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Working Up in Project Management, Systems Engineering, Technology, and Writing

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Entries Tagged as 'Systems'

Pre Digital

December 12th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Some thoughts on Seth Godin’s idea of “pre digital” and how some places can become “formerly pre digital.” Seth Godin recently posted thoughts on what he calls “pre digital.” I liked his thoughts. I can punch a few security holes in the example he uses of a hospital emergency room, but that […]

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Tags: Communication · Computing · Systems

Accepting Less Than Perfect

November 17th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Self-driving cars are almost here. They are safer than human drivers. They aren’t perfect, but they are better. Nevertheless, we might repeat our past and not employ less-than-perfect computer systems. Maybe, however, our younger generations may accept it this time. Google has been working on self-driving cars. Others have as well. Those […]

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Tags: Risk · Systems · Technology

The IED Solution

September 29th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips There is a solution to IEDs. We have known it for centuries, but instead we look to technology. I saw this post recently about a research project that will have lasers find IEDs. Neat technology. I like technology; I guess that is why I have three engineering degrees and view the web […]

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Tags: Systems · Technology

The Pull-the-Wire Test

June 20th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips I have given many demonstrations of systems. I have watched even more demonstrations of systems. One thing I have learned to do during a demonstration is to pull a wire to see if the demonstration still works. Many years ago, I was involved in a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day test of a system. This […]

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Tags: Problems · Systems · Technology

The Curse of the Small Project

May 19th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Small projects are great for new engineers. The new engineers learn so many different aspects of building a system on a small project. I used to think that; I no longer do. Instead, I think that small or smaller projects carry with them a curse that can ruin an engineer or programmer […]

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Tags: Management · Problems · Systems · Work

Return on Specification Investment

February 3rd, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips How specific should a system specification be? How many resources should the spec consume? I propose a measure to help answer these questions – the Return on Specification Investment. A few years ago, I was reviewing a specification for a system that someone in the office had written. I came to one […]

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Tags: Communication · Design · Requirements · Systems · Technology · Work

Software Security and the Numbers Game

November 22nd, 2010 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips I often see claims that software systems will be secure, i.e., only authorized people will be able to see the information. Just as often I see cases where “secure” software systems are broken and the data are spilled onto the floor for all to see. Why? I believe it is a simple […]

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Tags: Fun · Programming · Security · Systems

Tradeoffs

September 9th, 2010 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Tradeoffs involve decisions. You choose that one thing is more important than another. This is not popular, especially in public projects. Last week I saw a post about people wanting to build high-speed train lines between cities. This would reduce automobile traffic between the cities, provide construction jobs, provide operations and maintenance […]

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Tags: Choose · Systems

Emailing High Blood Pressure

July 22nd, 2010 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips I have learned how to email bad emotions and their accompanying physical ailments away. It is a good technique to master. Several years ago, I opened some shipping cases to inspect some systems that a contractor had built for us. I was disappointed, then I was upset, then furious. There were a […]

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Tags: Health · Ideas · Problems · Systems

Publish on Demand – FastPencil Part 2

May 27th, 2010 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips My printed book from FastPencil is in hand. It took about three weeks for FastPencil to transform a PDF file to a paperback book. It is 6″x9″ and 155 pages. Lessons Learned: 10-point font is too small for my eyes I chose a creme paper instead of white, I wish I had […]

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Tags: General Systems Thinking · Image · Systems · Writing