Power Up: You Need More than You Think!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges faced in research and development (R&D) projects, particularly related to unexpected changes in power requirements and scope drift. Participants share experiences from various fields, including industrial R&D and software design, highlighting communication issues with clients and the impact of these changes on project timelines and costs.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration over clients not communicating power requirements clearly, leading to significant changes in project scope.
  • One participant mentions that while budget is not a concern, time is critical, suggesting that clients may forget previous discussions about project specifications.
  • Another participant shares a similar experience in software design, indicating that miscommunication is a common issue across different industries.
  • A participant from the coal mining sector recounts a specific incident where miscommunication led to operational inefficiencies, emphasizing the consequences of scope changes dictated by non-technical stakeholders.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that miscommunication and scope drift are prevalent issues in R&D projects across various fields. However, there is no consensus on whether this problem is unique to industrial R&D or if it is a widespread issue affecting multiple sectors.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the challenges discussed may depend on the specific context of their industries, including the nature of client interactions and the technical complexities involved in their projects.

Ivan Seeking
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Don't you love it when you hear this?

This morning it was: We forgot to mention that we will need two or three times the power that you've been using for your design for the last three months.
 
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Ivan Seeking said:
Don't you love it when you hear this?

This morning it was: We forgot to mention that we will need two or three times the power that you've been using for your design for the last three months.
Did you respond with "no problem, my design will cost you two or three times what I originally quoted".
 
Evo said:
Did you respond with "no problem, my design will cost you two or three times what I originally quoted".

:biggrin: Good answer!
 
I just said, "no problem", then I scratched my eyes out. :biggrin: The money isn't the problem; time is the problem. In a week or so, in their minds, it will be as if it never happened.

[right now I have a virtually unlimited budget]
 
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give your self a raise!
 
Hah, can't do that, but I can buy lots of cool toys and I can work all that I want. Right now I'm ordering a 600VDC, 12 KVA, variable power supply. I don't think life gets much better than that!

Is this problem unique to industrial R&D? Sometimes is seems that no one really knows what they want! I know that scope drift is a normal part of any R&D project, but sometimes I am floored by the things that people forget to mention. And its not like this is good for them, so usually it would be absurd to think its intentional.
 
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I usually get this from the customer AFTER we deliver what was originally spec'd.
 
Is this problem unique to industrial R&D?
Hell no.

I've been a software designer for years. We go to meetings with customers and people ask questions that we asked them months ago, and they were the ones giving us the answer we used to develop. eeep.
 
Hell no^2. In the coal mine, run a 2 mile long 6 conductor cable for a carbon monoxide 1000 foot spaced sensor network in a week. This is fire detection on belt lines. Then when finished being told that the cable should be run in the travel entry, not the belt entry. This to please the superintendant that knows not what goes on underground. Accomplish the swap and a month later the super calls you into explain why manpower is walking the belt hourly manually checking for fires because the cable is being damaged by traveling equipment. AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH.
 

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