Add one, remove one
In the world of home-organizing, there's the "one in, one out" rule. Simply put, for every new item that enters your home, one similar item must leave, helping to maintain a constant level of possessions and prevent clutter accumulation.
This would be a great rule for database managers when considering adding new fields of data to collect!
If staff wants to add a new field to collect a new data point, the first question is "Which data point/field are we going to remove?"
I'm only half-joking. Too often I see my clients adding new fields of data to collect while simultaneously not keeping up with the other data points they are supposed to be already collecting.
So when you think about adding a new field, ask yourself: "Are there other data fields we could remove while we're adding this new one?"
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Using the Pomodoro Technique for data management
Using the Pomodoro Technique for data management I’m a huge fan of the Pomodoro Technique, […]
You need a PLAN to deal with duplicates
You need a PLAN to deal with duplicates Here’s the thing about duplicate records: No […]
Asking for more is a good sign…
Asking for more is a good sign… A client who had recently implemented a new […]
Take action…
Take action… “The greatest wisdom not applied to action and behavior is meaningless data.” – […]
The Rule of 100 and 1,000 revisited
The Rule of 100 and 1,000 revisited I’m finding that the “Rule of 100 and […]
You gotta wanna
You gotta wanna Long ago I heard a training consultant say you can’t train people […]
Be careful not to overbuy
Be careful not to overbuy I recently spoke with an association of ten staff that was […]
When is the best time to clean your data?
When is the best time to clean your data? One of the most common questions […]
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Do the benefits outweigh the risks? As the economist Thomas Sowell points out, there are […]
Painting the Bridge
Painting the Bridge According to this article, the Golden Gate Bridge is painted continuously year-round. […]