Comments for Clarification

Comment on Diagonal scaling, diminishing returns by James Biggs

James Biggs — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:19:49 +0000

Diagonal scaling is an excellent way to mitigate efficiency issues in a data center; however, it does not undermine or invert the Law of Diminishing Returns. The key to understanding this theory is perhaps to restate it as the Law of Diminishing “Marginal” Returns (LoDMR). I’ll present two perspectives on this point:

(1) One application (in a data center environment) would be the increase of either vertical scaling or the increase of horizontal scaling – while holding all else equal. In either case, LoDMR definitely holds. Based on your post, I’m assuming you will agree with this assertion.

(2) Now let’s suppose we apply diagonal scaling to the LoDMR model as a ’single unit of input.’ (NOTE: I’m abstracting a little, of course, but this holds regardless of any arbitrary measure of Diagonal Scaling, so it doesn’t particularly matter).

Anyway, even with the incredible scale gained from Diagonal Scaling, at some point you will still experience “diminishing marginal returns.” If you exceed the optimal quantity of load balanced, multi-core machines that you need to support your environment, then the actual “marginal/variable” return you are deriving from each additional unit of “diagonal scaling” will in fact diminish - as in the classic labor application of the LoDMR, under-utilized resources are wasted resources.

I do, however, appreciate the point you are trying to make, but remember that there is always a ceiling to hit. In this case, it is not really a question of the LoDMR, but rather a question of efficiency. Diagonal scaling achieves far greater efficiency of resources than either horizontal or vertical scaling alone.

Comment on The Camondo Family by Gloria Capel

Gloria Capel — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:00:15 +0000

Dear Alfred:
I was just in Paris and visited the Musee de Camondo (an extraordinarily beautiful house furnished with great elegance and taste.)
But a propos your request for information regarding the last of the Camondos, I suggest you contact the Museum directly. They had photographs of both Beatrice and her children. Beatrice was a champion rider (perhaps another clue?)and there were photographs of her riding. Best of all there was a film playing (at least 10 minutes long) showing the family all together doing various activities.
Good luck with your project.
I defy anyone visiting the house not to shed some tears when arriving finally on the top floor.
Regards. Gloria

Comment on Scrum-o-matic and the time box by What Sun Tzu and Eisenhower share (but we’re deaf to) « Clarification

What Sun Tzu and Eisenhower share (but we’re deaf to) « Clarification — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:03:50 +0000

[...] caught my attention was a recent debate I witnessed inside my organisation on waterfall versus agile methodologies for software development, whereby some considered waterfall (sequential software development [...]

Comment on Car Music Project, a true ‘or-car-stra’ by fordflags

fordflags — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:30:50 +0000

I love when artists recycle junk. I went to an exhibition where they used car parts to build original stuff. It was awesome

Comment on Marching orders for your company by Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:09:57 +0000

“It was ideated and first detailed by Robert Kaplan and David Norton.”

Hmm, not sure that I can agree with this statement. See the following for another point of view:
http://www.schneiderman.com/Concepts/The_First_Balanced_Scorecard/BSC_INTRO_AND_CONTENTS.htm

Also, be careful how you use a balanced scorecard: http://alignment.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/is-a-balanced-scorecard-bad/

Comment on Marching orders for your company by Critical success factor analysis as a tool for strategy execution « Enduragement

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:53:39 +0000

[...] spring I’ve noticed that it is worth of considering to integrate strategy maps and balanced scorecard thinking for above described method. At least a simple strategy map is good solution to communicate [...]

Comment on Billy Holiday, Strange Fruit by Eric Westhagen

Eric Westhagen — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:27:01 +0000

Strange Fruit by Billy Holiday in her 1939 version so impressed me when I first heard it forty-five years ago. It is a contender for the most “significant” recording of the 20th Century!!!!

Comment on The young get their news… but where? by Medivolution « Enduragement

Medivolution « Enduragement — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:51:40 +0000

[...] Past weeks I have had very interesting conversations about evolution of media. They are partly triggered by some very fascinating posts published [...]

Comment on Billy Holiday, Strange Fruit by Badu for truth and light: “Way to go!”, said Dad « Clarification

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:58:25 +0000

[...] in February 1971. She’s an R&B and hip-hop singer and writer. She is often compared to Billie Holiday for her “musical sensibilities”, Wikipedia [...]

Comment on Project management gone astray by Eero

Eero — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:58:08 +0000

Good post! Probably everyone in our business have seen (or heard about) projects that turn into nightmares.

What comes to project management, large construction projects often:
- have multiple sub-contractors
- consist of several parallel projects
- need a lot of ‘in situ’ decisions as changes occur, and
- the actual work is done in demanding environment sometimes under most demanding weather conditions.

That kind of challenges need a thorough risk mitigation thinking, skilled project managers, processes for priorization and edge to do on-site decisions in order to keep the project in budget (or under it). I believe that IT project management would find good ideas from totally different industry like construction business. Probably vice versa too.