Data All Over The Road

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


This last three months or so, I have been involved in a number of new projects, which from early scoping and initial needs, look very much like dropping some pretty standard self-service, on to some mature systems. Taking the more detailed look, its not often that simple.

As with when I were a teenager, taking a quick look at a Vauxhall engine with 78,000 miles on it, you wonder why so many things don’t look connected. Indeed my first question with a ‘M’ Reg Viva 1300L was, “what’s that brown foam coming out of the rocker box?

If only data leaking all over the place, was as easy to spot as oil coming out of a sump, we would all be in a better place. However, every organisation I work with, have some data outside of primary systems, in little island applications or Excel. What does this look like and why would managers favour this approach?

Well start at the top, take a look at your KPIs and determine where they are sourced from. If values are keyed in, rather than taken from a well structured detail source, chances are that the source the data should be in, is incomplete. Where we are dependent on staff, we inevitably see errors, transpositions and in many cases bias. The best auditors I have ever worked with, never stop until the detail adds up to the summary KPI. If it doesn’t then the green ink pen comes out.

Multiple sources of the same core data, rings similar alarm bells. Which contact telephone number is the most accurate one? The one related to the contact, the last one mentioned on a repair or a CRM call? How can you create the best customer orientated service, if we struggle to even know their most recent or relevant phone number.

Look out for canines too. Anywhere you can find two staff and a dog, maintaining a GIS, case management, asset system or Leasehold management application, we probably have some detached or island data, right there. I suggest you get a nose for it, as it will be the Achilles Heal, in creating complete and frictionless self-service.

Asset Management can be one of the worst teams for over collecting data. There is an enormous cost in keeping data accurate and trustworthy. If data has no value and does not contribute to KPI’s in a meaningful way, or perhaps for KPI’s NOT in a meaningful way, then we are renting it on borrowed time. A bit like that guitar in the back bedroom, you got eight years ago and never managed mastering those two chords. Its better to let it go.

So to the second question, why on earth would you allow such fragmentation of your key data?

Well sometimes its just the organic way systems have evolved over time. More likely, previous managers perhaps did not like a particular application, for sensible or irrational reasons and chose another. Less now can departmental managers make such procurements, with ICT only being made aware when the implementers ruck up. However it can happen that way.

One big issue I find is that some teams or staff refuse to keep core systems up to date and managers do not understand the importance of enforcing rules. Often ICT try to protect the data, but can come across more like the ‘hard cops’, acting against the staff interests, which is quite the reverse of what’s generally intended. Managers sometimes then go in another direction, branch out into T-cards, whiteboards or a nice insulated hosted SaaS solution, that cuts out those pesky rogue users.

All of these organisation habits, lead to a massive throttling of possible self-service quick wins. Recognise them and you can manage your transition better, to excellent and comprehensive self-service. 

Related Post: How do you prove your system interventions are truly making a difference
 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Rival Sons - All Over the Road.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid, NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
. . . . . . . . . . .

Home Telecide

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


I don’t know about you, but I have been way busier than normal, although locked down at home, like most of the rest of the British Isles. I have been completing Social Housing process reviews, helping with new contractor systems and manipulating vast amounts of asset survey data. I can't grumble, its all keeping me in, away from harm😉.

I have read conspiracy theories about the Bible book of Revelation mentioning that near the time of reckoning, all men, small and rich, slave or free, will need to accept a stamped image in their right hand or on the forehead, to exist or trade.

These are often interpreted as a mouse and a screen. Indeed these last few weeks, a screen and mouse has been invaluable, if not essential for doing all work.

I have Zoomed, Skyped with TEAMS, GoToMeeting’ed, as well as some others, which were a nice alternative adventure. That’s how I get my kicks these days, keep ‘em coming!

The 'utopian dream' they sold us

I thought it was definitely worth a post on this, as I have had so many conversations and experiences shared with me. Now I am quite regimented and organised, so up at 8am, in the shower and dressed. I cannot be sure that everyone I teleconference with have pyjama bottoms on, but they tend to have had something reasonable on from the (webcam) waist up. But how do you transition from not working to working? One article I read, suggested putting some shoes on, helps with the transition to starting work. A bit like putting a tie on for a meeting I suppose. Give it some consideration, see if it works for you.

Security with some of these video apps is generally in the config and these are pretty well thought out and secure. Stories of Zoom being a ‘security risk’, is more about new users going with initial default settings, than any inherent weaknesses. Lock down your settings and prevent instances of Zoombomber trolls, having fun at your expense.

"Get Down" Rover!

Another vexing issue is your webcam background. Now Skype does allow you to blur it, but that does not seem to be enough for some. Although behind some folk appears to be a bed headrest or perhaps a DIY S&M dungeon. With Oxfam shops closed, its not the right time, the bus has been missed, to grab some highbrow literature, to populate that IKEA Billy Bookcase behind you, with Penguin Classics.

Maybe we are learning just a bit too much of our work colleagues home décor, or that kids playroom hastily converted to home office lately. Always have some idea where the rest of your family or pets are, while you are on the call. Consider locking yourself in a box room if you can!

Good advice from an MP, who many can learn from

Some of us have the whole family at home, which clearly can be a blessing, as well as an occasional curse! You don’t always want to share a crumpet with melted cheese just passed to you, with your customer. Personally, I wouldn’t mind, but with advance planning, I would generally pop a special one in the toaster for them. How do you keep their noises at bay, when trying to focus? Well, help is at hand, particularly for some of us who spend some time in coffee shops, linking our VPN to the free WiFi and stretching a Flat White and an Italian Amaretti Di Saronno Biscuit, out for a couple of hours. Try this link or similar, for a good hour of ambient coffee shop sounds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaGrHUekGrc

That may work for you. There’s also, French café in the rain, magical tearooms and for my customers in Scotland, this lovely small café with three hours of close conversation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CL6OH7Fod4

Look at the state of that water damaged ceiling 🤔

We are used to attendees dropping out of video conference calls. This can be due to the primary system being overwhelmed, or maybe local connections from home, suffering some contention. I have been on calls where video or sound can be lost for a while. One story a director from an organisation I work with, shared a sorry story of a solicitor joining a call, who only had video.They had to write stuff down on post-it notes and show it to the webcam. Unfortunately, everyone else saw it reversed and needed a mirror to properly understand it. Remember folks you can generally always phone in, to save some of these embarrassments.

I am intending to check-in on a local supplier as this situation unfolds and will add a blogpost from their perspective if possible. Suppliers and providers all need to think and work differently, to help staff cope, with hat is becoming the new normal.

Rest assured, we will no-doubt know each other a little better after this is all over. I hope it does bring us all closer. We will beat this together, one conference call at a time.


Related Post: Credit Unions - Why generally so far ahead of Social Housing providers, on self-service?
 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

The Tubes - Telecide.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid, NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
. . . . . . . . . . .