Aug. 11, 2005 - The other truck factor

In preparation for his board presentation Lester Othersdoit (CIO) was reviewing his development schedule and was shocked to find that the Automated-Egg-Poacher project was completed and released two weeks ahead of schedule.  This was the first project in the entire history of Ovum Products that had ever come in less than 50% behind schedule.  For once, something had gone right!

Naturally Lester wanted to find out who was responsible and reward her.  Since money was on the line, Lester called on one of his regular management consultants: Sally Nariz Marrón of the Boston based consulting firm of Sellum, Bleedum and Split.

Three weeks later Sally reported back to Lester that she had discovered the person most singularly responsible for getting the project done ahead of schedule and it was a fellow working in the shipping department named Hank Fullrest. 

Lester was confused.  "How could some guy working in shipping have gotten our project done two weeks ahead of schedule?" 

Sally pointed to a three-inch-thick bound document on Lester´s desk and said: "It´s all in the report.  Remember that day we had to evacuate the building?  Basically Hank forgot to put on the parking break and his truck rolled down the hill and knocked out a wall.  "

Looking confused Lester glared at Sally.  "Nothing you´re saying makes the slightest bit of sense."

"I´m coming to it," she continued.  "It seems the development team had been padding estimates more and more to account for last minute changes in the specifications.  The wall that Hank knocked down was next to the desk of a mister Carlos Cambio who was running product specification and design.  Carlos was sent to the hospital and missed two months of work.  Because the feature set remained stable the team was able to finish ahead of schedule."

"Wow," exclaimed Lester, sitting down with a solemn expression.  "I guess we´d better make a few changes."

"Defintely," answered Sally.

"We´re moving Hank over to development and putting him in charge.  We need someone like him who can come up with creative solutions to our problems."

Aug. 11, 2005 - LOL!