Cyber
Security and Software R&D are being pursued 20 years too late. We are
learning about software problems as software fails and are stuck in the same
“trial and error” trap we find in healthcare. The price for always putting the
“horse before the cart” is high.
Boeing is
suffering from preemptively deploying AI software in the 737 Max to by-pass the
Pilot and Boeing will pay the price. They would do well by removing this
software and allowing pilots to fly the airplanes. The Boeing problem will further
dampen consumer acceptance of self-driving cars.
Engineering
Managers in these companies need the technical expertise, good judgement,
integrity, courage, leadership and policy backing to avoid serious errors. Product
Test Data needs to be reviewed with CEOs.
In Matrix
organizations, Functional Engineering Managers serve as “Coaches” and ensure
that needed engineering skills are provided by serving as hiring and training
managers. Project Engineering Managers
serve as “Leaders” and ensure that projects are planned and executed within
budget and schedule and coordinated between Project Teams.
If it can
to wrong, it will (go wrong). NASA Challenger O-Rings failed in 1986 killing 7
Astronauts, because they were not designed to withstand cold temperatures. The
Design Engineer alerted NASA management to the problem, but the launch was
ordered anyway. The launch should have been postponed.
New
technology takes time to develop. The Japanese developed the hybrid engine over
20 years. It required stronger batteries and a custom on-board computer to work
with a small, compatible, reliable internal combustion auto engine. It began
with a joint venture funded by government and Toyota. Their timing to market in
2000 was perfect and their redesign in 2005 was amazing.
Product
Planning
The DEC
Rainbow 100 PC was released in 1982, but failed.
The Rainbow was MS-DOS compatible, but not
completely software- or hardware-compatible with the IBM PC.
Timing to
market was too soon. DEC should have had better judgement about their
architecture.
Dell
Computer was founded in 1984 and released its first PC in 1985. It was IBM
compatible, high quality and low cost. Dell went public in 1988 and became the
favored corporate PC. Dell began on-line sales in 1996.
Timing to
market was perfect and judgement was flawless.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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