This editorial was written on the eve of IBM's Technical Interchange in St. Louis where IBM will undoubtedly announce some product plans for OS/2. Nevertheless, in last month's issue we solicited suggestions from users in our OS/2 Suggestion Box, the response to which was very enthusiastic. We received numerous ideas on how to improve OS/2 from all over the world. The ideas ranged from minor corrections to major enhancements, most of which were well thought out and eloquently explained. Based on this input we have been able to assemble the first published OS/2 Product Priority List.
As mentioned in our last issue, the priority lists were generated from our "PRIDE" Information Factory® which includes an OS/2 based Repository to catalog information resources (such as suggestions) and a Priority Modeling tool to automatically calculate the priorities. Ultimately, the priorities are computed from a "weighting" technique based on the variables sent in by the person submitting the suggestion (e.g., Type Suggestion, Value, and Urgency). These attributes were reviewed carefully. In most cases, the suggestions were accurately defined. Of course, some were described as highly important and extremely urgent when, in reality, they were of a minor nature. In these situations I had to make an adjustment in the attribute assignments.
I'm sure the priority rankings will generate some discussion among OS/2 users in terms of which suggestion should have a higher priority. This first set of priorities should be viewed as a starting point for discussion, they are obviously not cast in concrete. "If anything is constant, it is change." The product will change, the market will change, the vendor will change, the times will change. Fortunately, we can easily modify the priority rankings under changing conditions. I, therefore, see the priority list as a "living document" that will evolve with time. Consequently, we invite your input on the priority rankings and discussion on any of the suggestions included therein. Next month, we will re-calculate the priorities and present you with an updated list.
IBM developers and product planners should note two things from the priority list: the individual ideas themselves and the priority rankings; the latter of which is an expression of where OS/2 customers would like to see the vendor spend their energies.
Following the general distribution of this newsletter I will be e-mailing notices of the priority list to key IBM contacts, as well as posting notices on the Internet. We hereby invite an official representative from IBM to comment on any or all of the suggestions and the priority rankings. We see this listing as a healthy form of communications between the vendor and its customers. We hope they will hear us and respond accordingly.
Keep the faith.
Copyright © MBA 1997
