JASON BIAVA PARKS his grungy pickup truck in the Aardvark Computing company parking lot and walks to the main gate. He shows his badge and is admitted in, by the guards.
Jason then walks into what the management of Aardvark Computing calls the ‘War Room.’
Technicians are hooking up the demo hard ware.
Jason does a quick visual examination of the hard ware suite. He notes the use of a large color display. He tells the lead tech, “The big display is too slow for the demo.”
The tech sighs, “You know that, I know that, but Arthur doesn’t want to know that. Orders are orders.
Ranny struts into the War Room. Ranny sneers at Jason, “You don’t want to use the big display. You think that it’s too slow for the demo. Arthur thinks otherwise. Arthur is your boss. We’re going to use the big display.”
Mr. Green has entered the War Room, right behind Ranny. Mr. Green says, “Well, Ranny, why don’t we just check out the use of the big display?” (Mr. Green is a Vice President. What Mr. Green has just said is asked as a question, however, it is not a question. We will check out the use of the big display.)
Mr. Green asks the tech, “Can you run the demo simulation?”
The tech says,” Yes sir. I will need to rehook to the backup display.”
Mr. Green says, “Do it.”
The tech rehooks the cabling to the backup computer and then says, “Ready when you are.”
Mr. Green says, “Play it.”
The tech starts the simulation.
Jason adds his rehearsed spiel. Things go well for a bit, then the aircraft tracking image starts to display. The big display starts to develop a case of the hiccups.
Mr. Green asks, “Well.”
Jason says, “The refresh rate of the big display is a bit too slow for the aircraft tracking display. The computer is trying to update the display, while the display is not finished with the current display image.”
Ranny sneers, “Just insert a bit of delay.”
“What Aardvark Computing is trying to sell is the speed of our aircraft tracking system. Inserting a bit of delay slows the apparent speed of the aircraft tracking system. Again, what Aardvark Computing is trying to sell is the speed of the aircraft tracking system.”
“Just how big a problem is a bit of delay?
“Inserting a bit of delay slows the apparent speed of the aircraft tracking system. Among the things that Aardvark Computing is trying to sell to the customer is the speed of our aircraft tracking system. To slow the apparent speed of the aircraft tracking system undermines, to an extent, what we are trying to sell.”
“That’s your opinion Jason.”
Mr. Green says, “That’s also the opinion of the big display. Not just the opinion of Jason. Tech can you hook up the standard display?”
“Yes sir. I will need to rehook to the standard display.”
“Tech, rehook to the standard display and let’s see what happens.”
The tech rehooks the cabling to the standard display and then says, “Ready when you are.”
Mr. Green says, “Play it.”
The tech starts the simulation.
Jason adds his rehearsed spiel. Things go well for a bit and the aircraft tracking image starts to display. The standard display shows the aircraft tracking image smoothly, with no hiccups. Jason continues his rehearsed spiel.
Mr. Green says, “The demo will use the standard display.”
“Yes, sir! However, there may be some trouble with the Project Manager.”
Mr. Green says, “Ah yes, Arthur. Ranny, where is Arthur this morning?”
“Arthur is a bit late, this morning.”
“When Arthur gets here, have Arthur report to me.”
“Yes, Mr. Green.”
Mr. Green asks, “Jason, are you ready for the demo?”
“Yes, I’m ready. Just as important, my support team is ready. If the customer wants software information, I am ready. If the customer’s hardware people want information, our techs are ready to talk to the customer techs.”
“Jason, you trust our techs?”
“Mr. Green, our techs and I put the demo together. I trust our techs. More importantly, the customer techs trust our techs.”
“Jason, do you know the hardware?”
“Mr. Green, I know the hardware. Our techs swapped in a new type of connector, that’s a bit less sensitive to temperature. Our techs know the new type of connector. Their techs know the new type of connector. I let the techs talk connectors. That established me as ‘One a them there programmer guys who listens to techs.’ Listening to techs is important, to techs.”
“Jason, do you listen to Arthur, your Project Manager?”
“When he’s here, Mr. Green.”
“Ranny, the inability of the big display to meet the speed requirements of the demo was well documented in Jason’s reports. Why was the inability not discussed in the project meetings?”
“One of the little details that fell through the cracks.”
“Ranny, if and when Arthur finally gets here, I need to talk to the two of you in my office. Jason, continue to prepare for the customer demo.”
I say only, “Yes, sir.” The techs and I then continue with the demo set up.
Mr. Green and Ranny then leave.
Arthur then bursts into the War Room. He snarls, “Jason, did you tell Mr. Green that I was late this morning?”
“No, Ranny said that, ‘Arthur is a bit late, this morning.’”
“It had better be that it was Ranny who said that, ‘Arthur is a bit late, this morning.’”
“That’s how it was.”
Arthur then turns and stalks off.
