Re: Ah, but who has better parties?
Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 09:22:49 -0500
Message-ID: <c8ahs6$cq7$1_at_news.netins.net>
"Eric Kaun" <ekaun_at_yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:_q3pc.639$kt2.401_at_newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> "Dawn M. Wolthuis" <dwolt_at_tincat-group.com> wrote in message
> news:c81d4m$kvp$1_at_news.netins.net...
> > "Tony Douglas" <tonyisyourpal_at_netscape.net> wrote in message
> > news:bcb8c360.0405131638.57d7da17_at_posting.google.com...
> > > (At the relational party, but wishing things would, you know, lighten
> > > up a bit. All this politics and religion getting bandied about. So far
> > > as I know, database theories haven't killed anyone yet.)
> >
> > Yes, yes, yes -- it has killed many companies! There are many examples
of
> > companies that decided to move to that new requirement in the 80's or
90's
> > of a "relational database" and ended up belly up. I've read several
such
> > stories, but would have to drum one of 'em up if you are interested.
>
> I would - you've said this before, and I don't agree with your conclusion.
> Lots of companies doing XML and object databases in the 1999-2001
timeframe
> ended up belly-up, with nary a SQL or relational DBMS in sight. Besides,
> it's like death - it makes the headlines, and the births and marriages and
> such get relegated to the back pages. There are even more ways to bury a
> company than there are to bury a software project.
I have not delved into these case studies myself, but one such was Scandanavian Design out of New England. Another was Skyway Freight Systems. One of the most famous stories around is not about a death, but a considerable wound to Oxford Health. I know there are others too, but this is a start.
And you are right that there are many, many stories and a lot of factors go into each one, but there is a hypothesis in each of these that moving from the lean and flexible MultiValue products to Oracle, Sybase, DB2, ... was the cause. I think we have all three of these SQL-based systems addressed within the three case studies listed.
> > Now, I
> > don't know that any people lost their lives with these deaths, but I
> > wouldn't be surprised if there were at least one suicide in this mix
> (can't
> > believe I said that after you sent out cheers and all!)
> >
> > So, my point is, database theories DO impact real people in real ways.
>
> That Date book makes a hell of an impact. *whack*
I'll pretend you didn't threaten me yet again!
> > Again, if we could keep them in the labs until they are proven
> > (emperically), that would surely help doncha think? More
heers! --dawn
>
> So every technology has to be subjected to a standard body of tests prior
to
> release into the wild? And that word "empirical" - reminds me of Inigo
> Montoya from "The Princess Bride", referring to "inconceivable": "You keep
> using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
I'll look for a new word, but YES, I do think that a series of tests "in the real world" would be useful but not to hold up innovation until we are "certain" (so, not with a drug testing process) -- after delivery is fine. Companies use references, often effectively, before they jump into something, but companies are inclined to think they have a good product (or at leat the best they could expect) since they have to justify the cost and they want others to join them in their plight too.
Gartner Group and others do look at various ERP's as well as technology directions and give their analysis. There is no way to have a completely-exempt-from-politics process, however. --dawn Received on Mon May 17 2004 - 16:22:49 CEST