RE: Old technology, new technology

[Dave.Martin@autozone.com]

Dr. Deming was fond of saying that a system cannot understand itself, it
needs a view from the outside.

I hope you all will accept my critique of the DEN methodology as just that,
a view from the outside...and I 'll bet that everyone here knows what it is
like to bring new ideas into an established, successful system.

>From the reactions that I have seen to my suggestions, I think of the DEN
as a system with an established "way we do things."

>>>>>Moderator's Note:  The DEN is entering its 6th year -- with archives
that are searchable by thread, author, topic, or date.  The estimated
archive
total is 18,000 messages -- not to mention the 1,000+ files.  Conversion to
any other platform would be an onerous task.
<<<<<<

I would not recommend changing the format of your archives, keep them as
they are as reference for anyone who would like to browse them or search
them.

>>>>>>>>I have estimated that my annual contribution is the equivalent of
15 40-hour weeks.  I, too, try to make a living.<<<<<<<<<<

No one would question your hard work and dedication to making the DEN work.
But your statement is telling in itself -- you're spending WAY TOO MUCH
TIME moderating a list with old technology.  A newer technology would cut
your workload by 80-90%.

>>>>>>>
Perhaps I sound a bit defensive...  I am.  We currently serve almost 900
subscribers in 27 countries, processing a MILLION+ messages a year -- with
very limited resources.
<<<<<<<<<<<

Server time dedicated to sending out millions of e-mail messages a year is
an incredible demand to be placed on donated resources.  Serving up web
pages, on the other hand, and allowing the community to post and edit
themselves, requires far fewer resources.

I have also received suggestions that we should be looking for kaizen
improvements:  Small, incremental improvements to the DEN vs.
reengineering.  This is the equivalent of asking why we should replace
wagon wheels with pneumatic tires -- can't we continually improve wagon
wheels?  There were people who developed the technology used to run the
DEN.  They continually improved that technology.  Now, they're either out
of business or they offer a newer, better system.  Things change fast in
the internet world.  They get better, faster AND cheaper very quickly.

In response to questions regarding "what is wrong?"  I'll list a few things
here:;

A)  Threads are scattered throughout the list, and each respondent adds
their own twist to the title.  Is it the same topic?  I don't know by
looking at the title.

B)  A topic is posted, and several people reply in isolation.  There is no
flow, no continuity to the discussion.  People repeat things that others
already said.  Its the equivalent of sitting in a room with 12 people,
asking a question, and then all going separate ways to formulate a
response.  The next day, they all hand in their papers, you read through
them, make copies for everyone, and you all go separate ways again to
formulate responses to the responses.  Compare this to sitting in the room
together having a discussion.

C) It is "user-unfriendly" and non-intuitive to use, discouraging
participation from new users.

In summary, it could be replaced with something cheaper, easier to use,
more intuitive, more open and accessible,  more real-time, and more
enjoyable -- A better forum for learning.

 I'm sticking to my guns...

:)
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