Measure twice, cut once - another quilting/HCM intersection

I guess because it's winter and raining a lot and I can't be outside that I've been designing and making more quilts. Last weekend, I was piecing a border from a very cool Japanese woven by fussy cutting between designs. I needed to get 4.5 inch widths and cut one just 4 inches which meant that I lost the piece! Argh. It reminded me of the quilter's adage: Measure twice, cut once. My husband tells me that that's actually a carpenter's adage, but I think us quilters make good use of it too!

It got me thinking about software design and programming and that this adage applies there too. Although perhaps it's Plan Twice, Program Once. Now, I haven't programmed since Cobol was the dominant application programming language (yes...I'm older), so forgive the stretch here. Back then, we got a whole lot of user input into planning, then we designed and only when we got approval of the design did we start to program. Watching my husband do his programming today, it seems like that stage can be much more iterative and he can show users a strawman solution multiple times and get ongoing user input.

But just like with quilting, overdoing the part before you cut absolutely makes for a better end result, with no swearing either on the part of the quilter or the end user!

Thoughts?

And for those that want to see the latest quilts. These are unfinished! I'll post when done too.

This first one is "Berkeley Pieces" because I was inspired by a quilt I saw at New Pieces in Berkeley...very cool quilt store! I can see that I should have measured twice although I think I can square this up in the quilting.


This one, now that it's done looks like one of those pesky "Dear Jane" quilts. But it's not. This is done with Japanese fabrics and with Japanese quilt block patterns. I've been trying to learn to be exact....this may be the last one I do like this. So, it gets the name of "Japanese Jane." And, given how many sample squares I did not include, I definitely need to measure twice more. Of course, trying to understand a Japanese pattern is a bit tough!

Early view of IHRIM Link on Leading Practices

Every two months, as Co-Chair of the IHRIM Link (soon to be renamed), I “edit” the next issue. It gives the wonderful opportunity to really read the issues as I look for the minor errors of authors and the publishing process. Kudos to Tom Faulkner, Futura Publishing and to each of our fabulous guest editors for each issue! I’ve taken to tweeting as I review and here provide my log for the issue to be published in January. I started it on the holiday break and kept coming back to it amidst the festivities of two weeks of grandkids. In the list below, I’ve inserted comments from tweeters and Facebookers in italics.

Readers can subscribe to the IHRIM Link for just $37.95 and as I’m on the planning committee for the NEW and improved publication to be released in April, I highly encourage you subscribe. We have exciting plans! Even better, join IHRIM and you receive the periodical as part of your membership.

Here goes:
Looking forward to editing latest #IHRIM Link on "leading practices" banishing the term "best practices". Kudos Yvette Cameron, Saba. grtjob

Newest @IHRIM Link issue compiled by Yvette Cameron. Anyone at @SabaSoftware -- tell her she did a great job!

Nxt @ronhanscome Starting edits with article requesting semantic change of "best practice" to "leading practice" Bottom line - no 1 magic bullet

By the way. No one on Twitter commented, but lots did on Facebook. Leading practices is definitely the preferred term.

Next by @SyncoJonkeren. To differentiate from peers orgs should adopt new sourcing models including outsourcing

This article is aptly titled, “Unchain HR”

Nxt article: Talent Management for “New Normal” Why the Wisdom of the Crowd is Now the Catalyst for Change @UpdateMaksim @sabasoftware GRT!

Join @ihrim to read gr8t article by @UpdateMaksim. How 2 use social networking for recruiting, onboarding, performance management & learning

Onboarding tech-don’t waste $ on forms automation, invest in solutions 4 employee socialization that reinforce company culture

OK...done editing @IHRIM Link for today. Going to see the new Clooney movie with family. Happy holidays to all!! May 2010 be all we wish for

Actually I saw a ton of movies: Up in the Air, Avatar, Invictus, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squequel (I o have grandkids), and It’s Complicated.

Reading "From Change Management to Governance" by @rpannoni. Footnotes lead to great resources

The Change Handbook: Resource on Best Methods 4 Engaging Whole Systems by @tomdevane covers 60+ change mgt approaches from six sigma to soft

Problem isn't managing change but generating organizational alignment 4 objectives, strategy, tools & methods Governance addresses #rpannoni

First footnote in From Change Mgt to Governance article: @standishgroup. Only 32% of tech projects succeed: http://bit.ly/t1U1G

VERY interesting article: Ulrich for Next Generation: Why a new take on model is needed. Braam & Meijboom

Ulrich's model falls short on overall HR services interactions & no role for exercising oversite. HR services mgr is needed + governance

Next article is Best Practices in Evaluating & Selecting a Talent Management System...or any HR System Fletcher & #mattlafata

Best Practices in evaluating/selecting TM @mattlafata has 10 essential steps for evaluation process and lessons learned. Very insightful

Next article: Why Manage Risks by Martia Newell, #adp. Two-part comment on this coming up.

We have a choice to manage risk proactively or be surprised by problems. Human nature admires firefighting hailing rescuers as heroes.

That’s understandable for burning houses. A major goal of risk management is to prevent projects from catching on fire in the first place.

Nxt article-Leading Practices in Global HR: Determining Your Own “Best” Path Forward, Theresa Brett RexHealthcare. Timely topic

Whoa...now I know why we need editors. That last article is actually by @karenbeaman. Great article - 25 "leading global HR practices"

Leading Practices in Global HR has 25 practices organized by Strategy, Organization, People, Process, Technology, Management

Plus 25 great references (5 come from CedarCrestone research). Got to plug us sometimes! Great quotes by Dee Hock. kudos @karenbeaman

Next article: Harnessing Existing Assets to Drive HR Process Improvements-Financial Services Case Study. Roy Altman, PeopleServe

Altman article starts with the parable of Stone Soup - a lesson in cooperation and draws parallels to the case story.

Stone soup tale: villagers learn if everyone contributes something of value synergy occurs with benefits exceeding individual contributions.

Next article - Eliott Witkin humorist at @UltimateHCM. You will LOL over finding out if UofMich teaches HRMS. Kudos

Twitter for HR by @steveboese answers the ? how can social networking tools be leveraged for personal/organizational benefit - 3 reasons

Branding, establishing industry thought leadership, active recruiting are the reasons (Twitter for HR) @steveboese. Must read!

This last article is one that every tweeter will want to give their HR department!

Again: Readers can subscribe to the IHRIM Link for just $37.95. Even better, join IHRIM and you receive the periodical as part of your membership.