<VV> Software--auto related no corvair

[kaczmarek at charter.net]

MIke
Point well taken

Never ceases to amaze me that software for auto businesses are written in many cases by the same people who would write a video game, or a program to keep bowling league averages.  They don't know much about the business, and could care less. They only program in what the company's
IT department---also populated by NON CAR people, tell them to. Not much feedback is asked for from the people who will actually use the software in the course of the work---the end unit user. 

This is common in the upper echelons of many companies. 
While working for NAPA in Stanley, NC--A kid in Atlanta, fresh from college with a marketing degree--fulfills the prophecy of the "college trained idiot"(not every college grad is one), by changing our stock of belts and hoses, removing numbers that we sold, and replacing them with ones that didn't. We had hard data to back this up. My boss went in and changed the numbers back, and this kid calls up with 2 questions.

1. How did you get the system to change the numbers back after I had changed them??
2. Why did you do it??

The boss answered him plainly. 

1. Son, I was fooling with computers even before you were leaving brown globs in a diaper!!!
2. Since you've never spent 10 minutes behind ANY parts counter, let alone MY counter, what makes you think you know better than me what sells in my community??? I think my 30 years behind the counter gives me a better feel than your 0 days behind the counter!!

A few weeks later the same kid in Atlanta fooled with our min/max amounts on spark plugs.  A prime example of his ability was to leave a max of 4 on a plug number only used on a 6 cylinder engine. A call to the Regional IT manager finally straightned THAT one out. 

Some companies are smart enough to promote people from the trenches. They have a better idea what works and what doesn't. Some aren't.

Hank

> 
> From: Mike Kost <vairmike at sbcglobal.net>
> Date: 2005/08/18 Thu PM 02:42:42 EST
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: <VV> Re: Brake shoes
> 
> Personally I wouldn't blame the  guy behind the counter as much as I 
> would blame the  writer of the software. I would expect that if you 
> don't answer ALL of the questions you won't get an answer. If the 
> software was written intelligently (by someone who was familiar with the 
> business the software was written for) it would ask what class od part 
> you were looking for (brakes, engine, steering, etc.) then start with 
> the make, model, etc. until it got the part narrowed down to a single 
> part or group of parts. It would not ask about things like engine unless 
> it was necessary to make the determination. An example would be oil 
> filter. The program should ask for MAKE "Chevrolet" > MODEL "Corvair" > 
> PF4 (all years, all engines, all body styles).
> 
> Mike Kost
> 
> kaczmarek at charter.net wrote:
> 
> >Joe
> >I guess you have to stand on the other side of the counter for a while to see what they go thru.
> >
> >When the counter man asks questions that you believe to be 
> >so pertinent...you get responses like.
> >
> >"What difference does the engine make" I've owned this thing for 20 years and I know you don't need to know that
> >to 
> >"do you know what you're doing??"
> >
> >After a while, you tire of that. 
> >
> >After a longer while, you LEARN WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK...
> >
> >Asking every question the default drop down menu thinks you should isn't necessarily information necessary to do what the counterman's job is---to get you the right part the first time out. 
> >
> >Of course, those of you who have never been parts counterpersons always seem to know more than those who are or have been parts counterpersons. Same applies to mechanics, engineers, etc. 
> >
> >To me, a plumber who does plumbing every day knows more than a guy who putters to fix what's in his home. Same for an electrician. Same for a mechanic. I'ts just a hobby for me. For him, it's a career. 
> >
> >Obviously if you've never worked in the Auto Parts Business, the benefit of your vast experience in the field belittles my own. 
> >
> >Thanks for your expert opinions, I'll file them away for future reference. Well, maybe not.
> >
> >Hank
> >  
> >
> 
> 
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