Hard problems

[Scruff]

@Troll - Its nice at IBM, hey?

[tractor]

...

I always find there are two ways to solve the really difficult ones. I don't mean the ones that exist because clients are too stupid to provide realistic requirements.

1. Stop thinking about it. Go and do something different. Anything as long as it takes your mind off the problem. Usually, the seed of an answer will germinate within hours. This is why

2. As an alternative discuss the problem with a good listener. Anyone will do as long as they are able to play a part in the conversation. I find that as I am trying to describe something in simpler terms to a non techie, the answer will hit me in the side of the head with the force of a baseball bat.

[tractor]

..

Here's one to solve

• There is a mismatch in the companies data that shows each user with a unique serial number against which is a notes ID and email address
• The user does not use that Notes ID but another one and therefore another email address
• All processes within the corporation are automated for password reset etc and send validation messages to the email address listed to the users serial number
• The call to the Bobs Help Desk are raised - the resolution as the Bobs see it is to advise the user via email to use the automated process to reset the details on the intranet against the users profile to update with the correct email address
• To access the intranet the user needs to login with credentials - these are set to authenticate with the wrong email for the user so are never received
• Bob sends this advice out 3 times but receiving no reply closes the call off as no response received as per process
  
• Despite being advised during the raising of the ticket not to use the email address on the Intranet but rather use the working address Bob insists on sending to the other address

Repeat ad infinitum

There is your problem.

Solution:

1. Develop an automated process that identifies the problem, takes the appropriate action using the interaction with the affected user(s) according to tested business rules.

2. Fire Bob big time.

3. Pay the invoice that is coming your way

[Troll]

Riddle me this....
In Firefox v21 if I do a google search for 1700 x 800 shower tray

& then click on the first link

http://www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=l&ai...20tray&cad=rja

It just hangs there - same if I paste into a new window

If I paste that into IE v 10 then it brings up the website

[SueEllen]

Here's one to solve

• There is a mismatch in the companies data that shows each user with a unique serial number against which is a notes ID and email address
• The user does not use that Notes ID but another one and therefore another email address
• All processes within the corporation are automated for password reset etc and send validation messages to the email address listed to the users serial number
• The call to the Bobs Help Desk are raised - the resolution as the Bobs see it is to advise the user via email to use the automated process to reset the details on the intranet against the users profile to update with the correct email address
• To access the intranet the user needs to login with credentials - these are set to authenticate with the wrong email for the user so are never received
• Bob sends this advice out 3 times but receiving no reply closes the call off as no response received as per process
• Despite being advised during the raising of the ticket not to use the email address on the Intranet but rather use the working address Bob insists on sending to the other address

Repeat ad infinitum

Sack Bob and move the help desk to another country preferably in the EU where people have common sense.

It's not that expensive to hire apprentices in some tulip hole in the UK who will do the job right the first time thus saving money meaning less employees will be needed.

[Troll]

Here's one to solve

• There is a mismatch in the companies data that shows each user with a unique serial number against which is a notes ID and email address
• The user does not use that Notes ID but another one and therefore another email address
• All processes within the corporation are automated for password reset etc and send validation messages to the email address listed to the users serial number
• The call to the Bobs Help Desk are raised - the resolution as the Bobs see it is to advise the user via email to use the automated process to reset the details on the intranet against the users profile to update with the correct email address
• To access the intranet the user needs to login with credentials - these are set to authenticate with the wrong email for the user so are never received
• Bob sends this advice out 3 times but receiving no reply closes the call off as no response received as per process
• Despite being advised during the raising of the ticket not to use the email address on the Intranet but rather use the working address Bob insists on sending to the other address

Repeat ad infinitum

[proggy]

What exactly is the sign that the problem is my mental capabilities? That I consider it to be hard, that I took it on as a reasonably lucrative fixed price job because I am confident I can solve it, or that I'm annoyed at the lack of coffee in my cupboard?

I was just joking with you, good luck hope you solve it. Isn't there a costa or nero near by?

[doodab]

This is a sign that the problem is beyond your mental capabilities, perhaps you should ask your manager to move you to the fries counter or if you can take out the bins?

What exactly is the sign that the problem is my mental capabilities? That I consider it to be hard, that I took it on as a reasonably lucrative fixed price job because I am confident I can solve it, or that I'm annoyed at the lack of coffee in my cupboard?

[SueEllen]

Sometimes I find it's best to apply the 'Beer & kebab' technique.

Sitting looking at the same problem for hours on end gets you ( me at least) into tramlining the same non-solutions.
Go away, do something different, go and have a beer and a kebab.

Next morning revisiting the issue the solution often seems so simple you'd (I'd) kick your(my)self.

Alternatively you could do something more healthy like get so exercise.

[RSoles]

Sometimes I find it's best to apply the 'Beer & kebab' technique.

Sitting looking at the same problem for hours on end gets you ( me at least) into tramlining the same non-solutions.
Go away, do something different, go and have a beer and a kebab.

Next morning revisiting the issue the solution often seems so simple you'd (I'd) kick your(my)self.

[proggy]

Do you ever get them? I don't mean the sort of squaring the circle that comes from needing to do three months work in three weeks, or having to deal with a steep learning curve, or erections that won't go away.

I have one. I have decided the best strategy was to go to sleep early and get up at 4 am when everyone else is asleep to have another go at it. Now I've run out of coffee

This is a sign that the problem is beyond your mental capabilities, perhaps you should ask your manager to move you to the fries counter or if you can take out the bins?

[EternalOptimist]

Do you ever get them? I don't mean the sort of squaring the circle that comes from needing to do three months work in three weeks, or having to deal with a steep learning curve, or erections that won't go away.

I have one. I have decided the best strategy was to go to sleep early and get up at 4 am when everyone else is asleep to have another go at it. Now I've run out of coffee

I had one earlier this year. I had to build a db that could hold an unspecified number of fields in an unspecified number of tables displayed on an unspecified form.
They whinged about the performance.

so there was the problem, how to do the impossible but make it fast.
I got the answer at 5 am one morning whilst wondering what to do about my boner

[doodab]

I doubt it will be one night TBH.

I'm not complaining BTW, this is the bit that makes software development fun. It's just hard to reconcile it with newborn children.

[MarillionFan]

Do you ever get them? I don't mean the sort of squaring the circle that comes from needing to do three months work in three weeks, or having to deal with a steep learning curve, or erections that won't go away.

I have one. I have decided the best strategy was to go to sleep early and get up at 4 am when everyone else is asleep to have another go at it. Now I've run out of coffee

Had six months of it. My OCD is that I have to solve everything I'm given or understand it to the finest level. You've got one night. Imagine when it's every other night.

A couple of bad nights though sometimes gives you that Eureka moment though. GL.

[doodab]

Do you ever get them? I don't mean the sort of squaring the circle that comes from needing to do three months work in three weeks, or having to deal with a steep learning curve, or erections that won't go away.

I have one. I have decided the best strategy was to go to sleep early and get up at 4 am when everyone else is asleep to have another go at it. Now I've run out of coffee