Sunday, March 27, 2005
FLEXIBLE FIELD APPROACH VS. FIXED FIELD APPROACH
Most enterprise software takes a Fixed Field Approach to managing information and data. If it doesn't have a field, there is no place to input it. And, by extrapolation, you lack permission to handle it. Fixed Field Approach databases have the following characteristics:
1. Your employer requires you to use it.
2. It is unique to your industry, or has been tailored to your industry.
3. A threshold level of usage is mandatory, not optional.
For professional managers dealing with random, ad hoc projects, Fixed Field software is no help whatsoever. Hence the need for a Flexible Field Approach. Put the data or information where you want it, when you want it, as needed. Simplicity of design is the key to Flexible Field software.
Most professional managers are running a two track data-keeping system. They utilize Fixed Field software as required by their organization. They utilize Flexible Field software for their Real Information Needs. Real Information is always running ahead of historical information and cannot be easily quantified and pigeon-holed by a Fixed Field Approach. Real Information Needs are situational and independent of prediction. Reality defies prediction constantly and a software is needed for those managers who handle those kind of realities.
The second systems used by most managers are PIM's such as Outlook, Act, Ecco and others that provide a lighter approach.
However, most of these PIMS are too light. They lack the flexible depth needed to compete with the depth that is admittedly found (however, rigidly) in the Fixed Field Approach (rigidly). What is called for is a flexible program that provides rich depth and covers the middle ground.
The MasterList is good, light flexible system, which provides rich depths in what it can do, and how you can use it to organize Real Information Needs that are variable, random, and chaotic, but which require precise follow-up. Indeed, if you are a small or medium sized operation that promotes autonomy and initiative to get things done in your organization, you may even ask yourself, after working with The MasterList, why you are using an enterprise system at all.
Most enterprise software takes a Fixed Field Approach to managing information and data. If it doesn't have a field, there is no place to input it. And, by extrapolation, you lack permission to handle it. Fixed Field Approach databases have the following characteristics:
1. Your employer requires you to use it.
2. It is unique to your industry, or has been tailored to your industry.
3. A threshold level of usage is mandatory, not optional.
For professional managers dealing with random, ad hoc projects, Fixed Field software is no help whatsoever. Hence the need for a Flexible Field Approach. Put the data or information where you want it, when you want it, as needed. Simplicity of design is the key to Flexible Field software.
Most professional managers are running a two track data-keeping system. They utilize Fixed Field software as required by their organization. They utilize Flexible Field software for their Real Information Needs. Real Information is always running ahead of historical information and cannot be easily quantified and pigeon-holed by a Fixed Field Approach. Real Information Needs are situational and independent of prediction. Reality defies prediction constantly and a software is needed for those managers who handle those kind of realities.
The second systems used by most managers are PIM's such as Outlook, Act, Ecco and others that provide a lighter approach.
However, most of these PIMS are too light. They lack the flexible depth needed to compete with the depth that is admittedly found (however, rigidly) in the Fixed Field Approach (rigidly). What is called for is a flexible program that provides rich depth and covers the middle ground.
The MasterList is good, light flexible system, which provides rich depths in what it can do, and how you can use it to organize Real Information Needs that are variable, random, and chaotic, but which require precise follow-up. Indeed, if you are a small or medium sized operation that promotes autonomy and initiative to get things done in your organization, you may even ask yourself, after working with The MasterList, why you are using an enterprise system at all.
