.... this is what I do. Can you tell?

If I'm not playing golf, me too.

Looks like a common problem. I thought it was just my A.D.D.

There's something that makes other people's problems more interesting than our own.

I've never been diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure they'd say I have ADD. I'm not sure it's a "disorder" though.... I read a book that suggested it's really about being a "born hunter" of the explorer/pioneer variety.... you have to keep scanning, looking for trouble. Focus on one thing too long, and you wind up dead.

I think it makes you an excellent "field" analyst, and a terrible "office" analyst.

I tried to read the same book but never got finished.

... I try to get a glimps of what is going on in the shop and also on-line (ie NEW POSTS). Then I realize - my problems aren't so bad.

Report writing is easier in large organizations. Early on, I worked for two years in a typically bureaucratic government organization. One of my colleagues was an older guy, who'd learned the system. Initially he'd diligently write good reports. First level supervisor would send it back for revisions. He'd do them. Next level of review would send that version back for revision. After a few iterations of this, the report would end up being what he'd written in the first place! So, after a while he decided to just scribble down any old thing to get it started, and let the bosses write the report. When they were finished, he'd sign it. True story.

The 80/20 rule says that 80% of what we write is going to be ignored anyway.... sounds about right to me. But I keep at. I have learned to say less, and not try to explain the analysis too much. Most folks either don't comprehend it, or just don't care. I am often amazed at how mentally lazy folks are.... I guess the fact I continue to find this stuff fascinating after all these years means I really am a geek.

Rusty, I agree completely with your 80/20 suggestion....when I first started in this line of work...I felt like I needed to supply folks with all the data possible...over the last few years, this has de-evolved into only the bare essentials...had a guy tell me one time, "I don't care anything about your charts and graphs, just tell me what's wrong and what do I need to do to fix it"...from that point on, my report writing took a lot less time..................and oh yeah, I don't think it's ADD at all...I believe it to be pure dedication...some folks just can't accept, "oh well" for an excuse, they've got to find resolution to get a good nights sleep.....

quote:

I tried to read the same book but never got finished.

Oh, I never finished it either.... not sure I've actually finished a book since I was in high school. Usually you get 80% of the benefit of a book in the first 20% of it where the author lays out his theory (premise, whatever). You can then analyze it for yourself, figure out if it's applicable, etc. Saves a lot of time and gives you something else to do "someday".....

Early on, I agonized over each report, wanting to get it right. After absolutely no feedback from any of them, I asked the fellow who processes the paperwork how the reports were handled. He said "I take them out of the folder and file them in a drawer." Dang!

We have 5 major departments that we do reports for. Unfortunately there is 1 person in each department that reads my reports with great gusto. We upgraded our reports from our contractor -- actually put in what was wrong and what needed to be done.

Writing report time increased dramatically.

Now everyone wants a report like that...

Aubrey

Hey wpooh, are you who I think you are? Did your ponds fill up yet?

Vibeguy2004, Yep, still hanging around! Being treated well, but the green stuff on the other side of the fence looks tempting! I don't know...

Ponds are half full--seriously considering giving the whole place a big renovation.

Hit any holes-in-one lately?

Nothing makes me chuckle more that the 'newie' that wants every plot from every point! After about 1 year they beg off because you have filled their bookshelfs and guess how many times they even looked at them?
Recently had a customer ask me to bid on his vibration route. He had an existing vendor, who was much closer than I was and the plant was a death trap, so I wasn't eager to take it on. I asked to see the reports.
They were EXCELLENT and the vendors price was very reasonable. I told him, 'Don't tick this guy off. He is your champion.'
The customer commented that a pump had recently failed catastrophically and he felt it had been missed.
I asked him when it failed and looked for the pump in the vendors report.
You guessed it.
"CRITICAL! Replace pump ASAP!"
I don't believe I have ever seen a more sheepish look in my life!

People are different. Some want detail - other's eyes will glaze over.
Some read reports, some don't.
Once had dealings with a competent middle manager in a fairly important role. I heard him articulate clearly... "I NEVER pay any attention to anything WRITTEN - I react ONLY to face-to-face VERBAL communication".

I totally agree with Billy and Rusty. Management or a customer do not like lengthy, analytically inclined reports. We, analysts, are trying to do it this way thinking that it will make us look smart ( which it should, in fact). But our customers are mostly not professionals in this field and it makes them just angry because they don't understand things like spectra, resolution, fault frequencies, etc., thus, being forced to screen 5+ pages just to find the verdict - "green" or "red". In my experience a RCFA report showing a good call most of the time is being ignored.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David_G,

My reports are short and precise. At least, i try to do it this way. In the first pages i put a resume of the situation (red, yellow, green style) and the reference for more explanation. Customers seems to apreciate it that way. An old wise guy taught me to do it that way... Thanks

I thought the report is meant for the engineer in charge to understand, not quite the management who relies on the engineer.

I also thought the written report is the official, thoroughly thought to avoid negligence, legally binding document and to get payment.

It's alright to write a precise and concise report but when do we know that the consultant sometimes doesn't understand the problem either?