DAY # 195 -- Launch: T-14 Days!

UPDATE: Monday, 19-Dec-2005 11:29 PM

I ended my weekend sharing an extended hug Sunday night with my son, after a forgetful day. That and the smile that he extended following that made all the thoughts about my disastrous day fade away.

After that I spent several more hours investigating and looking for "silver lining" to the events, while the Maxsimo.NET server was down. This was not the first time it went down -this was the 3rd extended time, and all 3 of those down times were during weekend. With two of them following a mailing to the IR's. Talk about bad timing.

There was one element that was different about this event --the software developer acknowledged that there was a problem. No kidding. One look at my fingernails would tell that tale. Several weekend of "nail biting events" have taken a toll.

So, is there a "silver lining" to the problem? You bet. And immediately I got to researching and implementing it. The solution comes from a software package I worked with in 92/93, with great success. When all the work to Maxsimo started I never really looked at it because when I tested the current software handling the IR user area, it worked fine. Furthermore, the management of it was relatively easy with their new version.

The problem so far has been the customer service, which has been non-existent and downright insulting. And I am just wishing and dreaming thinking that the problem will go away when we have 500 or 5,000 or 500,000 users. I know it will just keep getting worse.

So, it's time to 'cut the cord' and get on with a better solution that will cost $10,000 but well worth every dollar.

HELP DESK FINALLY INSTALLED TODAY:

About three weeks ago I handed over the assignment of a HELP DESK to a new IR who wanted to manage many aspects of it. I said that would be great and let get the setup moving. Nothing happened.

I finally setup the program today and it took about an hour. I was then looking over my "TO DO LIST" and wondering why I waited so long to complete the task. I think I need to consider how much something will take to complete when I put it on my "list" as well.

This is an example of something that should have been done weeks ago, but kept getting put off first by the volunteer that had the task and then for a few days by me. Anyway, it's done and now there are links in the Member areas and in the User Admin of Maxsimo.NET that lead directly to the HELP DESK.

Eventually, the HELP DESK will handle all training, help issues and polls that allow the network managers better understanding of what is important and what tasks need extra attention.

I will also be able to use this area to better manage the tasks that need to be done and prioritize them according to need. For example, if there are several features that are requested within an application, I can ask the Members or IR's which one of them "Do you want to see next?" and then based on the votes I can add the feature to the application. This way it's a democratic system deciding what gets added next. Not the loudest getting there way.

It's Monday, and what's on my task list? Not much other than finishing a lot of database work and testing. I seem to be testing things all the time. It's a bit like when I was at PENNY 0.01 -- I was testing. Seems like there is no end to it, but its very interesting stuff. Especially, to see what works and what does not first hand.

With that thought, Sam's away 'til tomorrow...

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