BUSINESS ADVICE/NEWS:
(In chronological order - newest at the bottom of section.
Legalities and link to personal page at bottom of this page.)

Medex Fitness thinks out of the gym
Using the pitch "No spandex, no contracts", they want to serve older people.

Early to tell if it works, and I don't know their ideology.

Medex Fitness deserves a great deal of credit for doing something different for a particular psychographic of potential customers.

Greater Victoria Public Library gets clever to avoid Christmas rush
They posted signs saying that books due December 24-27 could be returned on the 28th or 29th without penalty.

I presume what they are trying to do is reduce the work for their staff during the holiday period, especially as the outside book return hoppers could get full.

Perhaps could have explained explicitly for extra points, but I commend them regardless.

Nissan acts quick, and prioritizes

A brief article but it shows possibilities for action in a crisis.

The 'fun' of estimating/forecasting
Another bunfight in US military procurement politics is the opinion of some military test specialists that the schedule for development of the KC-46A aerial refuelling tanker airplane is too aggressive.
Brief media reports give two reasons for saying that:
- the number of test hours per month exceeds the historical average for large military aircraft test programs
- the schedule is too aggressive for flight tests that are riskier or specialized

Keith comments that averages must be used only with great caution, it is the nature of the particular design and the ability of the organization to get things done well that matters.
(Averages may be useful as a cross-check to highlight areas to check. Ability to get the job done well, which includes minimizing flight risk, depends on willingness to provide resources to workers as well as the usual factors in both the manufacturer and customer bureaucracies. Including whether or not they learn from their errors, such as Boeing's slowness in fixing the vibration problem on their tankers for Italy and the military's goofs in the previous competition for the contract. Highly integrated designs may be trickier, but thoroughness of design before testing is a key factor.)

MORE BUSINESS ADVICE/NEWS (link to archive)

Kurmudgeon Keith's Critical Comments:
(In chronological order - newest at the bottom of section.)

Dumb down the phone technology
is a good perspective on communicating with customers.

What values underlay that approach?

Pubs emphasizing food?
Experiencing a decline in business due to customers' worries about their budgets and getting caught driving after drinking,
pubs in the Victoria BC area are trying to make more money from food.

"Maude Hunter's Pub" is cleverly offering lunch boxes - sandwich, fruit, cookie, etc.
Almost $10. with taxes, with non-alcoholic beverage an extra cost option. They'll even deliver them for a fee.
They deserve credit for trying.

Serve food? What a concept? (A great change from the wasteland of BC boozing establishments of the past, but isn't that what roadside places used to be - a stop for food?)

Exaggerated, glib, too terse, or extrapolated?
A generally useful booklet on battery selection, use, and maintenance claims that an "AGM" battery is "sealed" so can be mounted in any position.

Reality is that the technology variously known as "Absorbant Glass Mat", "Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid", "RecombinantGas" and other terms has an over-pressure relief valve and liquid electrolyte. If that valve opens, a battery mounted other than upright might spill acid thus cause damage.
So the notion of mounting flexibility does not properly arise from "sealed", in the case of AGM technology.
("Gel" electrolyte technology, as used in motorcycles and wheelchairs, is different.)

Folks, ya hafta understand the technology properly, beginning with precise use of words.

The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives
An interesting article.

Some education on evaluating yourself? Easy to lose focus, but Keith asks if it starts with a values shortfall.

Full context is important.
For example, media reports suggest that Boeing will lose money on the tanker as discussed above. Readers may assume that is on the total program, especially since Boeing won it on price.
But is that so?
Media reports on the testing concern suggest it is only during the test program, because Boeing's work schedule exceeds the progress payment schedule. But that is not losing money, only having to fund more "work in progress" out of own funds.
Of course all theory at this point.

Worth checking before deciding on investing.

MORE COMMENT (link to archive)