Baby Steps Bob, Baby Steps

Brain Two here is wondering why we make things more complicated than they needed?

I was reminded of this a couple of times in the past week. The first lesson was for us in Payroll. Our site is switching to a new work week and it was left to us for testing. Payroll vs. Labor Department is an entire other topic of how we work together and yet keep certain duties separate. Anyway, we started testing a new work week in the test database for our timekeeping system. We immediately began looking at intricate scenarios. As we were going through, we were able to identify some issues. However, after some further review, we found some of the basic set ups were not correct and that was effecting our calculations. Back to the drawing board we went.

We started over, testing the most simplified scenario just to see if the basic set ups were accurate. Here we found some modifications that needed to be made that would effect the entire population. Once modifications were made, and the simple scenarios worked, we reviewed the intricate scenarios and basically tried to break the system. That’s what you need to do when testing; find different things that can go wrong. I am feeling a little better about the whole thing. This type of testing is new to both of us and a huge learning experience. We are not comparing apples to apples. I’d say apples to oranges, but this is crazy so let’s say we are apples to nuts.

The second lesson made me feel a little smart because I was part of the solution. We were brought into the situation late after decisions were already being made without us. By thinking simple and redirecting, we made the transition of buildings go smoothly. It’s amazing how people can complicate the simplest things. It is up to the folks who are the low men/women on the totem pole to set them straight.

What ways have you found to make tasks less convoluted?