Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
Policies | Tracking Changing
Requirements
\It still just says delayed," said Nigel, after walking over to check the
monitors outside the departure gate. \I'm not sure we are going to get out of
here tonight. Anyone want a coee?"
They were supposed to be on their way to a conference; Alex had persuaded
Marcus to let him take Nigel and Eleanor to attend the industry experience
track at EDOC, the premier event for the kind of enterprise modelling they
were now doing, and so expose them to more new ideas. However, there were
problems with an air trac control centre on the route, and they had already
been waiting for almost two hours.
Alex opted for a cappuccino, and Eleanor a Christmas special creme brulee
latte. Nigel got himself a plain lter coee. \It's interesting," he said, as he
put the tray down, \when we got here the queues were much longer, and
everyone got two of those little almond biscuits. Now everyone gets the fancy
design stencilled on top of the coee, but only one biscuit. It's not random, I
watched four or ve customers in front of me each time." \It must be a policy,"
Alex said. \They let the duty manager vary the prescription depending on
the load."
\We could use that idea," said Eleanor. \We need to vary the discounting
algorithm every time marketing has a brainwave; now we can just tell them
they are changing a policy. It would be good for their egos." \Any more ego
and those guys would explode," said Nigel. \But I've heard that term used
in network congestion management, and in security. Is it the same idea?"
\Yes," said Alex, carving a spoonful of chocolate and froth from his drink.
\It's a common pattern that shows up all over the place. It's really useful to
highlight the places where you expect to have to make changes. It lets you
make tomorrow's job easier." \But is it the same idea in the network and in
the enterprise?" asked Nigel. \Is Eleanor's creme brulee the same as the stu
I had last night in a ramekin?" \Certainly not," said Eleanor. \This is just
getting them to put brown sugar in and them not bothering to stir it." They
all laughed, but Alex went on. \It's the same pattern, but dierent detailed
mechanisms and timescales. But if you stick to the pattern, you don't have
to reinvent all the possible mistakes people make."
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