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Issue 16
 A reunion in Paris, a crisis back home, and technical leadership of something she knows very little about - it’s all in a week’s work for Systems Consultant Angie Baxter.
Monday
Project X (sorry - TEL Integration) is in full swing now, and Kevin and I are in Paris for a three-day planning conference. The TEL consortium has very swish offices in Les Collines de la Défense, next to the amazing Grande Arche. It’s also quite near the engineering consultancy I did the data collection system for when I was at InterDesign A, and I keep meaning to go and see them, so perhaps I’ll make it this time. Back here, the discussion has moved on to data interchange formats, a tricky subject given the ‘extremely heterogeneous’ (in other words wildly incompatible) nature of the TEL members’ IT systems. Jurgen, my German counterpart, says that the obvious choice is XML, and for some reason everyone looks at me. I try to look as blank as possible, but suspect, with a sinking feeling, that Greg’s been telling technology-skills porkies at the directors’ meetings again.
Tuesday
Overnight I seem to have become TEL’s official XML guru, which is worrying as I know very little about it. Jurgen corners me at coffee and launches into a complex question about XSL transformation templates. I say that XSL isn’t my field, and he’s just begun replying that, surely, XSL is integral to a universal XML-based interchange architecture, when I spot Kevin, collar him and demand a private chat immédiatement. I say the XML thing is getting out of hand, and that I’m going to tell everyone the truth. He says not to, and that he’ll ring Mike. In the end we ring him together, and find that he’s tied up in a top-level crisis meeting, although Penny doesn’t know (or won’t say) what it’s about. Now doubly worried, I head back for another session of ‘XML for bluffers’.
Wednesday
At lunchtime I leave Kevin trying to find out about the mystery crisis, and head over to see the engineers. Didier, my old contact there, sounded pleased when I rang, but I’m still a bit surprised by his welcome as he hugs me and drags me into his office. For a moment I think he’s making a pass, but realise it’s strictly professional as he explains that InterDesign A have gone bust, leaving their data collection system in need of vital mods and updates. He asks if I can take it on, which I can’t, but I feel so sorry for him that I promise to see what I can do. It’s only as I’m walking back that it sinks in - Franca and Kate have blown it, and taken the company with them. I’m not a grudge-bearer, but I can’t help enjoying a tiny smile of grim satisfaction.
Thursday
Back to the UK, and total chaos. The cause of it is, of all things, a Y2K bug which is crashing the depot stock systems. It’s actually an AS/400 problem, but Greg’s getting serious grief from his co-directors, so he’s ordered an emergency audit of all the company’s applications. I’m certain that Drivers Allowances is OK as it’s an all-new system, but I start checking it anyway, which saves me from having to join a very grumpy-looking Carl and Denny on Customer Scheduling. Even grumpier is Ed, who’s been told to check his screen layouts for Y2K compliancy, a sure sign that no-one trusts him to check anything more important. It looks as if someone’s head may well be rolling soon, and I don’t mean Greg’s.
Friday
Things are calmer on the Desktop Team now, but it’s still mayhem in the AS/400 department, and the rumour is that Greg’s lining up their boss, Brian Wood, as chief scapegoat. Mike seems pleased to see his old rival in trouble, which I don’t find very admirable. On the other hand, his happy mood makes this a good time to mention Didier’s problem to him. Surprisingly, he says that he’ll think about it and get back to me. I say I’d thought there’d be no way we could take on outside work like this, and he says there might be, but that he can’t tell me why just yet. I’m dying to know, but decide to make a quick exit while I’m ahead. I’ve almost made it when Mike stops me and congratulates me on becoming TEL’s XML expert. I’m ahead all right, but not necessarily in the right direction. DNJ
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Issue 16 - Contents
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Issue 1
Issue 2
Issue 3
Issue 4
Issue 5
Issue 6
Issue 7
Issue 8
Issue 9
Issue 10
Issue 11
Issue 12
Issue 13
Issue 14
Issue 15
Issue 16
Issue 17
Issue 18
Issue 19
Issue 20
Issue 21
Issue 22
Issue 23
Issue 24
Issue 25
Issue 26
Issue 27
Issue 28
Issue 29
Issue 30
Issue 31
Issue 32
Issue 33
Issue 34
Issue 35
Issue 36
Issue 37
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