Driver Trett Digest Issue 25 - Flipbook - Page 23
DIGEST | ISSUE 25
STAGE ONE
STAGE TWO
STAGE THREE
STAGE FOUR
Scope Definition
Design and Build
Test and verify
Operate and
regularly re-verify
Setting out a briefing
document which details
what will be recorded
and created, by whom,
and in what format, what
connectivity is required,
and what will be the overall
architecture for storage,
retrieval, and reporting.
This can be an involved
process, but there is
nothing more frustrating
than a beautiful dashboard,
that is obviously wrong.
This process should be
straight
forward
from
a
well-defined
brief,
especially if you are using
standard industry software
packages. There really is no
need to re-invent the wheel
as all of this already exists,
from record gathering
apps to data storage and
archiving,
programme
software to design suites.
This is the place for the
cynics. Check it all, check
it twice, then check it
again based on real time
tests, with real data input.
I have been told more
than once how time entry
works, only to insist on
being shown it there and
then, and watching it
fail at every entry. Only
when fully signed off by
the stakeholders can you
progress to the next phase.
Operation is going to
depend on the training
of the operatives. Many
problems are rooted in a
lack of training and are
often termed as ‘PICNIC’
problems. This acronym is
used by computer experts
to describe user issues.
‘Problem In Chair Not In
Computer’.
The types of software and
file formats will need to
be reviewed and analysed.
One particularly useful
strategy can be to create
a data archive, which acts
as a Single Source of Truth.
This is then connected to all
of the systems, rather than
attempting to constantly
translate formats directly
The real challenge is
making it work together.
Properly.
Things change, software is upgraded, people leave or retire and are replaced, so make sure you get your cynics back once a
month to ask some tough questions and verify that you are still working at the desired level of accuracy.
CONCLUSIONS
On any project, record keeping, document control, and the integration of software systems is important. Critically
important. Cynical checking is therefore required, and on mega projects, mega-cynicism is needed and on giga projects,
well you can guess, so give me a call…
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