-)

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

A C.L. of Louisiana wrote...

"Tim, what a wonderful article to read this morning. I wish you would update and resubmit this article every month, plus post it in every political discussion board out there in cyberland. I am so tired of the finger-pointing and double standards of the liberals. I'm an independent, conservative, fairly moderate in my views. Yet I'm called a neocon (a liberals favorite slur), a religious wacko, and if I even mention the bible or religion (which I usually do not, in fact I am very private in my religious beliefs) I'm suddenly Jerry Falwell, and evangelist and a proselytizer. Oh, I almost forgot warmonger and hater of America. I am so tired of all of this. Thank you for standing up for us neocon, warmongering, little people hating, money grubbing, proselytizing, unimaginative people. You're a brave man! (Which, according to liberals here, you couldn't possibly be a conservative!)"

A C.C. of Allentown, Pennsylvania wrote...

"Thank you. Every so often, it is nice to know someone understands."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

March 2, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT SCHEDULING

2009-02-23T09:55:00.005-05:00

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT SCHEDULING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Scheduling as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Reporting.

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...

"Time lost is time lost forever; You cannot buy it back."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "CONSERVATIVE STEREOTYPES"

Following the release of one of my more politically inclined columns, I was accused by a reader of being an ultra conservative. The reader based his comments on established stereotypes of conservatives which I personally find distasteful. Such images have become rather old and tiresome, but were still effective in last year's elections. These stereotypes were concocted by the Media over time and inevitably raise their ugly heads during election time. What concerns me though is these images are simply fallacious and aimed at misleading people away from the true issues at hand. Let me give you some prime examples of conservative stereotypes:

CONSERVATIVES ARE PRO-BUSINESS, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF SQUASHING ANYTHING THAT GETS IN THEIR WAY, INCLUDING THE LITTLE GUY.
I think it is no secret that conservatives believe in the free enterprise system, the land of opportunity, and an honest day's wage for an honest day's work, but I do not believe they are as ruthless as they are portrayed. They are unapologetic capitalists who want less government control, not more. Conservatives tend to see government as the servant of the people, not the other way around. This drives anybody opposed to this way of thinking absolutely crazy, particularly socialists and communists. It's no small wonder that capitalists are portrayed as "fat-cats" who profit off the worker.

The reality is that you will find just as many liberals in the board room as you will find conservatives. Further, anyone who has faced the realities and risks of starting up his/her own company, particularly a small business, is somewhat inclined to appreciate capitalist principles.

CONSERVATIVES DO NOT SHARE AND WANT TO CREATE A MASTER/SLAVE CLASS SOCIETY.
This is just plain bunk. First, greed knows no political ideologue. Second, we're back to the capitalist argument whereby conservatives appreciate hard work and reward accordingly. Look, it's simple, you cannot do everything yourself; you have to delegate, empower, and support your people, which includes compensating them accordingly. It's just plain smart business. And third, conservatives give generously of themselves for a wide variety of causes. Although they balk at turning their wallets completely over to the government, conservatives gladly lend a helping hand to those who truly need it. Liberals certainly do not hold a monopoly on charitable causes.

CONSERVATIVES ARE ANTI-ENVIRONMENT.
It is generally believed that if you are a conservative, you have a fundamental disregard for the planet; that you want to rape the Earth and eradicate its resources. My question is, "Why?" This would imply that conservatives are like some visitors from outer space here to plunder the earth's resources and leave a dead shell. I'm afraid I haven't seen the conservative flying saucer yet, and I think we are all stuck on this planet together. In fact, conservatives have found such things as conservation, recycling, and land reclamation are not just good ideas, it's smart business.

CONSERVATIVES ARE ULTRA RELIGIOUS.
Show me a fanatical Bible thumper and I'll show you a conservative; Right? Wrong. I can't begin to tell you how many liberals I have met through organized religion. We often hear of the "Religious Right" which primarily consists of Christian groups, but I don't recall where it is written that a belief in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for becoming a conservative. In fact, I've met conservatives from just about every religious faith imaginable. I will grant that conservatives tend to derive their core values from their religious beliefs, whatever they may be, but they are certainly not religious fanatics.

There is an interesting dichotomy here: whereas conservatives are accused of unethical behavior in business and the environment, they are also portrayed as religious zealots. I guess the assumption here is that organized religion doesn't promote ethical behavior.

CONSERVATIVES ARE UNEDUCATED, UNIMAGINATIVE, AND ONLY FOLLOW PARTY LINES.
There is a general belief that conservatives are incapable of intelligent discourse, are crude and lack creativity, and thereby must be told what to do. Gee, it kind of sounds like the goons in the Nazi Party under Adolph Hitler doesn't it?

The notion that conservatives are old-fashioned fuddy-duddies who resist change is erroneous. I know a lot of liberals who have been unbending in their ideas since the 1960's.

Since conservatives tend to have a business perspective they are somewhat inclined to be freethinkers, meaning if it makes sense to them, they'll buy it, regardless of who sells it. They will also make it plain if they do not agree with you, and perhaps this is what bothers their opposition. In fact, I find conservatives to be more open to debate; for example, consider the popularity of conservative talk radio programs (you don't see too many liberal programs do you?)

CONSERVATIVES DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR.
For a long time, conservatives have had to endure all kinds of jokes as communicated through political bumper stickers, cartoons, and late night comedians. In the process I think they have developed some rather thick skin and do, in fact, appreciate a good joke, although I admit their humor is not as destructive as others. But what is good for the goose should be good for the gander. Try poking fun at a liberal and you are accused of blasphemy. Now that's funny.

CONSERVATIVES ARE RACISTS.
I'm not even going to dignify this with a rebuttal.

CONCLUSION

The concept of conservative stereotypes is nothing more than brainwashing for the purpose of social engineering by the Media. Young people are taught early on that being a conservative is not "cool"...

"Did you know he is a conservative?"

"Really? He's one of them? Wow! That's lame."

Behind the facade of the conservative stereotypes is a deeply-rooted resentment to capitalism, which the conservatives embrace. Anti-capitalists want to replace the system and evenly spread the wealth regardless of how much effort a person exerts to earn it. To conservatives, capitalism is the stimulus that encourages people to become entrepreneurs; to move forward and take risks, to boldly go where no one has gone before, to evolve, and hopefully succeed.

Like I said earlier, I have been accused of being an "ultra" conservative. As an aside, a friend recently pointed out to me, how come we do not apply this adjective to liberals (an "ultra" liberal)? I guess it is another attempt to stereotype conservatives as extremists (and liberals are not?).

It has been my experience that conservatives take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously, they are not afraid to be held accountable for their actions, they want to lead a worthy and meaningful life, and possess an ethical makeup derived from their religious beliefs. If this is what an "ultra" conservative is, then I plead, "Guilty. Most guilty."

Sorry Janeane, the wiring is just fine.

"Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains."
- Winston Churchill

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Cancer, The Big Kahuna":

A T.A. of Minnesota wrote...

"Education is key! I choose to prevent cancer rather than have to battle it later."

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Much progress has been made in the treatment of Cancer but until it no longer exists there will never be enough progress."

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

A P.G. of Dubos, Pennsylvania wrote...

"I know what you mean, every time I look at my bills there is another charge."

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

"I watch some companies very carefully when they add on these surcharges. One such company was the local cleaners - they added a fuel surcharge when gas prices rose. Later, when the surcharge wasn't removed, I stopped doing business there. Unfortunately we don't always have a choice of where to do business when it comes to monopolies, like utilities."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

February 23, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT ESTIMATING

2009-02-16T09:19:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT ESTIMATING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Estimating as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Scheduling.

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...

"Most estimating errors are errors of omission, not commission. It's what we forget to estimate that gets us in trouble."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "SURCHARGES"

Last year when we were paying about $4.50 for a gallon of gasoline, you may remember companies started to add a surcharge to their bills. I saw it in our bills for garbage collection, pest control, irrigation maintenance, pool service, delivery men, etc. They did this to say they haven't raised the price of their service, which I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to believe, but you never know. I even saw a taxi with lettering on their doors stating they had the lowest fare rates in the town, but right below it they listed the surcharge to be added to the bill.

Airlines have also gotten into the act and now have surcharges for checked baggage to offset fuel costs. This "a la carte" mentality is becoming more pervasive in business and instead of paying one simple fee you are now presented with a lengthy bill representing a hefty price tag. The telephone companies are good at this as well, as anyone who has had to read their voluminous bills can tell you.

I really don't understand the psychology of surcharges. Proponents argue that consumers like to believe they are paying low prices and that a surcharge is not a permanent part of the bill, that it's only temporary and will be eliminated sometime in the near future. Right; and pigs will fly too. Now that fuel charges have radically declined, I don't see too many companies eliminating the surcharges. In fact, the price of fuel has reduced so much you would think we would be entitled to a rebate of some kind. Fat chance for that. The only time you see a surcharge removed is when a company finally announces a price increase.

Something I learned a long time ago was that prices only go up; and rarely, if ever do they go down. Probably the best way to think of a surcharge is as a price increase in sheep's clothing. But for those companies who think they are being clever in trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public by using surcharges, please, don't insult our intelligence; an increase is an increase, I don't care what you call it.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An S.S. in Turkey wrote...

"Thanks to your effective writing you managed to bring a tear to my eye and a homesick, nostalgic twinge to my heart."

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Maybe because I have created a home for all my children I no longer feel that my parents house is home. Home is a place filled with family and love."

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

An M.S. of Royal Oak, Michigan wrote...

"This is a very thoughtful well-written article, but I don't understand why some people still think tax credits are the answer. If people are not making any money, they aren't paying taxes. The stimulus package is needed."

An R.W. of Lexington, North Carolina wrote...

"Just a foot note. The biggest area of consumer confidence is if they will have a job in 1, 2, or 6 months. The people have money but worried about their jobs and saving their money in case they need it to pay the electric bill. The problem is the more they hold onto the cash, the worse it gets that they might lose their job. All we've got to do is have the talking heads say the recessions over, give some tax incentives or cash for buying houses, cars, misc., and things will get back on track. Unfortunately, when our president is telling us doom and gloom, it doesn't help."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

February 16, 2009 "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT PLANNING

2009-02-09T09:53:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT PLANNING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXIX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Planning as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Estimating.

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...

"You cannot put two quarts of liquid into a one quart bottle. If you try, you will lose a quart."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "CONSUMER CONFIDENCE"

As we are now embroiled in a major economic recession, we are hearing a lot about plant closings, worker layoffs, restructuring of companies, tightening of credit, and government stimulus packages. But as you listen to the news and talking heads on television, everything seems to come back to "consumer confidence" or the lack thereof to purchase anything. It appears our disposable income has been disposed of. I don't hear anyone addressing this problem, so I'll take a shot at it. I may not be an economist, but as a businessman who has been around the block a few times, I would do the following:

First, the consumer wants confidence that the companies they buy from will stand behind their products; that they will be there tomorrow. This means companies have to do some soul searching and manage themselves better. In other words, take out the bloated bureaucracies, eliminate the inflated salaries and greed, become more organized and systematic in their operations, and offer products at reduced, yet fair, prices.

Companies also have to learn to adapt to the needs of the consumer, not the other way around. Perhaps the best example of this currently is the Hyundai Assurance program whereby the company advertises, "to show you the faith we have in you. Right now, finance or lease any new Hyundai, and if in the next year you lose your income, we'll let you return it." There are, of course, restrictions to avoid abuse, but it's a sharp idea and consumers are beginning to flock to them.

It is time for companies to challenge the marketing status quo and, like Hyundai, devise new programs that will turn the heads of the consumer. Companies can ill-afford to conduct business as usual.

Second, the government has a role here as well, but I balk at the stimulus package being proposed. People do not need pseudo "make work" jobs created by and for the government. Nor do we need more checks from the government which will primarily be used to pay off existing debts, not necessarily to purchase new goods. Instead, they want tax credits that support their way of life, like financing homes and sending kids to school. I realize such things already exist, but the government has to become more aggressive in such programs to allow the consumers to save a buck or two. Wouldn't it be nice to see the government encourage the saving of money as opposed to spending it? Even better, to invest it in key companies who are trying to conquer our energy crisis, or who perform medical research, or help the environment.

If you really want the consumer to have "disposable income," arrest inflation NOW! Government can do a lot for companies by simply leading them with a carrot and stick. Give tax credits to companies as incentives to go in new directions, such as research and development, or for companies who promote job security, for companies who help curtail the rising cost of living, and for creating real and meaningful jobs. In other words, reward companies for better management.

Third, the consumer has to learn to regain his own confidence. Instead of waiting for someone else to bail us out, we need to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and take the bull by the horns. Confidence begins in the mirror, not in our government.

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Political Correctness - Let us be bland":

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"This is such a travesty and the world must view us as fools. The gravity of the situation aside, this has me laughing, Tim. It's the irony of the "liberals" who are anything but. You have summarized it perfectly here: 'Consideration is given to whether it offends a handicap, a sexual gender (except heterosexual men), race (except whites), religion (except Christians), or politics (except conservative Republicans).' Anything traditional, sacred, decent, courteous, sensible, clean and normally acceptable is fair game for ridicule, so don't even think of praying or someone may be offended. When did Americans become so thin skinned? More to the point, when did so many lose their minds?"

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"I am one of those people that made sure to say 'Merry Christmas'. I am tired of having to tiptoe on eggshells so that no one gets offended by something I may say. Especially if what I am saying is not meant as an offense to anyone."

A B.H. of Granger, Indiana wrote...

"At last someone who sees that political correctness leads to mediocrity."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Social Networking Tools":

An R.L. from New York wrote...

"Tim. This is a wonderful piece, and full of valuable information so thanks very much for writing it. I am a non-traditional return-to-school adult student, and attend a private college that is run by most of the "name brand household word" firms in our country. They too, agree with you. Even though almost 100% of my business is done online, as much as I have to hype myself up and get motivated now to fly across the country (at age 54); I do so for the personal contact at conferences and conventions I feel may be educational, and even as important, well-attended. I have never walked away without new friends and/or new clientele. You make a very good point. It is usually just a weekend out of our lives, and a great opportunity for more education, contacts, and once in awhile even help educate someone who has not been doing this as long. Thanks for the sage wisdom."

An L.T. in Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Social networking serves as an interesting outlet for many who do not have access to normal social groups. I think face to face social groups are slowly disappearing. With all social groups it pays to pick and choose who you associate with. Even face to face groups have frauds."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

February 9, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM INTRODUCTION

2009-02-02T11:24:00.006-05:00

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT MANAGEMENT - INTRODUCTION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXVIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the underlying concepts and philosophies of "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - 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...

"Manage from the bottom-up, not just from the top-down; this creates personal commitment and accountability."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS"

Not long ago I was asked by a young man about what he should be thinking about as he started his career in the business world. We talked about a lot of things, but more than anything I emphasized the need to network with his professional contemporaries. I recommended he join some industry groups, attend conferences, and basically start to interact with different people in his industry. But I tend to believe young people shy away from such personal interaction and instead prefer the anonymity of the various social networking facilities on the Internet, like Facebook, MySpace, and others. Most young people are familiar with these facilities from High School and College and use them to send messages, flirt, spread humor, rumors and spam, and harass people. You need not accurately identify yourself with such facilities, which means you can cause a great deal of trouble for others if you are so inclined.

There are also several social networking tools for professionals, such as LinkedIn, Plaxo, PerfectBusiness, ZoomInfo, and many others. They may not have the same robust facilities as found in Facebook and MySpace, nor the popularity, but they tend to attract the more serious minded person interested in their career and profession. People tend to more clearly identify themselves as well and, as such, there is less shenanigans associated with them. Nonetheless, anyone can register as a user and create false identities if they want to and abuse the system. Thanks to the cloak of anonymity as provided by the Internet, clods tend to disrupt the harmony of such Internet groups, thereby diminishing their usefulness. As an aside, I find it interesting that people will say things on the Internet they would never dare say to you face-to-face, which is why I no longer engage anyone on the Internet who doesn't properly identify themselves. No, I don't want to hear from anyone with a bogus handle for a name, particularly those based on some medieval nonsense. Like I said, clods.

These Internet services may be nice for sending messages and disseminating news, or for bringing people of common interests together, but they are certainly not a substitute for eye contact, a handshake, and the spoken word; they are most definitely not a substitute for personal interaction. As I have mentioned for quite some time, due to our heightened emphasis on technology I believe we are seeing a decline in the socialization skills of our young people. Instead of meeting and interacting with others, they are more inclined to hide behind a keyboard which I consider rather unfortunate. It's difficult, if not impossible, to get to know someone's interests, ethics, integrity, knowledge, and personal background by computer. To this end, I discussed with my young friend such things as how to properly do an introduction, how to make light conversation, how to develop contacts, how to dress for industry functions, even table manners and how to socially drink at such functions. Basically, I encouraged him to brush up on his people skills, not his computer skills.

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Our Sense of Humor":

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"I agree. Comedy has deteriorated and often tears and bites at public figures and even God. The language is crude, disrespectful and even blasphemous. I have a good sense of humor, but some "comedy" just isn't funny. There are some comedians whose speech is so loaded with expletives that it's nearly all beeps on TV and too annoying to watch. When I do see an act that actually nothing objectional, I'm amazed...and amused. I like Jeff Dunham and his puppets, although I wouldn't recommend it for kids. Bob Hope was funny and the whole family could watch him and not be shocked."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Guilty until proven Innocent":

An L.T. in Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"People who have a bit of power in their positions allow that power to rule them far too often. I have seen families pulled apart and ruined because a young social worker saw a chance to make a name for herself using the system and false accusations to guide 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.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

February 2, 2009

2009-01-26T09:52:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - PHASE 6 - DBEM EVALUATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXVII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the activities of Phase 6, "DBEM Evaluation" in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

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...

"Most organizations use a DBMS as nothing more than an elegant file access method. Consequently, the opportunity to share data and integrate systems is lost."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

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 "GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT"

I was going to entitle this piece "Bureaucrats Gone Wild" as I wanted to draw attention to the government officials who go out of their way to make life a living Hell for us, but I already covered this in an earlier column (see "Bureaucrats").

It's not bad enough that government bureaucrats create their own little fiefdoms to express their self-importance, but it is how they try to play mind games with the taxpayer that disturbs me more, particularly young ones. Let me give you a couple of examples...

I'm involved with a nonprofit group who owns and maintains their own building. Not surprising, they are subject to the same rules and government codes as everyone else, such as health, fire, and building inspections. For years, the group diligently maintained their building and conformed to ever-changing codes. However, one year they were visited by a young fire inspector who wrote up an extensive list of code violations. This came as a complete surprise to the group. Although a few of the items on the list were legitimate, there were others that could best be described as superfluous. Nonetheless, the group complied with the requests, at considerable expense, but are now leery of any more inspections by the young power-hungry bureaucrat.

In another instance, I had a friend who did some minor work in South America. For some unknown reason, a young IRS agent targeted his company for an audit and, finding out about the South American connection, accused my friend's business of making millions of dollars in South America of which they owed considerable back taxes. Understandably, this shocked the company's management as they adamantly maintained their innocence. Nonetheless, the IRS agent asserted his contention thereby forcing the company to hire a team of accountants and lawyers to successfully refute the charges, also at considerable expense.

In both examples, the bureaucrats considered the defendants guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around as we would normally expect. Reasoning with the young bureaucrats was out of the question, as they saw this as an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Not only did their inexperience lead to bad relations with the people they were suppose to be serving, but cost people a lot of money to defend themselves over frivolous charges. I guess it's no small wonder why people do not trust or respect their government officials, particularly "Bureaucrats Gone Wild."

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A G.A. of Tennessee wrote...

"This sounds just like the advice I give to people when they talk about having children, especially older couples. You are not the most important person in the house any more. Your schedule (your life) revolves around your kids. The older you are, the harder it is to change your lifestyle. I was 32, working full time and going to school full time at night when my daughter was born. Ten months later my son was born. Talk about time management. I still managed to spend time with the family and graduate cum laude. All it takes is putting your priorities in place and learning to live on four hours of sleep at night."

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"I, too, wouldn't have missed parenting for the world. I shelved my career in a heartbeat for the opportunity to raise my own child in our home. I did work part time when necessary, but I worked a different shift than my husband. One of us was always home with our daughter. Since hospitals run 24/7, I had no trouble getting evening shifts. I could have earned more money. We might have had more possessions. No amount of money or possessions could possibly have brought me the joy and fulfillment of parenting. I would make the same choice again."

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

A K.G. of Lapeer, Michigan wrote...

"Very true post. I am bad at it."

A K.K. of Ansonia, Connecticut wrote...

"So true, I was planning on tackling my procrastination over the weekend by doing a few things I've been putting off."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

January 26, 2009

2009-01-19T09:56:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - PHASE 5 - APPLICATION PHYSICAL DB DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXVI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the activities of Phase 5, "Application Physical Data Base Design" in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 6, "DBEM Evaluation," the concluding phase of the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"A Data Base should naturally evolve over time and synchronize with all Information Systems."

"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 "PROCRASTINATION"

I think we're all pretty much guilty of some form of procrastination during our lives. I know I am. The word itself comes from the Latin word "procrastinatus": pro- (forward) and crastinus (of tomorrow). We try to put something off as long as possible, hoping that it will go away, but it rarely ever does. We avoid it because procrastination means to do something considered painful to us, be it a hard decision or a difficult task. We often use the lame excuse that we don't have time to do something, but the reality is we plain and simply don't want to do it. I don't think anyone actually procrastinates over something they really want to do. So we should look upon procrastination as a sign of how a person really feels about something.

This got me thinking about how many decisions we make during the day. We make all kinds of trivial decisions, such as what clothes we will wear, what to eat, etc., but how many significant decisions do we really make? Probably not as many as we think. Financial decisions are often painfully difficult, such as where we should invest money, the purchase of a new house or automobile, insurance, etc., but we don't make as many of these decisions as we should. We also infrequently think about career and health related decisions. Probably the two areas we most frequently make decisions about is related to our jobs and maintaining our homes. In terms of our jobs, it seems the bigger the assignment, the harder it is to make decisions regarding it and we often seek advice, particularly if our job depends on it. But the same is true at home as well; the bigger the task, the more likely we are to seek advice. For example, there is a big difference between replacing carpeting in a room, and replacing a roof. This implies there is a comfort factor involved with making a decision. In other words, do we know all of the variables and are we convinced this is the proper course of action to take? If we do not, we tend to procrastinate. Replacing a roof is a much more complicated problem than simply replacing a carpet, thereby requiring more studying and advice.

Perhaps the best way to overcome procrastination is to simply prioritize your objectives and assignments, determine not only what you would like to do but what would be most beneficial to you, and get up off your ass and do it. Avoid defeatist attitudes, and try to think positive. You might just find that the problem you have been procrastinating over is not as difficult as you thought it was. But understand this, it will not go away on its own and the old axiom, "Not to decide, is to decide," will inevitably kick in (and usually not in your favor).

"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in."
- Andrew Jackson

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Are these the Good Old Days?":

An R.S. of India wrote...

"Good questions and a good time to bring this up. All I can be sure about the future is that my best guess will be as inaccurate as anything printed by those professional predictors (Jean something) in the grocery store tabloids of the recent past (except I am very sure that Elvis will surface to marry Marlyn Monroe to claim thier love child)."

A D.K. of Brussels, Belgium wrote...

"Time provides perspective...and revisionism."

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

A C.P. of Cincinnati, Ohio wrote...

"This is a good one. The resume is not suppose to be a car salesman. As Jack Webb said, 'Just the facts ma'am.' Well written doesn't mean BULLSHIT."

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

"Too funny. Right now, in the graphic design classes I teach, the students are writing their resumes. I teach them exactly what you say - give them the facts, quickly, and without difficulty. Artists can get as creative as they want visually, so long as the one reading it doesn't get lost in a sea of flourish, only to toss it all in the recycling bin."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

January 19, 2009

2009-01-12T09:58:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - PHASE 4 - ENTERPRISE PHYSICAL DB DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the activities of Phase 4, "Enterprise Physical Data Base Design" in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 5, "Application Physical DB Design" of the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"Whereas the logical Data Base will remain relatively static, the physical data base changes dynamically."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "RESUMES"

I've read a lot of resumes in my day. Coming from the Information Technology sector I have seen some pretty crazy ones filled with a lot of gobbledygook involving technical acronyms and programming jargon. Here's an example, "Proficient in the following languages and operating platforms: C, C++, DOS, MVS, CICS, ISPF/VS, DB2, OS/2, OS/400, AIX, UNIX, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Basic, HTML, DHTML, XHTML, XML, PHP, PDP, JCL, SQL, George 3, Win95/98/Me/XP/VISTA, etc." Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it? The problem is verifying that the person does, in fact, know these things. Most of the time I've found they might have nothing more than a rudimentary knowledge of the subject which is why we recommend testing the applicant as opposed to just taking his/her word for it.

I also find it irritating when a person uses verbose language to describe himself. For example, whenever someone says they are a "Senior Software Engineer," this simply means he is nothing more than a programmer with two or more jobs under his belt. Some people add so many adjectives to describe their credentials and boast of their successes (not their failures) that you would think he is the second coming of Christ. Whenever I see this, I ask myself, "If this person is so great, why isn't he running his own company; why does he need a job from me?" Touting ones' successes is natural, but a little humility in the presentation of the resume would sure be refreshing.

I may not be an expert in preparing resumes, but I think the ones that appeal to me most are those that are simple and to the point. Frankly, if they cannot keep it to one page that isn't too busy looking, I think people will lose interest. I know I do. If I want additional detail, I'll ask for it. Tell me plain and simple: What are you interested in doing? What's your background? (your employment history) and What do you know? (your skill set). I don't want to know how you conquered neuro-electronic fusion systems based on a hashing algorithm you invented; do not try to baffle me with your brilliance. Just tell me how you can do a job for me and blend into the corporate culture. I think team accomplishments are still valued over individual achievement by most employers today.

Just remember if the person's resume seems too good to be true, in all likelihood it is.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An M.R. of Oregon wrote...

"I have been pondering such changes in society myself. Honor, handshakes, and promises just do not matter anymore. The John Waynes, Roy Rogers and the like, and what they stood for, no longer apply. Now the hero's are drug popping athletes, actors and musicians who drug overdose. Good is bad, bad is good and the bad guy is the hero in our movies....... Chaos."

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"This is so well expressed and on the money, Tim. "Once bitten; twice shy" is an old adage, but was seldom applied to friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and government officials. With all the scams, spam, identity theft, internet hoaxes and computer viruses, it gets harder to trust anyone or to recognize a legitimate opportunity. I wonder how many of us have missed out on something good due to lack of trust. It is very hard to earn back trust once it has been lost. If a contractor cheats us, we can sue or simply not hire him again. When a family member violates our trust, it becomes much more serious. Wanting to love and trust family has to be tempered by a lock on the wallet and a healthy dose of skepticism. It can take as little as one minute to lose trust and a lifetime to regain it."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Managing a Nonprofit Organization":

A D.T. of San Francisco, California wrote...

"Tim, I was expecting "peeves." Thanks for the useful, constructive comments. Being in California myself, I also would remind people to make sure they are in compliance with the appropriate laws and/or insurance needs, such as for liability, employment, and tax matters."

A G.W. of Miami, Florida wrote...

"One look at my bank account and you will see I have many years experience running a nonprofit venture."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

January 12, 2009

2009-01-05T10:37:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - PHASE 3 - ENTERPRISE LOGICAL DB DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXIV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the activities of Phase 3, "Enterprise Logical Data Base Design" in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 4, "Enterprise Physical DB Design" of the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"Data Resource Management is a neutral third party who represents the enterprise's overall interests, not just a single application."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "MANAGING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION"

Recently I was adding up the number of Board of Directors I have served on over the years for nonprofit organizations. This includes computer societies, fraternal organizations, homeowner associations, even Little League. The number was close to 40 where I have served in some capacity or other, everything from president, to vice president, secretary, division director, finance chairman, publicity and public relations, newsletter editor, webmaster, even historian. In other words, I think I've learned a thing or two about nonprofit organizations over the years. One of the first things I learned early on is that unless you manage the nonprofit group, it will manage you.

Running a nonprofit group is not exactly rocket science and is actually pretty simple, but surprisingly few people grasp the basics and end up bungling the organization thereby creating upheaval for its constituents. If you are truly interested in properly managing a nonprofit group, consider these ten principles that have served me well over the years:

1. Know the rules. Get a copy of the governing docs, read them, and keep them with you. Do not try to hide them. In fact, make them available to your constituents either in paper form or as a download on the computer (such as a PDF file). Got a briefcase dedicated to your group? Keep a copy of the docs in it and, if an electronic version is available, place an icon on your desktop to quickly access it.

2. Get to know your constituents. How can you expect to adequately serve them if you do not know what their interests are or the group's priorities as they perceive them? They won't always be correct, but understand their perceptions and deal with them accordingly. You might want to circulate a survey to get their view on certain subjects, and to solicit their support.

3. Communicate - not only with the other members of the board, but with your constituency as well. Failure to do so only raises suspicions about what you are doing. Newsletters, e-mail blasts, and web pages are invaluable in this regard, particularly the latter where you can post news, governing docs, contact information, meeting minutes, audit reports, correspondence, etc. Simple communications will clear up a lot of the problems you will face as an officer on the board.

4. Administer - keep good records, regardless if government regulations require it or not. Whether you are maintaining records with pencil and paper or by computer, it is important that accurate records be maintained, particularly about the group's membership, logs of activities, attendance, finances, minutes, etc. It is not really that complicated to perform; you just need someone who pays attention to detail. Don't have the manpower to do it yourself? Then hire someone, such as a management company, who can competently keep track of things.

5. Lead - People like to know where they are headed. If you are in charge of the group, articulate your objectives and prepare a plan to get you there. Also, do not try to micromanage everything. Nonprofit groups are primarily volunteer organizations and the last thing they want is Attila the Hun breathing down their necks. Instead, manage from the bottom-up. Delegate responsibility, empower people, and follow-up. Make sure your people know their responsibilities and are properly trained. Other than that, get out of their way and let them get on with their work.

6. Add value to your service. People like to think they are getting their money's worth for paying their dues. In planning your organization's activities, be creative and imaginative, not stale and repetitive. In other words, beware of falling into a rut. Your biggest obstacle will typically be apathy. If your group's mission is to do nothing more than meet periodically, make it fun and interesting, make it so people want to come and participate. Try new subjects, new venues, new menus, etc. Even if you are on a tight budget, try to make things professional and first class. Change with the times and never be afraid of failure. You won't always bat 1.000 but you will certainly hit a few out of the park and score a lot of runs.

7. Keep an eye on finances. As officers of the Board, you have a fiduciary responsibility to maintain the group's finances and report on their status. I cannot stress enough the importance of having a well thought-out and itemized budget. Operating without one is simply irresponsible. And when you have a budget, manage according to it; if you don't have the money allocated, don't spend it. Obviously, you should also have routine finance reports produced (at least on a monthly basis) showing an opening balance, income, expenses, and a closing balance. Most PC based financial packages can easily do this for you. At the end of the year, perform a review of your finances by an independent party, either a compilation as performed by a CPA or a review by an internal committee. Post the results so the constituency can be assured their money has been properly handled.

8. Run an effective meeting. Nobody wants to attend an inconsequential meeting. Whether it is a weekly/monthly board meeting or an annual meeting, run it professionally. Print up an agenda in advance and stick to it. Start and end on time and maintain order. Got a gavel? Do not hesitate to use it judiciously. Maintain civility and decorum. Allow people to have their say but know when issues are getting out of hand or sidetracked. And do yourself a favor, get a copy of "Robert's Rules" and study it.

9. Beware of politics. Like it or not, man is a political animal. Politics in a nonprofit group can get uglier than in the corporate world. Some people go on a power trip even in the most trivial of organizations. Try not to lose sight of the fact that this is a volunteer organization and what the mission of the group is. Keep an eye on rumors and confront backstabbers, there is no room for such shenanigans in a nonprofit group. If you are the president, try to maintain an "open door" policy to communicate with your constituents. It is when you close the door that trouble starts to brew. Also, ask yourself the following, "Who serves who?" Does the board serve its constituents, or do the constituents serve the board? If your answer is the latter, than dissent will naturally follow.

10. Maintain control over your vendors. Try to keep a good relationship with those companies and people who either work for or come in contact with your group, particularly lawyers. Always remember who works for whom. I have seen instances where attorneys have taken over nonprofit groups (at a substantial cost I might add). The role of the lawyer is to only offer advice; he or she doesn't make the decision, you do (the client). One last note on vendors, make sure you maintain a file of all contracts and correspondence with them. Believe me, you're going to need it when it comes time to sever relations with them. Keep a paper trail.

Bottom-line: run your nonprofit group like a business. Come to think of it, it is a business, at least in the eyes of the State who recognizes you as a legal entity (one that can be penalized and sued). There are those who will naively resist this notion, but like it or not, a nonprofit group is a business. Consider this, what happens when the money runs out?

I mentioned earlier that you might want to hire a management company to perform the administrative detail of your group. To me, this is an admission that the Board is either too lazy or incompetent to perform their duties (or they have more money than they know what to do with). Just remember, it's not rocket science.

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Some New Year's Resolutions for 2009":

A J.S. of Skidmore Lake, Michigan wrote...

"Good ideas, well expressed, Tim. I hadn't thought about ammunition, but stashing some cash isn't a bad idea. Cash may be the wave of the future. I wish the tax deferred retirement savings options had included one for burying cash in a coffee can instead of the currently worthless stocks we had hoped to live on. It wouldn't have earned interest, but at least it would be there."

An A.P. of Wichita, Kansas wrote...

"These resonate with me. They seem realistic and acceptable ideas to hold and strive towards in doing good by yourself and others."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Finding Comfort in Incompetence":

A T.L. of Oak Ridge, North Carolina wrote...

"Great piece Tim! Not too long ago I was working under a board of directors as you such mentioned. I'm sure that before I got there they served a functional purpose and probably was good for the operation. After years had gone by, and as the organization grew, this board served as nothing more than a power-trip for some, a vehicle to provide personal gain for others, and merely a chance to get out of the house for a few to attend the monthly board meeting. Their old-school ways and ideals made changes very difficult, despite the growing need for them. So instead of being a resource, the board became a hinderance and made life for those around it very tough."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

January 5, 2009

2008-12-29T08:16:00.005-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - PHASE 2 - APPLICATION LOGICAL DB DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the activities of Phase 2, "Application Logical Data Base Design" in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 3, "Enterprise Logical DB Design" of the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"A data element has only one logical definition, but may be represented physically in many different ways."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "FINDING COMFORT IN INCOMPETENCE"

I think we're all familiar with the old saying, "Ignorance is bliss," but I seem to be running into this more frequently in a lot of small nonprofit organizations, such as youth sports, fraternal groups, homeowner associations, etc. I have had more than my fair share of experience with such groups over the years and I am always amazed at how incompetently they are run. People who get on the board of directors for nonprofit groups typically mean well, but most don't have a clue as to what is necessary to effectively run them.

Running a local nonprofit group is not exactly rocket science, but I'm amazed how many people make it overly complicated (does the expression, "Making mountains out of mole hills," mean anything to you?). Basically, you have a set of governing docs which you have to follow (which most people on the Board rarely read), you have to keep track of your membership, perform some service for them, and collect money and pay the bills. Hopefully, a rationally prepared budget is somewhere in all of this, but this is becoming as rare as having the organization's finances independently reviewed on an annual basis. But in a nutshell, that's all there is to it. Yet, time and again, I see people bumbling their way through nonprofit groups, causing more problems than they solve. So much so, that it is not uncommon for them to hire management companies to come in and run the administrative detail of the organization, for a tidy fee of course.

Nonprofit organizations are typically driven more by ego than common sense. It's sad when you see someone campaign for President more for the notoriety or power as opposed to performing anything useful. To me, this is just plain bizarre. I guess there are people who need some petty recognition, particularly if they never did anything in their professional lives.

Such organizations tend to be fraught with cronyism, a good ole boy club whereby you have to be anointed to become a member (if you play ball with the powers that be). The last thing they want is an outsider to come in and shake things up. By controlling the rules by which the game is played, the board pretty much has carte blanche to do what they want, and therein lies the problem. The board might be smug and content, but the institution itself begins to deteriorate from neglect. Where there is cronyism, there is incompetence, and where there is incompetence, there is decay. Whenever you see a nonprofit organization fail to adequately report to their constituency on its activities and status, or goes so far as to thwart criticism of the status quo, you see such a scenario.

Typically the only way to overcome a despot or like-minded board is to take over the board in force or by legal maneuvering. Then again, is the incoming board going to be any different than the outgoing board?

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A K.C. of Roswell, New Mexico wrote...

"He (Pres. Bush) has also sent alot of money to Africa for health issues that the U.N. refuses to do anything about. They just sit back and watch another horrific genocide."

A D.E. of Golden Hill, Maryland wrote...

"Basically a good re-cap, but my personal feelings are that for LBJ you actually listed two negatives as the 'Great Society' was just another step towards the Democrats push for socialism; as for 'George the First', his NAFTA was also a step towards socialism."

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

A K.P. of Minnesota wrote...

"I agree with you Tim that drives me crazy. Some people need to BATHE."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "What's wrong with a little discipline?":

A B.L. of New York wrote...

"Finally, common sense has come back to the classroom!!! We need more teachers and administrators like this. It seems kids today have no discipline at home and when that happens, it carries over in school and in public. They have no self-respect and show none to anyone else. If you say something to them about the way they act, you get a one finger salute. They know you can't do anything to them and they can get away with it. I used to get an "attitude adjustment" from Dad once a month whether I needed it or not. Great article!!!!"

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

December 29, 2008

2008-12-18T11:56:00.006-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - PHASE 1 - DATA BASE STUDY & EVALUATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe the activities of Phase 1, "Data Base Study & Evaluation" in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 2, "Application Logical DB Design" of the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"Data is stored; Information is produced."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "WHAT'S WRONG WITH A LITTLE DISCIPLINE?"

Caroline Haynes is my new hero. A lot of you may be saying "Who the heck is Caroline Haynes?", particularly those of you outside of the United Kingdom, but Ms. Haynes is a school principal who recently caught the attention of the press when she started to implement strict discipline in the classroom. I've never had the pleasure of actually meeting Ms. Haynes, but I have been doing a lot of reading about her recently. She is with the Tendring Technology College in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK, a secondary school which, when translated to the American equivalent, is a private school for children ages 11-19.

What makes her story interesting is that she adopted a zero-tolerance policy on student discipline at her school under the premise that bad behavior effects the culture of learning. She is quoted as saying, "It stands to reason that a lax policy on discipline will result in increased bad behaviour."

Whereas government policy encourages more tolerance in terms of youth discipline, Ms. Haynes has adopted an opposing policy that has resulted in 478 suspensions in one year at a school with 1,880 pupils (25%). Currently, she is averaging two suspensions every day for bad behavior. Swearing at teachers, classroom disruptions, drugs, fighting, and bad attitudes are simply not tolerated. Her tactics may sound somewhat radical in a permissive society, but you cannot deny her results. Since cracking down on discipline, student passing rates jumped from 48% to 74%, a substantial increase. Ms. Haynes said, "Our policy immediately bore fruit. Exam results have soared. I'm very proud."

For full test results at Tendring, click HERE.

Now, instead of adversarial relationships and tension in the classroom, students are free to concentrate on their studies and are improving noticeably. Now for the kicker; I'm told students like the discipline and prefer it over chaos. This is consistent with what I have been saying that people tend to thrive in a structured environment that is well organized and leadership is strong, whether it is in school or in business. It eliminates distractions thereby allowing people to focus and be more productive. Further, it brings consistency to work products and promotes craftsmanship. People not only need a little discipline, they actually prefer operating in such a manner which improves communications and gives them a sense of direction.

You have heard me say we need some real heroes these days, people to be emulated. Well, Ms. Haynes is one that gets my vote. In an age where discipline is spurned, she offers tangible proof of the benefits that can be derived from a little law and order in our daily lives.

For more information on Ms. Haynes, see the following TELEGRAPH story or THE INDEPENDENT story.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Reading this and nodding my head at all the piles of crud I have surrounding me. Years ago I picked up a tip and have tried sticking to it. For everything you decide you must keep two other items must go. If not for this rule I would not be able to find my front door. Even so the crud still piles up."

A D.T. of Raleigh, Norh Carolina wrote...

"I am a hobbyist and tinkerer. I love gadgets, cars, and such. My garage is full of odds and ends - old electronics and what-not that may work (or may not) and have very limited (if any) actual future value - not monetary, but usefulleness or potential for usefullness. A loft in my garage is full of odd lengths of lumber - 2x4s, trim wood, moulding, etc. I have bins full of peices of metal - angle iron, square and round tubing, flat stock, etc. Drawers full of nuts, bolts, washers, and more containers (oh how I love containers!) - margerine tubs, coffee cans, jars... Some of this, I think, stems from growing up not having much - I feel very hesitant to part with anything, with the looming concern that 'if' we ever need it again, we'll be forced to purchase a whole new one (if we can even find such an artifact)! I know that many people raised around the depression or WWII generation (rationing, devastation after the war, etc.) have similar hoarding habits, when allowed to do so. I was born in 1970, so I don't have those inclinations necessarily, but it may have been influence from my grandparents, who raised me for much of my childhood. I need to clean out my garage (as well as my house) of all this 'crud' but that nagging voice in my head keeps telling me: 'what if you might need it?' and admonishes me: 'you never know...'"

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

December 22, 2008

2008-12-15T10:07:00.005-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - METHODOLOGY CONSTRUCTION/NAVIGATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 1 - Data Base Study & Evaluation of the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"There are those who suggest that data "belongs" to the various users or departments of a company. This is like saying money is the property of the sales or accounting departments, not the company. Data belongs to the enterprise as a whole and not to any single person or department."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "PRESIDENTIAL LEGACIES"

We're coming down to the closing days of the Bush administration and I find it interesting how he has been portrayed as a political pariah. All presidents have some political baggage they have to take home with them as they leave office, but I find it interesting that the public tends to remember only the bad things and not the good things the President has done. To illustrate, consider the legacy of the last few presidents and how they will undoubtedly be remembered by historians, both pro and con:

Lyndon Johnson -
Negative: Will primarily be remembered for escalating the Viet Nam War.
Positive: But he will also be remembered for his "Great Society" legislation which is still with us today.

Richard Nixon -
Negative: Of course, Watergate is the first image conjured up by anyone discussing Nixon.
Positive: Opened relations with China and started an era of détente with the Soviet Union.

Gerald Ford -
Negative: Portrayed as a bumbler by the media, and his pardon of Richard Nixon didn't sit well with them either.
Positive: Although he was in office for only a short period of time, he was able to restore decency and honor to the presidency.

Jimmy Carter -
Negative: Iran is indelibly associated with Carter, including the fall of the Shah, the rise of the Ayotallah, the hostages, and the botched rescue attempt. Iran ultimately cost Carter the White House.
Positive: Helping to negotiate the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He also started the Department of Energy and encouraged energy conservation.

Ronald Reagan -
Negative: The Iran-Contra affair was like an annoying gnat that wouldn't go away.
Positive: Will be better remembered for the demise of the Soviet Union, the introduction of "Reaganomics" and an era of prosperity.

George H.W. Bush -
Negative: "Read my lips" cost him dearly, but it was the recession that ultimately did him in.
Positive: Won the first Persian Gulf War, he presided over the end of the Cold War (and the fall of the Berlin Wall), and introduced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Bill Clinton -
Negative: Impeached, Somalia, Whitewater controversy, Sexual misconduct, etc.
Positive: Presided over a peacetime economic expansion and the first balanced budget in many years.

George W. Bush -
Negative: Will long be criticized for the current financial crisis and ending the military presence in Iraq.
Positive: He stepped up to the plate when called upon for the War on Terror and forced the terrorists into retreat. He formed an international coalition and conquered Iraq. He also put the "Axis of Evil" on notice that the United States was not to be trifled with. And his tax cuts will be emulated by future presidents.

Except for Reagan and Clinton, all of the presidents listed here will be remembered for the negatives and not the positives. As to Reagan, the Iran-Contra affair was considered small potatoes when compared to his other accomplishments. Clinton on the other hand represents a strange conundrum; even though his administration was always at the forefront of controversy, he ended his term of office with high approval ratings. Whereas his antics would normally be considered political poison for anyone else, Clinton somehow came out of it smelling like a rose and is still held in high regard by the Democrats.

In contrast to Clinton, President Bush is not embraced by anyone, including his own political party. It disturbs me that Bush is portrayed as a bumbling uneducated schmuck while "Slick Willie" is seen as a saint. Wow, talk about having our moral values mixed up.

Nobody else will say it, so I will: Thank you President Bush for your many years of service to our country. Were you perfect? No, but neither will your successors be as they will undoubtedly screw-up somehow along the way. For some reason the media and American public seems to forget that we elect human-beings to the office of the President, not Gods.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An R.Y. of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio wrote...

"I read an article in the Akron Beacon Journal (Dec.1, 2008 "High School Kids Lie, Cheat, and Steal") recently. It seems that although these surveyed students cheat and steal and lie more, 93% said that they "were satisfied with their personal ethics and character." Educators pointed out that there is more pressure and opportunities to cheat. But what about stealing - from stores and parents? What about the lying? I don't buy it. I think it goes back to entitlement - being entitled to a college education, to a job that pays top dollar and benefits right out of college, entitled to a new car, a house and all the things that go with it - those things that my parents, my husband and I, had to work years for. And let's not forget who their political role models have been!"

An E.C. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida wrote...

"Amen to your article. I see the effects of cheating all the time. The majority of students do it. Recent studies indicate that around 68% of students in high school have cheated on a test in the past year. Cheating is corrosive. People don't realize how damaging it is to the social bonds. Most people also consider themselves very ethical (same study). There is a serious disconnect here."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Breaking the Media's Influence":

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"You've made some excellent points, Tim. The media is no longer reporting factual news. News stories are mostly spin and speculation. Irresponsible jounalism is rampant. While the ad revenues may be supporting TV and Internet news, newpapers are bleeding red ink. The Detroit Free Press has reduced publication days to a few days per week. Other newspapers are closing altogether. I am also disgusted by the amount of money spent on campaigns. People are out of work, filing bankruptcy, getting foreclosed, are homeless and sick, but the campaign coffers are overflowing."

A P.E. of Dunedin, Florida wrote... A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"Tim, Another great one!! Have you ever considered submitting some of your writings, especially the political ones, to The Washington Times, Investors Business Daily, Wall Street Journal, etc.?"

TIM'S REPLY: Thanks for your note. I used to submit articles to them, but I guess my writings are not controversial enough. If you know of someone who would enjoy my work though, please do not hesitate to forward my announcements to them or point them in the direction or my web address.

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

December 15, 2008

2008-12-08T11:02:00.005-05:00

"PRIDE"-DBEM - CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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

NEXT UP: Methodology Navigation to the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"A Data Base is all of the data needed to support the information requirements of an enterprise, regardless of where used or how stored. By this definition, all companies have a data base; some are managed, most are not."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "BREAKING THE MEDIA'S INFLUENCE"

I guess it's no secret that the media is driven by money, particularly in an election year. Sure, their revenues from athletics and prime time shows are nice, but make no mistake, it is politics that fuels the fires of the media. Consider that in this year's presidential campaign, the Democrats and Republicans alone spent over $360 million on television advertising, and this does not include the Internet, radio, newspapers, handouts, billboards and signs. Although the final numbers haven't been tabulated yet, it has been estimated that the presidential race cost around $2.4 billion, twice the amount spent in 2004 and three times what was spent in 2000. Kowabunga!

Let us also not forget the other congressional candidates who ran this year. Keep in mind, they set a record just two years ago for midterm elections where over $1 billion was spent on advertising. I think it's safe to say the record will be easily beaten this year. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics estimated that over $5.3 billion will have been spent on federal contests, and this doesn't include state or local contests either.

Let's face it, campaigns for political office means big bucks and explains why the media is so obsessed with them; it is their bread and butter. As an aside, I chuckle when I hear the media complain about the overt influence of lobbyists who cough up the money to pay for the exorbitant fees the media charges. Talk about the pot calling the kettle "black." The media represents the biggest lobbyist around, bar none, but instead of paying money, they take it all in.

The billions spent on fueling the media is disheartening to those of us who think such money could solve other more important problems in this country, such as helping the needy, fixing our infrastructure, or performing research for our energy and health requirements.

The public likes to complain about the dominating influence of the media, yet for every dollar donated in support of a political candidate, you are just fueling the media. Next time, instead of mailing a check to your candidate, you might as well mail it directly to the media and save some postage.

We have tried to enact campaign reforms before, but this hasn't really gotten us anywhere. The politicians realize cutting campaign contributions would be like cutting their nose off to spite their face. Recognizing that our politicians are spineless in terms of campaign reform, I propose something entirely different, something that might actually work. Instead of imposing caps, I say eliminate limits altogether, bring in as much money as possible, BUT, for every dollar contributed to a political campaign, another dollar must be donated to a special account dedicated to such things as charity, research and other pertinent causes. In other words, half goes to the politicians and media, and the other half goes to fund a truly worthwhile cause. Just imagine what could be done with $2.65 billion (half of the $5.3 billion mentioned earlier).

This proposal will ultimately kill two birds with one stone; first, it will disempower the media by greatly reducing its source of income, and second; the diverted money will go into those programs we truly need. As I see it, it's a win-win-win situation; politicians can still spend campaign money but at a greatly reduced rate, the media's influence is greatly diminished, and instead of wasting money on the media, we invest it in ourselves. More importantly, it helps to break the influence of the media.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An S.B. of Greenbelt, Maryland wrote...

"Funny you should pick this topic: the same occurred to me the other night watching the Tonight Show. The guy starring in the new movie, "Twilight" (which is a pretty loathsome story on its own), was on the show. He looked like he had just dragged out of bed: unshaven, shirt out, etc. My impression wasn't laziness, but arrogance. "I don't give a d--- about the public, those paying for my performance. Why should I put myself out?" I think Jay Leno had about the same reaction. But, this isn't going to change this as long as people keep buying the tickets."

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"I'm not sure why people are so fascinated by celebrities. My guess is that they don't have fulfilling lives of their own. One of the popular internet displays is the site with photos of the gigantic homes of celebrities. Nowhere does it mention who build the houses. I agree, Tim. Generally speaking, our society's values have dropped pretty low. We see progress in some areas, but celebrity worship isn't one of them."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Economics 101":

An M.H. of Las Vegas, Nevada wrote...

"You mean I should not buy a half million dollar house when I can JUST afford my apartment? Who would of thunk it? Good post."

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"You've given some excellent advice, which ought to be common sense, but common sense isn't common these days. I share your opinion about the timing of the announcement. Are our elected officials really so dense that they didn't notice the unemployment, forclosures and bankruptcies during their campaigns? I guess the announcement makes it official. It's no surprise to most of us."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

December 8, 2008

2008-12-01T08:58:00.006-05:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 9 - ISEM EVALUATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XIX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Introduction to the "PRIDE"-Data Base Engineering Methodology (DBEM).

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...

"Systems do not have a 'life cycle.' They may go on forever if kept viable with change. The only thing that has a 'life cycle' is a project which has a beginning for planning, a middle for execution, and an end for review."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "ECONOMICS 101"

There have been a variety of things blamed for the 2008 economic crunch, such as outsourcing work overseas, bad loan policies, the value of the dollar and oil, government regulation, corporate corruption, the stock markets, etc. My guess is that it's probably a lot simpler than all this, namely John Q. Public has forgotten about basic economics. Maybe it's time for a refresher course:

First, don't spread yourself too thin. This means don't spend more than you have or earn. It seems to me a lot of young people today want it all right away; the big house, the big car, the latest electronic toys, etc. This, of course, results in the big bills and big headaches. Maybe we should be less consumed with "keeping up with the Jones'" and more with paying our bills and keeping our creditors happy. To do so, minimize your financial dependencies, such as rent or mortgage, car loans, credit cards, etc. Do some soul-searching and reassess your priorities. That $400 cell phone may look pretty snazzy, but could that money be more wisely spent elsewhere?

Second, maintain a good credit record. Pay your bills on time and avoid penalties. Someone who doesn't pay their bills on time is less likely to get a loan when they need it as opposed to someone who does. Bankruptcy is not the panacea it may seem; it can be a rather arduous process to recover from it and it will be a long time before anybody offers you a line of credit.

Third, try to put something away for a rainy day. This may be hard to do, but it will be worth it during turbulent times (such as what we are currently going through). Don't know where to save your money? Consult a reputable financial planner, someone you personally trust. An independent consultant is every bit as good as some of the big boys, maybe more so.

Finally, the politicians and media have come to the realization that we're in the midst of a recession. I wonder if it's a coincidence that they had this epiphany only after the November elections. We are now in the midst of the holiday shopping madness, and when the dust clears it will be reported that sales are radically down and the gross domestic product will be lower than expected, again. I would use the word "depression", but I don't think we're that far gone yet and will be able to pull out of this. The survivors will be those who keep their cool and pay attention to the basics.

So, who is at fault for our latest round of economic woes? As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us." High finance is nice, but if everyone had paid attention to Economics 101 we probably wouldn't be in this mess today.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A J.S. in Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"This is really interesting, Tim. I can vouch for the acute hearing of teenagers. When my daughter was in high school, our TV was on, but set on pause, waiting to play a VHS tape. I couldn't hear anything, but she got very annoyed and turned off the set. She couldn't believe I couldn't hear the whine and I couldn't believe she could. She is 21 now, so we'll have to try that again to see if presbycussis has set in. She makes fun of me for my presbyopia and my granny glasses. Now we'll see who else is aging..."

An M.R. in Oregon wrote...

"My 16 year old standing here, he hurried and left!! I asked him what did it sound like? He said like a very high pitched squeal, like you said. The dogs did not respond, and my husband and I could not hear it. My parrot did not respond either (I thought she might). Finally my 16 year old in the other room yelled it hurt his ear and could I stop it. Very interesting! Thumbs up for your blog!"

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

A T.N. of Golden Valley, California wrote...

"I agree that the public sector will shrink, as the private sector is already doing. But the other end of that see-saw is welfare for those who are no longer needed for the country to function. Job programs no longer work, they ceased working at the turn of the century. A small middle class is normal. Extended families living together is normal. The past 70 or so years are not at all normal."

A D.E. of Golden Hill, Maryland wrote...

"I'd have to say that you've hit the nail on the head...again. Good post! I think a lot of it has to do with the government learning that if it gets the public to 'think' that it's getting something for nothing, they will believe it and allow government to grow. Case in point, or should I say future case in point, Obama ran a well executed race. He used the typical "Chicago politics" (that, sadly, is no longer restricted to Chicago) or 'promise them everything give them nothing and take as much as you can get'. In the next four years government will grow; sadly it will be exponentially rather than linearly. Great job!"

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

December 1, 2008

2008-11-24T08:54:00.005-05:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 8 - SYSTEM OPERATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XVIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 9 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), ISEM Evaluation.

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...

"Systems are built by evolution, not by revolution. The day a system is installed is the day it begins to undergo change."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "EXPANDING GOVERNMENT"

Over the last 100 years the federal government has grown by leaps and bounds. The impetus for this is probably economic related (e.g., "The Great Depression," and today's world economy), and military related (including two world wars, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, numerous minor engagements, and the War on Terror). We also have several years of presidential campaigns heaped in where we were promised a lot more than two chickens in every pot or two cars in every garage. This has all changed the face of our government where we now have several more agencies and departments to deliver on presidential promises. For example, during my lifetime alone we have seen the introduction of several cabinet posts, such as HUD, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, EPA, and Homeland Security.

There are essentially two theories as to why government expands: that it is driven by citizen demand, or it is self-generating, that it grows naturally by itself. I tend to believe in the latter as I see it as an excellent example of Parkinson's Law in action. The law, which was devised by C. Northcote Parkinson, a noted British historian and author was based on his experience with the British Civil Service. Among his key observation's was that "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." Basically, he suggests people make work in order to rationalize their employment. Consequently, managers create bureaucracies and superfluous work to justify their existence, not because it is really needed (aka, the "making mountains our of mole hills" phenomenon).

We see examples of Parkinson's Law in just about every government body, from federal to state, to municipal, to the smallest bodies of government, including Homeowner Associations. A few years ago I was President of my Homeowners Association where I was able to balance the budget, update their governing docs, and streamline their administrative affairs. It wasn't hard, it just required a little common sense, nothing more, nothing less. Since I left the board of directors though, spending has gone through the roof, and we are now paying more for dues and getting a lot less in return. As I see it, my Homeowners Association is a microcosm of the problems with government; paying more and getting less. To illustrate, the only visible government services that impacts me directly are roads, water and sewage, the police, and education. Everything else is transparent to me. Others might include welfare, housing, and the environment, but I think this is the exception as opposed to the rule for most people. In other words, the average person sees little in return for the taxes they pay.

Then we come to the old argument as to whether government should be more or less intrusive in our lives which is actually a political argument. There are those who say we need more government since the average citizen is not smart enough to control his/her own destiny, and there are others who want less government control and more freedom. Understand this, the government grew over the last 100 years under both Democratic and Republican administrations. So political ideologue has no real bearing in this regard. It is simply a matter of management (or the lack thereof).

Recognizing companies were becoming bloated and inefficient, executives began to flatten corporate hierarchies in the 1980's and 1990's. The poster child for this was Jack Welsh of General Electric who earned the nickname "Neutron Jack" for his ability to flatten G.E. units. Welsh's approach was reminiscent of Joseph Stalin's purges which came in waves of three: the first was to eliminate the deadwood from around the office, representing the people who were the most expendable; the second wave of purges represented a major belt tightening effort intended to find out who the company could live without, and finally; the third wave was the hardest as it required considerable soul-searching but uncovered the bedrock of the corporation. What was left was a more efficient organization that was more focused on the right priorities.

Now imagine if we did something like this to our government; it would force a lot of bureaucrats out of office, it would create a leaner and more streamlined government, and it would force them to concentrate on the services that truly matter.

But for some reason I think most people like a fat government. They like having someone looking over their shoulder, kind of like a security blanket. As I found in my homeowner association though, the price of a bloated government is more expensive, more bureaucratic, and provides less service. I guess it comes down to how dependent we want to be on government and whether we trust their judgment to maintain our interests. As for me, I vote for less government, not more. Here's another way of looking at it: should the government serve its constituents, or should the constituents serve the government? You tell me.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A D.T. of Raleigh, North Carolina wrote...

"Thankfully, I don't travel by air much anymore, but do dread going to the airport to pick-up or drop-off anyone. Drop-off is less painful, of course, providing you've rehearsed the drill of exiting the vehicle, unloading the luggage and executing a rapid fair well and Godspeed - all with the speed and precision of a Formula Racing pit crew. Pick-up, however, is a whole different purgatory... If you don't care to negotiate the concrete barricade-laden labyrinth they call a parking deck to pay "steak dinner for two" prices for temporary parking, you are forced to perform lap upon lap around the facility (like an ancient mariner with a dead albatross hanging from your neck) until your quarry arrives curb-side - at which point you perform the drop-off procedure in reverse order. I'm in total agreement - anxious people circling the airport like sharks and people jumping in and out of vehicles barking orders and slinging around parcels and cases around while being chased around by the keystone kop TSA is the most suspicious activity I've witnessed at the airport in several decades."

An S.B. of Greenbelt, Maryland wrote...

"I haven't travelled in a while, but taking people to the airport is a pain. I can't even get in. We have a bus to the airport near my house, for only $3.00 it takes you to the door. That's less than parking there.

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

An R.R. in Oregon wrote...

"So true. By telling society what we should already know, they protect us from ourselves and them from sue-happy individuals. Reading this, the song 'Signs, Signs, everywhere Signs' came to mind......common sense is lacking these days."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

November 24, 2008

2008-11-17T09:29:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 7 - SUB-SYSTEM TEST (SPECIAL)

This is Part XVII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 8 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), System Operation.

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...

"How a system is implemented is of little importance if it solves the problem effectively."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "DUMBING DOWN"

I recently read the government is forcing the manufacturers of cough medicine to add a label on their bottles warning that it is not suitable for young children under the age of four. Common sense would suggest you shouldn't give an infant a strong cough suppressant with codeine, but I guess common sense is not very common these days and we now have to explicitly tell people what to do all of the time. I refer to this as the "Dumbing Down" of America whereby we have to apply labels to everything, "Don't touch this," "Don't do that," etc.

The first example of this that I can remember is when the government mandated tobacco companies in the 1960's to put a warning on cigarette packs, "Smoking may be hazardous to your health." I've been smoking cigars for forty years now and even as a youngster I knew the risks involved, but I guess some people need a neon sign to warn them.

We're starting to see more signs like this in restaurant menus, such as, "Consuming raw or undercooked animal foods, poultry, beef, pork, seafood, eggs, may present a health risk." Really? What a shocker. The only thing I might eat raw is sushi, and I can guarantee you I'll be looking to see it is well prepared. Now there is a movement coming out of New York City whereby the government wants restaurants to post the number of calories associated with each entree. The idea is to warn consumers they might become fat if they eat the wrong items. Do you mean to tell me there is someone out there who can't tell the difference between the nutritional value of a Big Mac and a salad?

Either we're getting progressively stupid, or this is some subliminal plot by label makers and government bureaucrats to justify their existence. Do we really need to tell adults not to stick their tongues on a frozen flagpole? In a way, this reminds me of comedian Bill Engvall's "Here's your sign" routine, whereby the obvious isn't always obvious to people. Maybe some people need to get their tongues stuck now and then before they wake up. And maybe they need to come to the realization that they are responsible for their own actions, not someone else. "Dumbing Down" may be a good legal cop-out for some, but I for one do not want to be accused of lacking simple common sense.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An N.K. in Palm Harbor wrote...

"Your essay on parenting was right on. I say 'ditto' on that whole piece!"

A D.T. in Raligh, North Carolina wrote...

"Spot On! Parents should NOT try to be their children's friend above all. "Helicopter parents" (in a perpetual state of "hover" around their progeny) are doing their children as much disservice as parents who let pop culture raise them and provide the basis for their moral compass and interpersonal skills. Be a parent - step up, take the stand and raise your children. Give them the latitude to learn their own lessons and get their bumps and bruises. Do NOT be afraid to be "the bad guy/gal" by taking a firm position counter to the unbridled impulses of your children. In society, do not be "shocked and alarmed" when a parent disciplines their children in public. While there is NEVER justification for a closed-hand-strike or beating a child, if a parent wants to give a spanking, that is their choice. Providing redirection, discussing one's feelings and "time out" does not work for every child in every situation. Bottom line: You can't respect someone who worships the ground you walk on."

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

An R.L. in Seattle, Washington wrote...

"How can there possibly be success without failure? Two sides of the same coin (trite, but true). very good article!"

A D.T. of Raleigh, North Carolina wrote...

"Again, spot-on. Our society has become extremely risk-averse. Blanket zero-tolerance policies are a cop-out for never having to exercise judgment. Individual responsibility is a shade so far in the rearview-mirror, it becomes indistinguishable from the bland scenery. We, collectively, have such distaste for "failure" that nobody tries anything that isn't guaranteed (most "guarantees" have "out-of-context exceptions" that produce their own failure cases, as we are NOT omnipotent beings!). As a society, and especially in business, we reward the expected (despite the low-hurdles involved), shun the chance-takers, and celebrate our own mediocrity. We deserve better."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

November 17, 2008

2008-11-10T08:44:00.007-05:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 6 - SOFTWARE TESTING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XVI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 7 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), Sub-System Test.

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...

"Systems are designed by 'explosion' and implemented by 'implosion'."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "HANDLING FAILURE"

Failure is something we don't handle very well as a species. You would think we would be better at it since we all experience some form of failure in our lives, from major blunders to minor snafus. We fail due to errors in judgment, unforeseen circumstances outside of our control, or perhaps we underestimated the amount of risk involved, or we were just plain wrong about something. We have all failed at something and I cannot imagine life without failure. Yet, we don't seem to know how to handle it with tact and dignity. We even go so far as to cover-up our failures or blame others as opposed to acknowledging defeat. Admitting failure is a bitter pill to swallow, yet I have more respect for the person who admits and takes responsibility for his failings than someone on the sideline who does nothing but jeer or condemns the failure. Nobody should be made to suffer embarrassment from failure if they have put their best foot forward. There is no disgrace.

I'm certainly not suggesting we encourage failure, but we should at least understand it. For example, I've noticed people today tend to be sore losers. This may be because of our competitive nature and our inclination to try and win at all costs. Consequently, we do not tend to be gracious in defeat. In contrast, Abraham Lincoln shocked everyone after losing his first Senate race by appearing at the victory party of his opponent and offered a genuine hand of friendship and support. This did not go unnoticed and was well remembered by his opponent who fought for his candidacy years later. From this perspective, Lincoln teaches us that you are not going to lose all of the time, and it might not be wise to burn bridges to those who might assist us later on.

I've also noticed some people become so obsessed with the possibility of failure they go into a state of paralysis whereby they prefer doing nothing as opposed to risking the sting of defeat. This is a tragedy as it represents the arrest of progress.

I think the biggest problem with failure is that we do not recognize it as a natural part of life. For every success, there is usually one or more failures not far behind. To illustrate, I believe bankruptcies have quadrupled since the 1980's, probably due to some rather liberal bankruptcy laws. If you have declared bankruptcy, you may have saved yourself, but I can guarantee you someone else is suffering a loss, such as the creditors you owe money to. If we establish a system where it is beneficial to fail, people inevitably will (see Murphy's Law).

I tend to believe in the old axiom, "If you make 51% of your decisions correctly, you will be a success." In other words, you don't have to bat 1.000 to be considered a success, just stay ahead of your mistakes. Frankly, it's a matter of carefully picking your fights and contests.

Perhaps Rudyard Kipling put the best spin on failure in his famous poem, "If"; to paraphrase:

"If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!"

Perhaps the only thing we do worse than failure is success.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A C.M. of Khost Province, Afghanistan wrote...

I have no problem with a "negative election". My wife makes no secret of the fact that she despises the policies of Barack Hussein Obama. She does not like Mr. McCain either. So she is holding her nose, and voting for the candidate she despises least. The constitution does not specify WHY a person must vote for a candidate, thank God for this.

A D.W. of Kenneth City, Florida wrote...

"To me, one of the rights you get from voting is the right to complain about actions that we feel are detrimental or opposite to either what they campaigned on or what you think is right. If someone does not vote then you have given up that right to complain about the job they are or are not doing that you hired them for. As we can't fire our elected officials, the best that we can do is complain."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Be Careful What You Wish for...":

An E.H. of Newland, North Carolina wrote...

"I agree Tim. I don't believe Obama has any clue what it takes to be president. He has made promises that he can't deliver. I just can't believe so many people are enthralled with this man."

A C.S. in Palm Harbor, Florida wrote...

"Sadly you are so right."

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

A J.S. in Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"I worked in a large department at an HMO. One employee was consistently late, by ten to fifteen minutes, in the mornings. She hit the groung running, however, and significantly out-performed her collegues. She also stayed as long as a half hour after closing, to finish up paper work. The late arrival was not worth addressing."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

November 10, 2008

2008-11-03T08:42:00.004-05:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 5 - SOFTWARE MANUFACTURING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 6 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), Software Testing.

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...

"Programming is a translation function, going from human understandable specifications to machine processable instructions."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "HABITS"

I've been a baseball fan since I was a little kid. I followed the Yankees of the early 1960's, The Big Red Machine of the 1970's, and now the Tampa Bay Rays. The habits of the players have always fascinated me. For example, the Boston Red Sox all seem to have some sort of ritual they perform just before they get in the batter's box. David Ortiz ("Big Papi") spits into his batting gloves and claps his hands before grabbing the bat; Dustin Pedroia clears his sinuses and carefully examines his bat, and; Kevin Youkilis holds the bat with his hands apart as he performs a strange rocking dance in the batter's box. The Sox are not alone in this regard; you can find a variety of strange habits in a ballpark, all the way from the Majors to Little League. A lot revolves around spitting, grabbing the crotch, and language. Wade Boggs was notorious for his pre-game rituals and how he steadfastly resisted any attempt to alter his regiment.

You have to wonder why habits play such a substantial role in the life of a ball player, and I think it says a lot about humans as creatures of habit. Some players say they do it as a form or discipline in order to get them in the right rhythm of the game, but most tend to be superstitious in nature; after all, what worked in one game, should hopefully work in another. Once a habit is formed, players tend to be afraid to change it. It thereby becomes the coach's job to look for superstitious habits in their players and change them if they become counterproductive.

Baseball fans also tend to pick up a variety of strange habits, such as wearing a favorite hat or shirt, drinking a certain beer, or offering some bizarre prayer or chant to solicit favoritism from the mythical baseball gods. They adamantly cling to these habits as a sign of good luck for their team, regardless of where they are, whether at the ballpark or in front of a television set. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that such rituals by the fans are sheer nonsense as it is up to the players on the field to win the game and not the histrionics of their fans. But if it adds to the baseball experience of the fans on the sidelines, then why not?

As we all know, baseball doesn't have a monopoly on habits. We find them in every sport, in every country. In fact, we find them in both our personal and professional lives. If you were to look around your office you could probably enumerate a substantial list of strange idiosyncrasies of your coworkers in no time at all.

In the workplace, it is the manager's duty to observe worker habits and make necessary corrections just as a baseball coach would. Whether you are in the ballpark or in the workplace, breaking a habit can be a lot harder than people think. Simple reasoning corrects most habits, but when a habit becomes physical, it becomes a lot harder and more painful to correct. In fact, changing habits can be downright difficult particularly for those people who operate in an autopilot mode through life. As a result, managers try threats, ridicule, shame, penalties, even hypnosis to enact change (I kind of like the cattle prod approach myself).

Some people are strong enough to correct a habit themselves if it is brought to their attention, but others will need help along the way which is where the manager comes in. But when studying worker habits, the first question should be, does it have an adverse affect on business? If it doesn't, you might just want to leave it alone. After all, I don't think anyone in Boston wants to change David Ortiz' habit of spitting and clapping his hands. Some habits you just might want to emulate.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An S.S. in Ankara, Turkey wrote...

"What is mine is her's and what is her's is her's alone." :)

A C.R. in Palm Harbor, Florida wrote...

"The laundry room Tim! You forgot about the laundry room! (Actually, no one is allowed to touch anything in the laundry room but Mom.) And don't forget we have a strict chores policy; outside chores = man duties, and inside chores = female duties. Unless, of course, one is willing to barter for an assist on "their" respective duty. :)"

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

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

"Loved this one. My husband's whole family were so self-deceptive, I had to imbibe pharmaceuticals to be able to stand being around them, even for a meal. (I have what the shrinks call an 'extreme realist personality type'). When you tell such self-deceptive people the truth, they kill the messenger. You can't win. There are two kinds of people, senders and receivers. I am a strong receiver and as a result, I have some 'abilities'. I can read senders, and can always tell when they are lying. If I concentrate, I can even read what the truth is that they are hiding. This had enabled me to tell my husband what was really going on in his family and give him a leg up, but in general, it has made me very disappointed with humanity. They lie, lie, lie, often times over stupid little things that there is no need to lie about. I never called my husband's family on their lies; I just went home and told him what really happened in a given situation, as opposed to the version he was being fed. I now wish I had repeated to their faces word for word the thoughts I pulled out of their minds. I would have enjoyed the look of panic on their faces at being uncovered. Back then, I was too kind to do it, figuring that liars are generally weak people who need their self-deception to make it through the day, but in light of what they later did to my husband, I regret that. See, I'm so honest, I'll even admit to being vindictive, LOL."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

November 3, 2008

2008-10-27T10:31:00.005-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 4-II - SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XIV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 5 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), Software Manufacturing.

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...

Good Systems Design + Good Programming = Great Systems
Good Systems Design + Bad Programming = Good Systems
Bad Systems Design + Good Programming = Bad Systems
Bad Systems Design + Bad Programming = Chaos

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "FACING REALITY"

Telling the truth has gotten me into a lot of trouble on more than one occasion over the years, both personally and professionally. So much so that I have come to the conclusion that people plain and simply don't want to know it. For starters, it's hard to know when someone is telling the truth. A lot depends on the integrity of the person telling us something, coupled with our ability to apply logic. Erroneous results occur when we are being misled and don't use our heads which is why people act more on perceptions as opposed to reality (which is what politicians running for office count on).

Facing reality can be a daunting task as it can be rather unpleasant. As a result, people retreat into a make-believe world or yearn for a bygone era. Let me give you an example, not long ago I took some time off to do some fly fishing in the mountains of North Carolina. The area I visited seemed to be somewhat depressed and I discussed it with a friend who had moved to the area. At one time, the area was well known as a prominent furniture maker and tobacco grower. But as foreign competition proliferated in the 1980's and 1990's, at a fraction of the cost of what the North Carolinians offered, companies closed their doors. Since the passage of the Federal Tobacco Quota Buyout in October 2004, North Carolina's tobacco industry has been in a "transition" period, meaning tobacco production has sharply diminished in the area, if not disappeared altogether. All of this has given rise to unemployment, government subsidies, and a general bewilderment by the populace as to what to do next.

There are those still yearning for furniture work, but cannot seem to come to grips with the fact that the ship has sailed. Because of the natural beauty of the area, including mountains, streams, hunting and fishing, and gemstones, some would like to develop the area for tourism. Alas, this is pooh-poohed by the locals who are easily alarmed by outsiders and their perceived sinful ways. Instead, the residents have elected to simply do nothing and allow themselves to stagnate in a state of analysis paralysis. You can readily see the effect it is having on the natives as there is no hustle, no service, no nothing, just a defeatist attitude, all because they refuse to face reality.

I'm sure we have all seen instances of this throughout the country, if not in our very neighborhoods; people who are simply unwilling to recognize the truth and deal with reality; people who are unwilling to upset the status quo even at the expense of its demise. There is a scene in the movie "Men in Black" which sums it up for me; in it, Will Smith's character ("Jay") questions why the world doesn't know about aliens living on Earth, "People are smart, they can handle it."

To which, Tommy Lee Jones ("Kay") replies, "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow."

Imagine where we'll be if we don't face reality; maybe somewhere in North Carolina.

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "The Blame Game":

An L.P. in Crowley, Texas wrote...

"During the Cold War I would blame anything and everything that annoyed me on 'a dirty communist plot to drive me crazy'. Now I just blame everything on 'mind controling aliens trying to drive me crazy'. Remember when Hilary C. blamed Bill C.'s infidelity on a Republican plot to disrespect his presidency? And she 'still' ran for president. I think people have short memories or she thinks the common person in the USA is stupid. Maybe I am. Are you trying to tell us that hurricane Ike wasn't President Bush's fault?"

A J.S. in Columbia, Missouri wrote...

"I couldn't agree with you more in saying that we don't want to take responsibility for ourselves and look for a scapegoat at every impass. It's always someone elses' fault."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "The Four Day Work Week":

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

"I've thought about this often, if only because I've found a 3-day weekend to be much more conducive to relaxation and 'recharging', than a normal 2-day weekend. To accomplish this, we could have four 10-hour workdays (thus providing the needed 40-hour work week), or switch to a 9-day rotation of 6 days on and 3 days off. The latter may sound incredulous, but Macy's had tried to institute that very policy back in the 40's. They wanted to have 3-day rotations, with various employees working 2 on and 1 off, staggered so that the store was always open. The idea was canned due to the confusion it would cause. But the idea of a 4-day work week would be successful, if, as you say, the focus is on productivity and not on the clock."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

October 27, 2008

2008-10-20T12:10:00.004-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 4-I - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 4-II of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), Software Engineering.

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...

"Information is for people, not for the computer."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "THE FOUR DAY WORK WEEK"

The four day work week has been back in the news lately. I am hearing of a lot of companies in the Information Technology sector promoting the concept, whereby an employee works four days in the office and one at home or wherever he/she desires. The theory is to offer workers the freedom to work from home as opposed to the office which is commonly viewed as a pressure cooker. I never did buy into this concept and see it more as an excuse for employees to screw off. The only time I might accept it is when an employee is sick, particularly with an infectious disease, and it would serve the office better for that person to stay at home and not infect the other workers. Then again, we might get too many people calling in sick, but I digress.

The concept of telecommuting is an old one and something we would like to reward our more trusted employees with, but if you establish the precedent, others will claim unfair favoritism which may open Pandora's Box in terms of legal ramifications. To overcome this, you will have to demonstrate the trusted worker is more productive than others, and since there is typically no metrics in this regards, it is difficult to substantiate the claim.

The problem as I see the four day work week is one of perspective. Most of today's younger workers think in terms of hours worked, not what is produced during the period. This is a common flaw in today's work mentality regardless of your occupation. As any true manager will tell you, it's not the time you put in, it's the work product you put out. Today, workers are more inclined to watch the clock as opposed to what they are supposed to be producing.

Assuming we allow employees to work at home, how do we substantiate the employee has been working? Blind faith? For those I.T. workers who make extensive use of computers, some simple software can be devised to monitor computer activity and gather statistics; e.g., number of keystrokes/mouse clicks, execution of programs, idle time, swapper file activity, data transmission over the Internet, etc. When you compare such statistics between the home and the office, it would be relatively easy to determine who is really working at home and who is abusing the system.

In its purest form, I really don't have a problem with the concept of the four day work week, but it is ultimately based on worker trust, and I guess I have seen too many workers abuse a privilege like this over the years. As the old saying goes, "It's not what I know about dogs that makes me an expert, it's what I know about this dog that makes me an expert."

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "I am NOT a PC":

An M.W. in Kenneth City, Florida wrote...

"I tend to agree. While I use a Windows operating system, it doesn't give me any sense of identity. Microsoft is the only company that can announce that they are releasing a flawed OS and have people waiting up until midnight to buy it. I own my computer, it does not own me."

A C.S. in Palm Harbor, Florida wrote...

"I agree 100%. I'm not even PC. Maybe that is what they were shooting for."

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

An A.S. in New Orleans, Louisianna wrote...

"Another example of the erosion of responsibility is that people no longer associate working with a job. For some reason there is a disconnect where people expect a paycheck but do as little as possible, sometimes virtually nothing. It used to be when you went to work, you worked. Now time is spent doing personal business, surfing the net, or other things without a thought."

An R.C. in Scottville, Michigan wrote...

"At one time, a man's or woman's handshake meant more then a contract and that is how my papa did it his whole life. Honor and integarty were worth more then."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

October 20, 2008

2008-10-13T11:50:00.005-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 3 - SUB-SYSTEM DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 4-I of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), Administrative Procedure Design.

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...

"Forgetting the human-being during design will cause the human-being to forget the system at time of startup; it will be DOA, Dead On Arrival."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "MORAL DECAY"

I recently went out to dinner with a business friend who owns a medium sized manufacturing company with just over 50 employees. Over a couple of cocktails he started to express to me his frustration with his people. He claimed to pay them well, provides a comfortable work environment, and offers a respectable benefits package. Regardless, he wished his people were more dedicated and professional in their attitude. He yearned for the old days when there was more pride in workmanship (and you thought I was the last of the whiners). I've known my friend for a long time and know his management style; he works well with people and although he insists on organization and structure, he tends to empower his workers to assume responsibility as opposed to micromanaging them to death. Frankly, I know a lot of people who would love to work in his environment, yet he still had this problem of employee attitudes and asked me for my thoughts on it.

I told him what he was experiencing was a simple matter of moral decay. Regardless of the work environment he provided and his interpersonal relations with his employees, there are other forces at work, namely our eroding system of values. I explained the following to illustrate the point:

* It used to be a person's word was his bond. If he made a verbal commitment, you could count on it. Today, lying and deceit are commonplace in just about every corner of our society. Consequently, our expectations to honor a commitment have been lowered and, even worse, we have lost faith and trust in our fellow man.

* We used to have dedicated workers who cared about their work and doggedly saw a task through to completion. Now, we no longer associate our reputations with our work products. This may be because we have laws today making it difficult to reprimand or fire anyone regardless of their performance. Further, we now suffer from the "99% complete" syndrome whereby we never seem to finish anything with the excuse that, "We'll get around to it." In other words, determination and pride have been replaced by indifference which erodes production and opens the door for competition.

* We used to respect our bosses and were loyal to our companies. As long as you were employed by someone, you bit your tongue and endeavored to help the company succeed. For example, I knew a loyal Boeing employee who steadfastly refused to fly on anything but Boeing aircraft. Today, concepts such as corporate loyalty and respect are a thing of the past as employees no longer trust management, and management doesn't trust its workers, all of which leads to an inordinate amount of back stabbing and political maneuvering. It's no small wonder that today's employees are regarded more as free agents as opposed to team players.

To me, morality means giving of one's self, putting aside our self interests for the common good of all. However, if in fact such things as honor, courtesy, pride, respect, sacrifice, courage, dedication, commitment, loyalty, honesty, perseverance, integrity, and professionalism, are adjectives of the past, then we are indeed witnessing the moral decay of our society. Actually, it's rather remarkable we have progressed as far as we have as a species, but it makes you wonder how much farther we would be if we had the moral fortitude to overcome greed, corruption, and other vices. As Samuel Clemens correctly observed, "Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to."

Interestingly, American morality seems to change whenever we change presidents from one political party to another. I can think of no other single event which benchmarks a change in our culture than the passsing of the presidential torch. Consider for example, the social changes incurred in the transition from Eisenhower to Kennedy, from Carter to Reagan, and Bush to Clinton. A change in Presidential party signals a change in social norms and moral priorities.

So what can be done about deteriorating moral values? You would think that our religious institutions would have a significant role to play here. Not necessarily. There are those who go to church simply to absolve themselves of their sins from the preceding week, not to correct any character flaw. After being "cleansed" they revert back to their indiscretions. No, we need to lead by example, reward accomplishments and truly penalize violations as opposed to looking the other way. There will always be those who are morally handicapped and persist in attempting to undermine our system of values, but we owe it to ourselves and our posterity to persevere. Our ability to surmount moral corruption defines who we are as a civilization.

Years ago, Arnold Toynbee said succinctly, "Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder," meaning our social problems are actually self inflicted. If we can cause the problems, I would like to believe we are strong enough to solve them, regardless of the price to be paid. Going back to my friend's problem, what is needed is a little inspiration, hope, belief in ourselves, a little brother/sisterhood, and a legal system that doesn't stifle morality, but rather promotes it. Regardless of the magnitude of the job, from major to menial, workers must believe they are leading an honorable and worthwhile life. There is nothing wrong with ambition, as long as it doesn't lead to incessant politics. There is nothing wrong with personal achievement/recognition, as long as teamwork doesn't suffer. There is nothing wrong with criticsm, as long as it's constructive, not destructive. Basically, we just need some common sense and respect for the human spirit.

So, the question comes down to this; Do we still possess the fortitude to do what is morally right? That is a question for each of us to answer and for our heirs to judge.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A D.E. of Golden Hill, Maryland wrote...

"Excellent essay! You asked the question: 'I wonder if it is really feasible to be politically neutral, after all, man is a political animal; how can members of the media be exempt?' One does not have to be apolitical to be a 'news reporter' but one does have to be unbiased when reporting the news. When people like Gibson or Couric start giving their opinion as the news then they have crossed the line and are no longer trustworthy."

A D.D. in Palm Harbor, Florida wrote...

"The good news is that more and more people are fact checking today. Many more than four years ago."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Feel Good Types":

A J.A. from Warrenton, Virginia wrote...

"Well stated, very accurate. I have always found this to be the case and am amazed at how little people want to really hear about reality. In the Southern states, it extends to common communications too, such as 'Let's get together soon' which actually doesn't mean what it says at all. It seems saying goodbye is too final so they say this instead. What is with that??? I spent the first eight years calling and waiting for others to call until someone explained to me that this communication is 'being nice' but it's not real. Hmmmmm."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

October 13, 2008

2008-10-06T10:48:00.004-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 2 - SYSTEM DESIGN (SPECIAL)

This is Part XI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 3 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), Sub-System Design.

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...

"Only when the Systems Engineer can walk in the moccasins of the user does the engineer have a right to design a system for the user."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "FEEL GOOD" TYPES

I recently attended a management seminar in my neck of the woods. I don't want to mention any names here but the speaker represented a consortium of consultants who specialized in a variety of subjects, such as business process improvement, tax laws, planning, technical writing, etc. The person making the pitch specialized in "life coaching" which, as I gathered, offered the same type of advice a good parent, guidance counselor or mentor would.

I judged the speaker to be in his mid-to-late 30's and was very preppy in dress. He tried the usual speaker stunts to stimulate the audience, such as saying, "How many of you has had this happen to you? Can I see a show of hands?" He also passed out prizes if you answered a question correctly, which made people look like trained seals being rewarded for tooting the horn and clapping. In addition to his histrionics, he was an entertaining speaker and used a good multimedia presentation to support his points. After awhile though, it became apparent there was little substance in his presentation, but you were supposed to go away feeling good about yourself, the consultant's service, and a possible business relationship.

After the seminar I ran into a couple of the attendees outside in the parking lot and asked them what they took away from the pitch. They both replied, "Not much," but they sure felt good about themselves. (I even thought I heard them humming "Kumbaya" as they walked away).

I've always wondered how speakers who offered more baloney than a delicatessen survived, but I've got a feeling they do quite well for themselves. Frankly, I don't think people want to know the truth and would much rather be entertained. Truth is often sacrificed for panaceas which the public seems to thrive on. After all, why exercise and diet properly when a little pill will cause you to lose weight instead? It should come as no small wonder that a lot of snake-oil has been sold over the years. It seems the public will buy anything if we pitch it with slick talk and make people feel good about themselves. In other words, tell the audience what they want to hear, not what they need to know.

People tend to resent brutal frankness - it may be correct, it may be something that needs to be said despite the political ramifications involved, but people just plain and simply have a hard time dealing with reality and prefer living in a surrealistic comic book world instead.

Years ago we were contracted to study the problems of an information systems department for a large Midwest life insurance company. We studied the group carefully and impartially, gathered the facts, and presented our conclusions to the board of directors. We didn't sugarcoat anything and told the executives precisely what the problems were and how to rectify them. The executives went into a bit of a state of shock as they had previously believed everything was running smoothly in their systems department. It wasn't. They didn't exactly like what we had to tell them, but they listened and to their credit acted on the information. Despite this, we were never asked back due to the embarrassing snafus we uncovered.

The point is, you can only be conned if you allow yourself to be conned. "Feel Good" speakers may be entertaining, but beware of their facade and seek substance instead. Politicians are very hip to this and use "feel good" to maximum effect. But if the upcoming presidential elections are as important as everyone seems to think they are, we need more of a reality check than to just "feel good." But will the public listen? We'll find out in November. Probably not.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

An L.T. in Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"I agree that technology should improve our lives, not make it more complicated. I was ashamed that I never learned how to program the VCR. I got over that. Now I do not know how to even turn the television off correctly, find the programs I like to watch or even memorize which station is which. We have not one but three remotes for our main television set and I am oblivious as to which one controls which function. The good news is since I can never quite figure out what station I want I now just leave the television off. Reading a book is easier, no buttons to push."

An S.G. in Mt. Vernon, Illinois wrote...

"You got up to FIVE stations? Wow. Lucky! We got the three networks, but with one or another never coming in very well - usually it was whichever one you wanted to watch. On really good days we could pull in the PBS station in a really grainy way. And that was with an antenna on a tower with a rotor to control it. You must have been a town kid."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "The Attributes of a Tough Task Master":

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

"Your article this week really filled my tank and gave me energy. I can really relate to your article today. I just took on a new training consulting assignment and realized that I am filling the task of the 'poor slob'. Got a call on a Thursday, to be at a client's site on Friday morning. It seems they need someone that can prepare and deliver 70 hrs of training two weeks from now. However, all the students are non citizens, from India and are hard to communicate with. So guess who got the job to deliver for these people. Hopefully I can, but will see. It's crunch time, and gotta run. Great Article as always. Just me the 'poor slob', trying to save face for usual 'postpone, delay, and put off until its almost too late' to save face with the client and its customers."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

October 6, 2008

2008-09-29T10:19:00.005-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM PHASE 1 - SYSTEM STUDY & EVALUATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part X in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 2 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), System Design.

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...

"If an information requirement is stated incorrectly at the beginning, then everything that follows will be incorrect."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "THE ATTRIBUTES OF A TOUGH TASK MASTER"

I think the expression "Task Master" has become passé in today's workplace but I'm not too sure what has replaced it, perhaps "Micromanager" or simply a "Pain in the Ass." Basically, it's referring to someone charged with performing a task through to completion and moves heaven and earth to get the job done. I've met a lot of tough Task Masters over the years, and I have found there are essentially two types: the megalomaniac, and the "poor slob" who has had an assignment dropped in his lap and realizes failure is not an option.

There are several attributes which the two types share: they are disciplined, results oriented, resourceful, and know how to communicate effectively. In terms of discipline they tend to be very organized and methodical in how an assignment is to be performed and will not tolerate any variance. They are resourceful in terms of not allowing obstacles to interfere with an assignment and know how to overcome any hiccup along the way. In fact, they show great creativity in this regards. They also understand the importance of communicating with all parties involved with the assignment. But the last attribute, which is perhaps the most critical, is they are both very determined to succeed, one because he has to and one because he simply wants to.

The key difference between the two types lies in their interpersonal relations with their subordinates. The megalomaniac relishes the job as it represents power and control. He demands blind obedience and is often fond of saying, "If I say jump, you say how high?" In other words, he sees workers more as machines as opposed to human beings, objects which he can manage by pushbutton, an approach which is loathed by his workers. Consequently, he doesn't command loyalty or respect and desertions are commonplace.

The poor slob, on the other hand, stresses the importance of the assignment to his people, he runs interference to expedite problems for them, and is concerned with his subordinate's welfare. This is the antithesis of the megalomaniac who maintains an almost adversarial relationship with his workers. His approach to management is simply to dominate through intimidation, thereby bullying people to complete the task. In contrast, the poor slob seeks cooperation through teamwork and builds a network of interdependencies whereby the members realize they will either sink or swim together.

To use a football metaphor, the Task Master is the quarterback on the field calling his own plays. Depending on what type he is though, the players will either respect and earnestly work for him or they'll go out of their way to allow him to fumble away the game. In the end, it all comes down to interpersonal relations.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A B.D. in Scottsdale, Arizona wrote...

"Well said, sir. At one point, I was in life insurance sales. Visiting the elderly and attempting to sell them on why a Medicare supplement from my company was better than what they already had, I left an appointment one morning with the realization that I was halfway between a lawyer and a car salesman. I left the company soon after. It's a shame that the ambulance chasers and divorce lawyers do so much damage to the profession. Attorneys can and do serve the public good every day. Perhaps the "good" lawyers should file a class action suit against any lawyers engaging in Green and Fazio-esque shenanigans."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Going it Alone?":

A K.N. in Sunny. California wrote...

"My husband and I would go on completely different paths on this one and we have. He doesn't have the stomach for risk so he's gone with the large company. Dependable, you're pretty sure they'll be there tomorrow. Where as I am the risk taking free spirit. Of course my husband's dependability affords me this luxury. But the two have given us a good life...one we're both happy with and success we may not otherwise have enjoyed."

A C.N. in Dallas, Texas wrote...

"I have the best of both worlds. I work at a small company who is a branch of a huge company."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

September 29, 2008

2008-09-22T10:41:00.004-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM INTRODUCTION - METHODOLOGY (SPECIAL)

This is Part IX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Phase 1 of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM), System Study & Evaluation.

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...

"The project network is defined by the standard system structure, not by a sequential waterfall approach."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "GOING IT ALONE?"

As we enter the workforce we inevitably have to make a difficult decision; do we go to work for big business or do we take a chance on a smaller company, perhaps even start our own? Whereas one seems to offer safety and security, the other appears to be more risky.

When you compare the two, the big business seems to be the better choice; e.g., better salary, benefits, the stability of more financial resources, etc. The smaller company appears to be a much more riskier proposition by comparison, and it is to a certain extent. Going into a small business, or even starting one, is definitely not for the feint of heart, and requires an entrepreneurial spirit. Although the risk is high, so are the rewards, assuming the company is successful. In contrast, the big business company cannot compete against the small company in this regards, unless of course you make it to the upper echelons of management.

Because of its size with lots of people kicking and scratching their way to the top, the big business tends to be more political than the smaller company. Although the latter is certainly not devoid of gamesmanship, there is more of an inclination to cooperate on a team basis due to the risks involved. There also tends to be more freedom for employees to express their creativity and take part in corporate decisions.

Although the sense of risk is more apparent in a small company, the big business company is certainly not devoid of risk, particularly in these times of outsourcing, downsizing, and tightening of belts. Whereas the risk in a small business is upfront in the early stages, the risk in big business tends to be more long term in nature, particularly as it applies to job security and retirement. Even if you make it to retirement, there is still the danger of benefits being curtailed. In contrast, the person in the smaller business tends to be more in control of retirement benefits.

Bottom-line, the decision to go big business or small is a matter of risk. Those who believe they are safe in the comfort of the arms of big business are kidding themselves. Yes, the risk in small business is more apparent, but there is equally as much risk in big business, it's just a little more transparent. Because the small company is more cognizant of risk, there is more of an inclination to be more disciplined and cooperative in your work habits. But as any small business owner can tell you, plan on starving when you first get started as the benefits tend to be long term in nature.

So, which is the right path for you to follow, big or small? It ultimately depends on your personality; whereas you see more Type A and B personalities in small businesses (who exhibit entrepreneurial spirit), there are typically more Type C and D personalities found in Big Business (those that are less likely to take a risk). Because of this, I find it amusing when small businesses want to emulate big businesses, and big businesses yearn for the spirit and mobility of the small company. But you know what? You cannot have it both ways.

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"

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Making Matters Worse":

An L.T. in Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"In times of despair I often have to remind myself never to say 'what else could go wrong'. No sooner will those words exit my mouth that something else indeed will go wrong."

An R.M. in Illinois wrote...

"When it rains it pours, that is usually the case. Thank you for the interesting read."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Death of the Business Letter":

A J.L. in Scottsdale, Arizona wrote...

"I couldn’t agree more. I find it amazing that just because we’re typing e-mails instead of letters, our sense of how to write an accurate English sentence is diminished. I’ve encountered grown adults who seem to have easily adopted this sloppy format as well. What I find most astonishing though are the web sites with typos and bad sentence structure."

A B.D. in Arizona wrote...

"Hear hear! It's truly astounding the amount of feeble spelling and grammar you come across in business today. I have reservations about the leadership abilities of anyone who either failed 8th grade English or is too lazy to be bothered with writing like an intelligent adult. Bravo, sir."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

September 22, 2008

2008-09-15T11:34:00.004-04:00

"PRIDE"-ISEM INTRODUCTION - CONCEPTS (SPECIAL)

This is Part VIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of the concepts and philosophies used in the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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

NEXT UP: Introduction to the navigation of the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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...

"An information system is a product that can be engineered and manufactured like any other product."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "DEATH OF THE BUSINESS LETTER"

I've noticed I don't get much mail anymore at the office. Of course, I still get bills and junk mail, but aside from this, little else. I can only surmise that only a handful of people know how to write a business letter anymore. Most of the true correspondence I get nowadays is by e-mail and telephone (both of which have their share of junk).

When you do get a business letter today, it seems to be poorly written in terms of style, layout, and grammar. I know we have made a lot of progress in word processing technology over the years, but it sure seems people don't know how to run such things as spelling and grammar checkers. I think the real culprit here though is text messaging which has basically annihilated any sense of syntax and word formation.

Now, instead of this...

Dear Sir,

It was a pleasure talking with you today. Concerning your order, I have made the correction and credited your account accordingly. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

We now have this...

Dude,
don't tabooma. cy. all is kewl. cm.
stys
plo

Actually, I don't blame Gen X and Y for these bad writing habits as they are only innocent victims of technology. Instead, I blame my generation for not teaching them how to communicate properly in a corporate setting.

I first learned to write business letters in my high school typing class and have written numerous letters over the years. But the kids today don't take typing anymore and are definitely not familiar with writing for business. Text messaging may be fine for quick and dirty interpersonal communications, but it also leads to some horrible writing habits. I don't care what your age is, a well written business letter can work miracles in terms of sales and service. Too bad it is slowly disappearing from the corporate landscape.

NOTE: for text messaging syntax, see NetLingo

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A C.S. in Palm Harbor, Florida wrote...

"Reminds me of something I heard back when I studied martial arts. 'The difference between a red belt and a black belt is that a black belt knows when to just walk away.' Good article... been burned a few times myself and grow each time."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "360 Degrees":

An E.C. in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida wrote...

"You have hit the nail on the head with this piece. One of the main failings of our educational system is that it doesn't sufficiently teach cooperative learning or critical/creative thinking."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

September 15, 2008

2008-09-08T10:10:00.004-04:00

"PRIDE"-EEM PHASE 5 - EEM EVALUATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part VII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of Phase 5 of the "PRIDE"-Enterprise Engineering Methodology (EEM).

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

NEXT UP: Introduction to the "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering Methodology (ISEM).

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...

"A project will only be accomplished if the individuals performing the work want to do it."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "360 DEGREES"

My company has been doing business in Japan since the mid-1970's. We have enjoyed the experience and have marveled at how Japanese businessmen act and think. For example, it is very important for the Japanese to reach a group consensus on major decisions (an inherent part of the concept of Theory Z). By doing so, they solicit the input from all of the workers before making a decision (a bottom-up type of approach). As an American, I found this to be radically different than the western world's top-down micromanagement approach. The Japanese approach may make for a longer sales cycle, but it simplifies implementation (after all, everyone has agreed to the decision).

As the Japanese work through a problem they tend to look at it from every angle or as they refer to it as thinking in "360 degrees." This is a much wider perspective than what you typically find in western companies. Whereas the Japanese tend to think in terms of 360 Degrees, Americans tend to suffer from tunnel-vision, meaning they become overly concerned with a single piece of the puzzle. Maybe this is because the western world is somewhat territorial in nature. We become so obsessed with our piece of the pie we tend to overlook the entire dish.

I think a lot of this has to do with our conditioning. Whereas the Japanese are taught at an early age the importance of teamwork and cooperation, Americans are taught to be individualistic and competitive. No wonder Japanese think of the bigger picture while Americans tend to build and fight over their little fifedoms.

Over the years I have learned that larger and more complex projects require teamwork, communications and cooperation. Maybe it is because of our natural aversion to cooperate, and not to think in terms of 360 degrees, that we have difficulty conquering anything of substance in this country anymore. This may be a major factor why we no longer think big and are content doing small things.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

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

"The political slant in the mainstream media has, in my opinion, led to the decline in both print and broadcast media. The range is from left-to-FAR left. Folks are not getting balanced news and they know it, so they seek alternative news sources. The rise in popularity of FoxNews is testimony to that. The slants are obvious. The media's romance over one presidential candidate is seen as the other is referred to simply as "Senator", and not as "Presidential Hopeful" as they had done repeatedly with their favored ticket. Too bad they are so smug as to miss the fact that they're shooting themselves in the foot. It would be interesting to see how a more balanced paper would fare in today's market."

An R.B. in Bedford, Massachusetts wrote...

"I no longer get my news from either TV or print because they are slanted and poor mediums for me to feel I get what I want. I have found the Internet and RSS feeds have totally replaced them as my source of news. I think this will be a growing trend as I look at my sons' generation and they only get news from the Internet."

A B.D. in Scottsdale, Arizona wrote...

"I completely agree. Haven't picked up a paper in a long time, so I'm not as familiar with the newer advertising regimens, but I find it somewhat sad that a source with such a noble history would go down like that. TV news, on the other hand, well, it's pretty much useless. Pretty people telling you they don't know all the details, but here's the scene so you can get all worked up about things while they get you "the latest." Or the local, evening news, which spends an average of fifteen seconds on any story, saving some story about a sex scandal for the end, to which they devote a solid 45 seconds. It's all fluff."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "The SFB Quotient":

A C.S. in Florida wrote...

"As I was reading your first question I was thinking to myself..."why isn't there a good pick?""

A J.T. in Clearwater, Florida wrote...

"Ok I liked this one. The thing that amazes me is that each week you are right on!"

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

September 8, 2008

2008-09-02T10:47:00.005-04:00

"PRIDE"-EEM PHASE 4 - ENTERPRISE INFO STRATEGY (SPECIAL)

This is Part VI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we provide a description of Phase 4 of the "PRIDE"-Enterprise Engineering Methodology (EEM).

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

NEXT UP: PHASE 5 - EEM EVALUATION

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...

"There is nothing more unproductive than to build something efficiently that should not have been built at all."

"MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD"

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

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."

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "THE SFB QUOTIENT"

Anyone who has ever taken an IQ test knows you have to endure a battery of multiple choice questions aimed at measuring your intelligence. Some are simple and common sense, others are a little tricky. This got me thinking whether we could devise a similar program aimed at determining if a person suffers from SFB (Shit for Brains) which you may recall me commenting on not long ago. As a result, I have devised the following set of questions:

1. During a business meeting you disagree with a coworker, and your boss sides with the coworker; What do you do?

A. Send a blind text message to everyone else in the department that your boss and the coworker are lovers (regardless what sex they are).
B. Change the coworker's time sheet to show he/she is goofing off more than yourself.
C. Using Adobe Photoshop, you manufacture compromising photos of your boss and e-mail it anonymously throughout the company.

2. Your boss asks you to work overtime in order to complete a key project; What do you do?

A. File a grievance with HR.
B. Change the office clocks (including those on the server) so everyone else has to stay late with you.
C. Manufacture an excuse, preferably the death of a loved one.

3. You have been asked to return your neighbor's chain saw after having it for six months; What do you do?

A. Before you return it, you hack away on a tree bordering your properties, particularly your neighbor's side.
B. Anonymously report him to the homeowners association that his lawn is a mess.
C. Pretend you didn't get the message and keep it for six more months.

4. It's 4:55pm on Friday, a customer calls desperately in need of one of your products; What do you do?

A. Send his message to voice mail and answer him on Monday.
B. Send him the wrong product (or an insufficient quantity of the right product).
C. Send a text message to him that you are on the golf course and wish him a good weekend.

5. The office temperature satisfies everyone in the office but you; What do you do?

A. Adjust the thermostat to suit your needs.
B. Open the windows.
C. While the boss is away, issue an e-mail memo that only you can adjust the thermostat.

6. While in the midst of a critical project assignment, your boss calls for another boring meeting; What do you do?

A. Briefly attend the meeting, but then excuse yourself leaving behind a notepad, pen and coffee cup indicating you will return (you don't).
B. You record the meeting with your cell phone, and e-mail it anonymously to your boss' boss.
C. You have someone call your cell phone every few minutes so that it disrupts the meeting and the boss asks you to leave.

7. You're traveling on company business and spend a tidy sum at a local Exotic Dance club; what do you do?

A. Report it on your expense account as "entertainment" of a client.
B. Doctor your receipts with a graphics package to make them look legitimate.
C. Tell your boss you were conducting some market research.

8. A shipping company is trying to make an urgent delivery to one of your rivals at work who is currently off-site; What do you do?

A. Refuse to sign and accept the package.
B. Forward the shipment to your Scranton office.
C. Forge his name on the delivery and hide the package in the building.

9. It is rush-hour and you want to get home in the most expeditious means possible; What do you do?

A. While driving, call a loved one on your cell phone and ask what's for dinner.
B. At a stop light, you roll down your window and ask your neighbor for directions, but since he can't speak English you flip him the bird.
C. Using your GPS, you plot a course that takes you through Las Vegas.

10. The new technology you've installed in the company is not living up to your promise of improving productivity and is actually a financial drain instead; What do you do?

A. Blame the end-users for incompetence in the use of the technology.
B. Blame the vendors for inferior products.
C. Blame the programmers for lousy software.

Now, for your score. Actually, it's rather simple. If you answered any one of these questions, give yourself a score of 100 as you are a bona fide SFB.

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"

AND FINALLY...

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

A D.T. of Raleigh, North Caolina wrote...

"I would think that a former military base would prove an ideal permanent location for the Olympics.

1. There is symbolism in converting a mechanism of war into a facility focused on celebrating sport and human athleticism.
2. The facilities are already set up, logistically, for moving/recieving material - air/lift and rail capability, and being secured.
3. They are self-sufficient towns with their own power stations, medical facilities, dormitories, shopping, recreation, etc.
4. Vast tracts of land are usually on-hand for new development.
5. Many are simply going into disrepair."

I received the following e-mails from my "Pet Peeve" entitled, "Making your problems mine":

A P.O. in Greeley, Colorado wrote...

"I just read your piece on your dumpster problem and responsibility. One course you might think about pursuing is getting the name of the owner of the trash and then contacting local law enforcement, either the sheriff's office or police depending on where the dumpster is. The person dumping the trash is guilty of "Theft of Services" and most law enforcement officers will happily site the offender for this. That way instead of having to deal with the offender yourself you can let the guys or gals who get paid to do it handle the difficult situation and the dumping (at least from that person) will end."

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

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END

September 1, 2008

2008-08-25T10:21:00.004-04:00

"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"

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

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."

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"

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.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

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.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

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

END