In my last editorial I commented on IBM's ineffectiveness in communicating with its customer base regarding product plans. I hate to complain for the sake of complaining. Rather, it is always better to give some sort of alternative and I think I've found one. Since IBM is reluctant to tell us their product plans for OS/2, perhaps we, as customers, can tell them what we want in the product. Consequently, we are inaugurating a new section in OS/2 CONNECT entitled the "OS/2 Suggestion Box"; a forum where customers can submit their ideas for improving the product. Actually, the idea is not new. It is something I have been thinking about for some time now, but due to other commitments I never got around to implementing it. It is only because of IBM's silence that it became apparent for me to accelerate the introduction of this concept.
Submitting suggestions to vendors must be handled carefully with considerable organization, otherwise the vendor will dismiss even the best ideas as chaotic and incoherent ramblings of the customer base. Fortunately, I have a product that brings order out of chaos for submitting suggestions and calculating their priorities, the "PRIDE" Information Factory®. Ideas received from the "suggestion box" will be cataloged in the "Factory" where, once a month, we will calculate a list of product priorities and print them in the next issue of OS/2 CONNECT for the whole world to see (including IBM). We don't mean to brag about our product, but the "Factory" does bring the suggestion process the type of structure, balance and uniformity needed to fairly evaluate all ideas, whether minor corrections to the product, modifications/improvements, or major new developments.
Instructions for submitting suggestions are included in the "OS/2 Suggestion Box". Please review them carefully. I anticipate we will be deluged with ideas initially which will present a minor data entry/e-mail problem for us initially but we will overcome this problem and get an initial set of product priorities published. From this, I'm sure we'll receive additional input from the customers which will effect priority rankings. Fortunately, the "Factory" has a "Priority Modeling" tool that allows us to update priorities under changing conditions, thereby keeping the rankings up-to-date.
I hope the "OS/2 Suggestion Box" becomes a viable means for getting IBM's attention in terms of what the customer base really wants out of OS/2. Now if IBM will only listen.
Keep the faith.
Copyright © MBA 1997
