The right tool for the job

[wanton dwarf]

Supposedly the reason 16,000 cases were not added to Covid-19 figures was because an excel spreadsheet was used which "Maxxed out" ..

The problem has been "Solved" by splitting the excel sheet into "Batches". IMHO this goes to show how those who "think" they know what they are doing don't.


A government should be using professionals who are provding quality systems able to cope with millions of sets of information - in this day & age in real time.

Spreadsheets are useful for personal and internal tossing of data .. but do not provide any backup, does not allow multiple users to update information and doesn't allow real time updating (ie allow updates & viewing at the same time).

IMHO this is fag packet IT.

 

[ollie989898]

Supposedly the reason 16,000 cases were not added to Covid-19 figures was because an excel spreadsheet was used which "Maxxed out" ..

The problem has been "Solved" by splitting the excel sheet into "Batches". IMHO this goes to show how those who "think" they know what they are doing don't.


A government should be using professionals who are provding quality systems able to cope with millions of sets of information - in this day & age in real time.

Spreadsheets are useful for personal and internal tossing of data .. but do not provide any backup, does not allow multiple users to update information and doesn't allow real time updating (ie allow updates & viewing at the same time).

IMHO this is fag packet IT.

It's a meaningless set of data anyway because how people have been recording deaths is all over the place. The number of deaths and comparisons between countries is thus meaningless. All we can do is compare reported cases.

 

[Muck Spreader]

Supposedly the reason 16,000 cases were not added to Covid-19 figures was because an excel spreadsheet was used which "Maxxed out" ..

The problem has been "Solved" by splitting the excel sheet into "Batches". IMHO this goes to show how those who "think" they know what they are doing don't.


A government should be using professionals who are provding quality systems able to cope with millions of sets of information - in this day & age in real time.

Spreadsheets are useful for personal and internal tossing of data .. but do not provide any backup, does not allow multiple users to update information and doesn't allow real time updating (ie allow updates & viewing at the same time).

IMHO this is fag packet IT.

The whole testing, tracking and tracing system setup has been an utter shambles from start to finish, with billions pounds being siphoned off by incompetent/dishonest businesses. It looks like the fairly useless contact tracing app will cost the taxpayer around £35 billion alone, particularly when the Germans offered theirs to the UK for nothing

 

[Mek]

The whole testing, tracking and tracing system setup has been an utter shambles from start to finish, with billions pounds being siphoned off by incompetent/dishonest businesses. It looks like the fairly useless contact tracing app will cost the taxpayer around £35 billion alone, particularly when the Germans offered theirs to the UK for nothing

Are you saying it’s not a world beating system after all.?

 

[stewart]

When I read the title I thought the thread was going to be about Boris.

 

[arcobob]

When I read the title I thought the thread was going to be about Boris.

In a way it is about Boris but only in as much as Boris needs help from competent people and they are mainly absent. Nicola Junkermann is apparently now supplying all the technology. At least that should appeal to Boris. The modern world is way beyond the comprehension of the individual and the pitfalls are numerous but the knowledge is available if the government are prepared to select and engage with the right people.

 

[JimAndy]

 

[Muck Spreader]

Are you saying it’s not a world beating system after all.?

I think it could be world beating alright, but not in the way Boris suggests.

 

[Pasty]

They are probably still running Windows Vista. Bill's going to get a good pegging tonight from Melinda. Meanwhile, in China, Bill's promised second virus is on the way. This time it's the black death. Happy days.

 

[Pasty]

The whole testing, tracking and tracing system setup has been an utter shambles from start to finish, with billions pounds being siphoned off by incompetent/dishonest businesses. It looks like the fairly useless contact tracing app will cost the taxpayer around £35 billion alone, particularly when the Germans offered theirs to the UK for nothing

To be fair, the Germans don't have a great history with 'papers' etc.

 

[Muck Spreader]

The whole testing, tracking and tracing system setup has been an utter shambles from start to finish, with billions pounds being siphoned off by incompetent/dishonest businesses. It looks like the fairly useless contact tracing app will cost the taxpayer around £35 billion alone, particularly when the Germans offered theirs to the UK for nothing

Whoops, I put £35 billion by mistake, should be £35 million! Saved Richie a few bob there then.

 

[le bon paysan]

Whoops, I put £35 billion by mistake, should be £35 million! Saved Richie a few bob there then.

Presumably the rest will be Dildo's payoff / golden handshake for a job well done again. Or Not!

 

[wanton dwarf]

In a way it is about Boris but only in as much as Boris needs help from competent people and they are mainly absent. Nicola Junkermann is apparently now supplying all the technology. At least that should appeal to Boris. The modern world is way beyond the comprehension of the individual and the pitfalls are numerous but the knowledge is available if the government are prepared to select and engage with the right people.

I don't expect Boris to understand the technology or even know it exists. In fact I wouldn't expect any senior management dealing with staff to understand any high technology.

But I do expect those senior managers to employ those who do follow best practice and are aware of technology in their field. The technology I'm talking about was widely available 25 years ago .. there are many 1,000s of people able to provide this level of IT system.

Same goes for alternative field .. such as getting professionals who practices agriculture at a high level to oversee policy and the systems in place to progress UK agriculture - not Michael Gove for example.

 

[czechmate]

They are probably still running Windows Vista. Bill's going to get a good pegging tonight from Melinda. Meanwhile, in China, Bill's promised second virus is on the way. This time it's the black death. Happy days.

still?
I am just contemplating upgrading to 98

 

[arcobob]

still?
I am just contemplating upgrading to 98

Mon dieu! You`ll need a new hard drive for that and probably an upgrade on the electricity supply.

 

[Old McDonald]

But I do expect those senior managers to employ those who do follow best practice and are aware of technology in their field. The technology I'm talking about was widely available 25 years ago .. there are many 1,000s of people able to provide this level of IT system.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to totally agree with you again. 25 years ago I was in a very senior financial position in part of the NHS. Prior to that I had been in Chief Officer positions in public service in Australia and was a member of a USA City Managers’ organisation. There were multiple computer software packages used in both those countries for many applications.

The NHS was intent on the use of Excel. It even used Excel as the tool to show the future shifts of staff, nurses in particular. There were good programmes available specifically for this purpose. I arranged an all day demonstration of one in a prominent place where hundreds of staff passed. I had given advance notice and wide publicity to a large number of people who were closely involved in the matter, and not a single person came to see it, or stopped as they passed during the eight hours it was set up.

I banged on about the reasons Excel was not the right tool for many NHS applications and 24 years ago I was got rid of.