The IT Skeptic - Comments for "IT axioms"

Simplicity

aroos — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:04:51 +0000

#6 Keep it simple, simplicity is good (I don't like the acronym KISS but it has a point)

#7 Be very careful when you tamper with the customer interface, i.e. the way the services interact with the customer. Customers remember failures and regaining lost trust is difficult.

Aale

more axioms

skeptic — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:20:00 +0000

I think your item #1 is an improved variant of my #4. Your #2 and #3 I missed completely. (#2 is actually 2 distinct axioms). #3 I call ETF: Excessive Technical Fastidiousness: techs must learn to live in an imperfect world of imperfect information.

Here's some suggestions:

CaryKing — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:19:41 +0000

1. Measure IT in terms that matter to the rest of the business. IT services are measured by the CUSTOMER's perception of efficiency and effectiveness relative to perceived value - costs and price matter.

2. IT is not a separate function from the rest of the business. IT's raison d'etre is enabling business practice improvement.

3. Engineer's view of perfection is often different from the business. Business wants evidence of steady improvement, they understand improvement. Spending to achieve perfection and blowing the budget, or delaying advances to achieve perfection, isn't good support for the rest of the business. This is an application of Voltaire's, "The perfect is the enemy of the good."