July 2008 - Posts

To PDF or Not PDF, Part 4
July 30, 2008 3:24 PM by Scott Warner

At a previous position my manager ordered a replacement instrument exhaust fan. Since we didn't have the part, the instrument was useless. But a tech said with amazement, "I think I have one of those in my garage!" She went home and, sure enough, returned Read More...

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To PDF or Not PDF, Part 3
July 28, 2008 2:56 PM by Scott Warner

New technology can be a solution looking for a problem. In 1981, the Commodore Vic-20 sold for $299. I worked retail and told customers, "You can use this to do your checkbook." We all believed it--I bought one myself and put my checkbook on it--as did Read More...

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To PDF or Not PDF, Part 2
July 24, 2008 11:22 AM by Scott Warner

I gave a presentation in which the question of a "paperless" laboratory came up. "I'm waiting for the older people in my lab to retire," a twenty-something man confessed. Us geezers don't cotton to them new fangled punch card thingamabobs , apparently. Read More...

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To PDF or Not PDF, Part 1
July 14, 2008 10:20 AM by Scott Warner

At a recent management meeting, the topic of policy and procedure manuals came up. When I said I was buying new binders for all departments, the response was incredulous. "You mean you don't have yours online yet ?" In fact, we do, as PDF files on a Microsoft Read More...

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Closed Door Policy
July 9, 2008 8:41 AM by Scott Warner

As I walked to my car one afternoon after work, another manager at the hospital appeared beside me, interrupting my thoughts. "Do you ever close your office door?" he asked. "What, after I leave for the day?" "No," he said seriously. "While you're working." Read More...

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