When's the "least bad" time?
When working with clients on a new project, especially a new system launch, the question is always asked, "What's the best time to do this?" And after a long discussion about all the possible dates and how none of them will really work, I usually suggest "How about we find the 'least bad' time to do it, then?"
Because with rare exception, my clients are busy all year round. (I did have one client once who was so slow during the summer months that the membership director painted the office!)
And the fact is, there is likely to be no "good" time when work is slow enough that it's a great time for a new system launch. So what we're looking for then, is the "least bad" time.
Framing the date as "least bad" allows us to acknowledge that there is no "ideal" time to do this, so we're going to do it when it's the least disruptive. And most of the time, that's the best we can hope for.
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
But are you really willing to change?
But are you really willing to change? When any organization is making a change in data management […]
Two tips for data conversion
Two Tips for Data Conversion I’ve written a lot about data conversion over the years […]
Who should “own” the database?
Who should “own” the database? One of the most common questions I get from my […]
What makes you weird?
What makes you weird? When I work with clients on selecting a new association management system, one […]
Why “AMS Consortiums” Don’t Work
Why “AMS Consortiums” Don’t Work About once a year I will get a call from […]
Your vendor will disappoint you
Your vendor will disappoint you I follow politics as a hobby. A past publisher from […]
Learn how to lose
Learn how to lose “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to […]
Ownership is Required
Ownership is required When asked for the most common reason AMS implementations fail, I typically respond […]
It’s all relative…
It’s all relative… Over the course of my 22 years of consulting, I’ve consulted with […]
Eliminate to optimize
Eliminate to optimize So much of data management is habit (both good and bad) which is […]
