{"id":9963,"date":"2012-09-26T08:44:21","date_gmt":"2012-09-26T15:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=9963"},"modified":"2012-06-27T08:51:51","modified_gmt":"2012-06-27T15:51:51","slug":"replay-time-boxing-parking-lot-method","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=9963","title":{"rendered":"Replay with Time-boxing and Parking Lot method."},"content":{"rendered":"

Time-boxing<\/strong> is a method which allows you to do everything that you want to do without the above pitfall.<\/p>\n

You get into the office early because you need to review the results of the overnight test run, and mail in the results before the 9:00am meeting.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cDarn, the overnight test failed at stage 6.\u00a0 Why did that fail?\u00a0 I need to figure out why and start it back up.\u00a0 I need some version of the report by 8:30am for the 9:00 meeting.\u00a0 That means I need to start creating the PowerPoint slides at 8:00am.\u00a0 I’ll set my timer <\/strong>for\u00a0 8:00am.<\/span><\/p>\n

Man \u2013 the error code is so cryptic.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what it means or how to fix it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll call Carl\u2026it\u2019s his code.\u00a0 Oh \u2013 that\u2019s right.\u00a0 Carl doesn\u2019t get in the office until 8:30.\u00a0 But he\u2019s probably awake.\u00a0 I\u2019ll find his cell number in his last email.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>When you bring up email, you notice several urgent emails from your 2nd<\/sup> line manager.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay \u2013 I’ll jot a note on my parking lot <\/strong><\/span>list to review these emails.\u00a0 The message was sent at 2:00am.\u00a0 Most people are not into the office this early.\u00a0 It\u2019s unlikely that the executives expect a response before the 9:00 meeting.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just make sure to go back to this after the meeting.\u00a0 And the meeting will probably make these email obsolete anyway.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

You open only Carl\u2019s email for his cell number.<\/p>\n

Carl: \u201cHey, John!\u00a0 What\u2019s up?\u201d
\n\u201cHey Carl.\u00a0 Sorry to be bothering you at home and so early.\u201d
\nCarl: \u201cNo worries.\u00a0 I was up getting the family ready for the day.\u00a0 What can I do for ya?\u201d
\n\u201cWell, I came in to review the overnight results and it got stuck on stage 6.\u00a0 Any ideas?
\nCarl: \u201cmmm\u2026 that\u2019s odd.\u00a0 I ran my unit tests on it and it ran through all 8 stages without a hitch.\u00a0 How many test inputs did you use?\u201d
\n\u201cApproximately, 1,578 files.\u201d
\nCarl: \u201cApproximately, eh?\u201d
\n\u201cwell\u2026ummmm\u2026\u201d
\nCarl: \u201cWell \u2013 I confess that my unit test only ran with 20 input data files.\u00a0 I ran with all the files you sent me at the time.\u00a0 It’s always helpful to get samples of the real data that you will be using.”
\n\u00a0 “Oh!\u00a0 That’s great.\u00a0 Let me jot a note to send you these files as well.”<\/span>
\nCarl: “Cool.\u00a0 So — back to today’s issue.\u00a0 Hopefully it\u2019s running into a data limit and not a data validation issue.\u00a0 If it\u2019s only a data limit, we can batch the test runs into 20 file limits and it should run fine.\u00a0 If it\u2019s a data validation issue \u2013 that will take some time to debug and diffuse. By you sending me those files, I’ll be able to debug that issue (if that’s the problem) when I get into the office.\u201c
\n\u201cOkay.\u00a0 Can you hold on the phone while I run with just 20 files?\u201d
\nCarl: \u201cSure\u2026 if you don\u2019t mind me and the kids eating cereal while you do that.\u201d
\n\u201cSure!\u00a0 What cereal are we having?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

You run your experiment and get all 20 files through stage 6,7,8<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCarl \u2013 that seems to work.\u00a0 I\u2019ll manually segment the rest into 20 files groups.\u00a0 I\u2019ll pipe as many through I can before the meeting.\u201d
\nCarl: \u201cThat sounds good.\u00a0 Jot down any other notes and I can automate those modifications directly into the batch runs when I get into the office.\u00a0 It won\u2019t make them for the 9:00 meeting \u2013 but it will help in the future.\u201d
\n\u201cCan do.\u00a0 And thanks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

You create a batch routine that takes your 1,578 files and parses them into 20 file chunks through stage 6,7 and 8.\u00a0 Once the first 20 gets through stage 6, they automatically move onto stage 7 and then into stage 8 (while the next 20 are being processed through stage 6, etc).\u00a0 This way just in case you can\u2019t get through all 1,578 files before the meeting \u2013 you\u2019ll still be able to report some preliminary results at the 9:00 meeting.
\nWhile those files are running, y<\/span>ou create a PowerPoint slide deck on the 20 files that have already completed.\u00a0 This way, you will only have to update the data, analysis and recommendations at 8:00am.\u00a0 You also jot a parking lot note to send both the batch code and files to Carl<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Co-workers start trickling into the office. \u00a0Your tests are still running and your PowerPoint template is complete.\u00a0 If worse comes to worse, you can present your status with these files.<\/span>\u00a0 You take your timer<\/span> with you to the coffee station and chat with others.
\nAt 8:00am your timer goes off.\u00a0 You return to your desk to complete your report.\u00a0<\/span> At this point, only 750 files fully completed the tests.\u00a0 You use that data to update your deck.\u00a0 You take the extra step to create an analysis and next step recommendations.\u00a0 At 8:30am you see Carl walk down the hall.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCARL!\u201d
\nCarl: \u201cHey!\u00a0 How did those tests go?\u201d
\n\u201cGreat!\u00a0 Do you have a moment to take a look at the results?\u00a0 I want to bounce off my analysis and recommendations off you\u2026.before the meeting.\u201d
\nCarl:\u00a0 \u201cSure!\u00a0 \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

While you and Carl are reviewing the recommendations, an additional 500 files complete.\u00a0 You and Carl contemplate updating the report and analysis with these new test results.\u00a0 You decide against it. It would cause unnecessary panic (and risk of mistakes)<\/span> in updating the slides right before the meeting.\u00a0 Instead, you decided to add an extra slide to explain the situation on the final 1000 files (more on the importance of full transparency in my online continuous coaching series)<\/a>.\u00a0 Since a large percentage of the files are still running (nearly 50%), you state that your recommendations may change.\u00a0 You add an expectation of completion.\u00a0 You also share that the next 500 files did complete just a few moments ago and they are still in line with your current analysis and recommendation.
\nStay tuned for the next article (Replay with additional proactive techniques<\/strong>) to find out how to handle this situation with additional techniques beyond time-boxing.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the online coaching sessions <\/a>for more information on\u00a0the above techniques or subscribe to my weekly newsletter at http:\/\/eepurl.com\/cZ9_-\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The weekly newsletter contains tips on:
\n1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Time management
\n2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Career maintenance
\n3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Business networking
\n4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Work life balance strategies<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t taken advantage of your introductory time management coaching session, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time-boxing is a method which allows you to do everything that you want to do without the above pitfall. You 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