DEN - rework, delays, and corrective action

["Jim Clauson, Breakthrough Systems" <jim@jclauson.com>]

DENizens,

You have undoubtedly noted the often sporadic traffic on the DEN lately.

One main root cause is the increasing amount of rework I have to do to 
messages prior to releasing them.

I periodically post a set of Posting Guidelines (see below) to assist in 
both a smooth flow of information and learning as well as a smooth flow of 
messages.  Failing to follow the guidelines causes message rework and delay.

Please take a moment to read over the following.  Then take a look at your 
postings before they go to the DEN.  If they do not follow the guidelines, 
I'd appreciate it if you would make necessary changes to your mailing 
software.  By better meeting the guidelines, you help me reduce rework.

Thanks,

Jim Clauson, Moderator
Deming Electronic Network



===============================
DEN Posting Guidelines - DEC03:
===============================


The PLEASE DOs:
===============

1.  Remember that the focus of this discussion list is the Deming
Philosophy; with the stated AIM of: "Learn, apply, and extend the
teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and to help others do the same."
This will keep excursions, tangents, and trips to the Milky Way
to a minimum.

2.  Include your name and e-mail address at bottom of the body of your
message to both identify yourself and facilitate direct communications.
Some mail handlers strip the headers and the recipient cannot determine
the sender's address.

3.  Address messages only to: den.list@deming.ces.clemson.edu (not the
request addresses, list-d addresses or clauson@...  Look at
the addressee area on your e-mail when you reply to a DEN message - it
should only show the noted address.

3a.  Do not use "Reply All" and sent replies to sender, DEN and...  This
causes timing errors and increases rework.  The only addressee should
be the DEN at address above.

4.  Remember that there is an incredible diversity in the DENizen
subscriber list -- there are 900 +/- subscribers in 25+
countries.  Some are just becoming acquainted with Dr. Deming's
teachings, some worked with Dr. Deming for years, and for many English
is their second language.

5.  Related to #4, please avoid (or explain) terms or slang not common
to other cultures.

6.  Use text-only as your e-mail content preference.  This low-tech
approach ensures the widest possible international readership and
reduces the possibility of "malware".  Messages sent by mailers
like AOL and Outlook that, by default, format in mixed formats (both
text and html) will be delayed for rework.

7.  We do not accept or process messages with ANY form of attachment.  This
was originally a technology issue - but it has become a security issue.  We
have never propagated a virus or worm via the DEN as we never send 
atachments.
Messages with attachments are deleted.

8.  Send short affirmations, such as "Great Post, Fred" directly to the
sender and not to the entire list.

9.  Try to state ideas and theories as conditional opinions as opposed
to absolutes - this produces better dialogue.  As one DENizen stated: 'I
try to use words such as "sometimes", "may", "maybe", "might", "could",
etc.'   This is not to say you might be convinced of a given point, but
the conditional form allows discussion without direct open disagreement
(which can lead to emotional responses or even hostility).

10.  Be very careful to accurately attribute message quotes to the
correct contributor.  If you are unsure, simply check the message
archives at:

http://deming.ces.clemson.edu/pub/den/archive/index.htm

The archives are fully searchable by topic, author, or date.

THE PLEASE DO NOTs:
===================

1.  Do not send self-promotional messages, such as "Read my book," Come
to my seminar," etc.  Either in the text or your sig block.

2.  Do not include the entire text of the message to which you are
replying. Just include the relevant lines.  Placing your replies first
will ensure better readability.  Remember that many of our overseas
DENizens pay for internet access by the minute.  Such responses are
reworked to remove the errant text, thus delaying their posting.

3.  Do not send argumentative or belittling messages; this is a
professional learning forum and professional language is expected.

4.  Please limit your "sig block" at the end of your messages to 6
lines.  Providing name, e-mail, contact info, etc. is sufficient.
Including long quotes or additional information uses extra bandwidth and
file space.  If necessary, these will be delayed and reworked

5.  Do not sent your message as html or text/html.  We use text only to
ensure maximum readership and minimize security issues. This significantly
increases reqork and resultant delays as all html code must  be manually
removed.

6.  Do not send copyrighted material to the DEN.   If you would like to
reference an article or a web site, provide an excerpt and complete
source information to allow the reader to obtain the original.


To Change Subscription Formats:
===============================
Should you wish to change from Digest to Normal messaging or visa versa
- 2 messages are required:
   o Message 1 should request unsubscribing from the current format
     (i.e., UNSUB Digest) and
   o message 2 should request subscribing to the other format (i.e., SUB
     Normal).
Both messages should be sent to den.request@deming.ces.clemson.edu


Unsubbing:
==========
Should you wish to unsub, send a message to:
   o  den.request@deming.ces.clemson.edu with Unsubscribe in the Subject
You must unsub from the address from which you originally subscribed or
provide this address for processing.


List Administration:
====================
The DEN discussion list is moderated.  Jim Clauson
(clauson@deming.ces.clemson.edu) is the moderator and all submissions
and postings will be routed to him for moderating before release to the
list.  Messages are typically batch processed around midnight Eastern
Standard Time, except those delayed for rework.

Jim provides administrative support for questions, additions, changes,
and deletions to list subscribers.  Jim also administers the DEN web
site at http://deming.ces.clemson.edu/pub/den and should be contacted
with questions, problems, suggestions, contributions, etc.







<>=====================<><><>===================<>
Jim Clauson --------------------- jim@jclauson.com
Breakthrough Systems ----- http://jclauson.com
<>=====================<><><>===================<>