Should Technology Drive the Solution?
Posted by Brad Egeland
“Oh…pick me, pick me Mr. Kawtter!” (as Horshack would say to Kotter for those of you old enough to remember – see image to the left) I know this one. But wait, new technology is so cool…and so much fun. And often the customer comes to you with the solution in mind that includes this technology. And sometimes he even has the money to back it up. Resist! Resist at all costs!
The answer is a resounding NO. Technology should not drive the solution. Never ever ever. It may be the solution, but there’s work to be done first to get there. Follow the process, push back on the persistent customer who knows exactly what he wants and how he wants it done. Take a deep breath and tell the customer simply …. no.
Why? You would think that a customer who has money, has a need, and knows the solution is an easy customer. All we have to do is do as he says, cash the check, and move on to the next project – everybody’s happy, right? Not always … and not likely.
The problem with this scenario is that the customer often doesn’t really know what they want. What they know is that they have a need. The customer needs help cultivating the information from that need into a solution that will fit or solve that need. That’s where you – and your team – come in. Being a ‘yes’ man for the customer won’t do them any favors and will more often than not leaving them with a final solution that doesn’t meet their needs. If the customer’s end users are frustrated, the customer will be frustrated. And customer frustration = customer dissatisfaction.
Retraining programs bring hope to the unemployed
Posted by Arjun ThomasSourced from the Spokesman
Dana Moosman never saw unemployment on the horizon.
With a master’s degree in education and five years in the mortgage insurance business, she figured the outlook was promising, or at least steady. But the economy hit harder than she imagined.
It’s clear – with a national unemployment rate of 10 percent and a Washington state rate of 9.5 percent – that the Spokane Valley woman’s situation is familiar to many.
As Moosman discovered, though, it’s not hopeless.
Community colleges throughout the state offer a variety of state- and federally funded programs that essentially provide a free college education or job training for in-demand fields to qualified applicants.
The Workforce Investment Act, for example, is paid for through federal stimulus money and funds worker education in fields such as health care, software development, network design and administration and aircraft maintenance. With President Barack Obama proclaiming jobs a priority in last week’s State of the Union address, more funding is likely to come.
Project manager sued for over €5.3m
Posted by Arjun ThomasSourced from Irish Times
A PROJECT manager and his company are being sued for more than €5.3 million arising from alleged unauthorised money transfers and overpayments for services connected with a 260-unit housing development in Co Cork.
The proceedings against John J Casey Project Management Ltd (JCPM), Carraig House, West End, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and its principal shareholder, John Casey, Carrigrohane House, Model Farm Road, Cork, were transferred to the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly.
There may also be an application to admit the matter to arbitration, he was told.
The action has been brought by Knocknacullen Ltd, with registered offices at Ballyvolane, Cork, whose directors include Mr Casey; Sean Rainey, Sylvan Bank, Church Road, Blackrock, Cork; Andrew Neave, Belvedere Grove, Wimbledon Village, London; and Paul Duggan, Ferncarrig, Dublin Pike, Cork.
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Converted schoolhouse a class act
Posted by Arjun ThomasSourced from The Province.
At one time, the 595 East Georgia Street address belonged to a schoolhouse.
No longer. It now speaks, not to reading or to writing, but to residency.
The old schoolhouse in Strathcona, the one-time home of Saint Francis Xavier School, is now a five-townhome complex. Two of the homes have been sold — one to the developer, and one to a family member of the developer — but the remaining three will go to market sometime this spring.
Trillium Project Management took on the conversion of the building with a new developer of multi-family projects called Take Root Properties. And it was no average assignment.
“It’s been a learning curve, but a really interesting one,” said Trillium Project Management Ltd. owner David Hamilton. “The goal was to be the highest standard platinum built-green multi-family project.”