Universal Rule

Book Reviews

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Usefulness of customer surveys -- Comment()
I have been a sceptic of using surveys to find out how the existing services should be developed. However, I just read a report of a recent survey, which was implemented using a web form targeted to a narrowly selected group of customers. The results were suprisingly useful and illustrative. It seems that the web is a good way to implement a focused survey, at least if the customer has a strong interest to develop the service he or she is using.

Traveling in the time of war -- Comment()
I'm thinking of attending a grid meeting abroad in the beginning of April. It seems that the war in Iraq is starting any day now, so I'm still a bit hesitant of traveling. But I'm not too worried about the security of flying at this moment.

In 1991 I organized a workshop on cellular automata in Finland. Due to the Gulf war, the workshop was difficult to arrange, because the invited speakers were not sure of being able to travel. For example, IBM had forbidden traveling of their US staff. Fortunately the war of 1991 was short, and the workshop actually had many participants from abroad.

-- Comment()
t e c h n o c u l t u r e writes: "Megnut's well-thought-out essay, On the war. In its thrust it parallels the New York Times editorial and Scott Rosenburg's amazing Salon piece, all essential reading. [...] Whether a person is a hawk or a dove on the Iraq issue, people need to realise the Bush administration has been utterly hopeless and inept in creating a coalition abroad, in showing leadership overseas, in working towards consensus. This is the job of the world's most powerful nation."

I like performance reviews -- Comment()
I had yesterday my first performance review for this year. Some people don't like performance reviews (see this tool), but for me a review gives an important look at the results and aims of my work.

I'm currently organizing the reviews for the experts in my group. Each time I do this I learn new skills and find new directions. During the years of managing a group I have again and again discovered new aspects and possibilities in the performance review process. Each and every review is a good learning opporturnity.

What is a weblog in Finnish? -- Comment()
A couple of readers commented the posting on What is a weblog in Finnish?. There is a nice essay on the matter (in Finnish), but I'm still undecided. Should there be a common Finnish term, or should we just use the word "weblog" (or "blogi")? Perhaps this question is moot in a couple of years: then weblogs will be either a part of the web infrastructure, or have given way to the next new technology.

Blogs are better than journalism? -- Comment()
Molly Wood writes: 'There's a long-standing argument in the blog world about whether bloggers should be considered journalists. Many bloggers, in fact, believe that large-scale blogging actually trumps traditional journalism because it provides speedy access to a worldwide network of links, eyewitnesses, and commentary. [...] I used to believe that the two represented completely different modes of communication. Lately, though, I'm beginning to think otherwise. [...] the news reporting rarely answers the question you're really asking: "How do I feel about this?" [...] You'll find all sides of the debate, and that's precisely the reason it's better than what you're getting in the newspaper. [...] Take the "news" you find with a grain of salt, but here, you'll find some of the best, brightest, and most trustworthy choices.'