Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Often, greater efficiency means sharing resources that were previously not shared. When a shared resource breaks, everyone suffers.

Twenty years ago I worked in a computing lab that suffered great improvements in efficiency. Yes, we improved and suffered at the same time. We began sharing resources. We had computers that were idle much of the time (inefficient). We used improved network technology to connect our computers (share them).

Great stuff!

Not so great when a shared computer went down. And in those days, computers went down now and then—much more often than they do now.

Forget the technology and such for a moment. Sharing resources improves efficiencies. Share resources brings risk. If the shared resource fails, everyone sits around waiting for it to return. Let me emphasize EVERYONE.

Take care when someone suggests a big improvement in efficiency. Find the risk. At least move into the future with your eyes open.