[Info-vax] VSI has a new CEO

[Dave Froble]

On 8/3/2021 11:03 AM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 8/2/2021 10:10 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 8/2/2021 6:56 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> On an interesting side note I read an article on LinkedIn today that
>>> talked about how moving to these pre-packaged systems like SAP (or, in
>>> the case of the University I worked at Banner) it becomes necessary to
>>> change the way you do business to match the package you bought rather
>>> than using an in house system designed to match the way you had been
>>> doing your business.  One more thing I said as long as 30 years ago.
>>
>> Yes, SAP has ruined more than one business.  When one's business
>> practices provides some "edge" that makes one successful, perhaps a
>> Harvard Business School type might think it's possible to "go
>> generic", which is why we need to "nuke" the HBS.
>
> But such systems being replaced by standard packages rarely is
> what gives that edge. They just supports what gives that edge.

When those custom systems that support the company practices, I'd argue 
they are part of that edge, and SAP usually is not.

> Let us take VSI. What will determine their success? Some items
> in arbitrary order: getting VMS x86-64 out in good quality soon,
> modernizing VMS over the coming decade, convincing customers
> that VMS is a good solution, providing good support on VMS
> etc.etc.. What will mean practically nothing for the success
> of VSI: the system that handle their salary payout, the system that
> keep track of the employee vacations, the system that stores their
> documents, the system that stores their email etc.. So what does
> VSI do for those supporting systems? They either buy a standard
> solution or outsource to keep cost down.

This begets a good question.  Are those "standard" systems generic, or, 
a customized solution that has many users?

Many years ago I was tasked with designing a payroll system.  I did so, 
but, the lesson was, use ADP or some such for payroll, they have custom 
systems to do the job right, and with yearly changes to taxes, they 
spend lots of money to keep their applications current.

I would suggest that any organization that offers services or 
outsourcing (same thing) is not running generic software, but highly 
customized software designed to do the required job.  And that isn't SAP.

As an example, in the USA the implementation of sales tax can be 
statewide, county and city wide, and even just one single town.  Yeah, 
it's that crazy.  Nobody can keep track of all that as part of an 
application.  There are a few companies offering the service, and that 
is what we use for our customers.  Consider, the rules can change every 
time the town council meets.  Totally ridiculous!

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
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