DBA update

I last wrote on this topic exactly one month ago, after having interviewed the CEO and after transcribing that interview. I quickly followed this up with another three interviews, each person with his own opinion of the enhancement's success. On the basis of how long it took me to transcribe the first interview, I took my supervisor's advice and sent the other three interviews to a company that specialises in court transcriptions.

After being told that the transcriptions would take about a week (they're not urgent) and paying (415 NIS, which is equivalent at the moment to about $130, the dollar being extremely weak against the shekel), I am still waiting. I have received various excuses and I'm getting to the point of wondering whether I've been defrauded.

Despite not having the transcriptions, I know basically what was said (and I can always listen to the interviews again, should I want to) and so was able to write my first round of conclusions: not only about the enhancement itself, but also (and more importantly) about the pilot study methodology.

I also read a few interesting papers two weeks ago; one is theoretical and the other builds on the theoretical basis to carry out research. The topic is beneficial non-compliance brought about by the use of workarounds. The author of the first paper (who is a contributor to the second paper) proposes that at times, non-compliance of company standards can actually be beneficial. Yes, I know that this sounds like an oxymoron but it is also an interesting idea in itself, and also something that I can use myself. In the case where the use of a workaround mean that the work gets done better, the idea and/or methods of the workaround should be incorporated into the fabric of the ERP system so that the standard procedure (that presumably is lacking in some respect or is too difficult to comply with) can be updated to something that works.

I feel like the Borg: you will be assimilated!

So I added at least a page on beneficial non-compliance (including a table) and wrote about ten pages on the pilot study before sending off this version to my supervisor. I know that the pilot study chapter is not complete, but I'm not sure what I should add. Hopefully now I can maintain momentum with the thesis.