(no subject)

[krikketgirl]

Having LJ available only through a remote connection is a pain in the neck, because I can't have it running in the background with everything else I'm doing. I really wish I could figure out what the deal is.

I am feeling about a million times better today than I was yesterday. There is always that point in a minor illness where you turn the corner and it feels like you just bounce back, but it always surprises me when it happens.

It feels like annoyances large and small have been stalking the school where I work. I'm hoping things look brighter for a lot of people soon.

I have had to e-mail at least one of my two professors on almost every single day of this semester. Let's talk about frustrating! But it looks like things are settled down now and I can really dig in. Sadly, digging in means that I have to read and comment on an article entitled, How Much Are Technical Services Worth? Using the Contingent Valuation Method to Estimate the Added Value of Collection Management and Access. Sounds like a zippy read, eh?

Comments

On Tech Services...

[bassnote.livejournal.com]

That's a whole line of management speak right there! Buzz-word Central!

BUT,

In my industry we offer technical services that are a HUGE part of the bid packages due to the nature of the material used: explosives. The extreme technical nature of the industry requires it.

This, of course, doesn't stop our customers from wandering off the path, doing their own thing and blaming us when things fail in a spectacular way. We had one customer who wanted to try a different style of blast to see if it would improve productivity. They then ignored our equipment to blast proximity warning (we actually made them sign a waiver before we'd detonate) and blew the boom off of their main production shovel with the shock wave.

10 weeks of equipment down time and two million dollars later they tried to sue us for the damages. We had the waiver. We won. We kept the contract, too.

Listen to the tech rep. Especially if you're stepping outside your normal range of knowledge and activity. They are included in the cost of the service, would have cost them 30 min at the outset and saved them weeks and millions in the end. Value added cost is ridiculously easy to calculate in that instance.

[bluiidmommy.livejournal.com]

You said zippy! Such a fun word. :)

I'm glad you're feeling better!

I hope the year settles down for you quickly.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't have any trouble falling asleep after reading all that business speak!