RE: "Good enough"

Subject: RE: "Good enough"
From: "Cardimon, Craig" <ccardimon -at- M-S-G -dot- com>
To: "Pinkham, Jim" <Jim -dot- Pinkham -at- voith -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:37:04 -0400

Agreed. I find it interesting that since we can't achieve perfection, we
arrive at good enough, which requires balance and judgment.

-- Craig

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pinkham, Jim [mailto:Jim -dot- Pinkham -at- voith -dot- com]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:45 AM
> To: Cardimon, Craig; Techwr-l
> Subject: RE: "Good enough"
>
> I find a couple of maxims useful here.
>
> 1. Murphy's Law of Work -- "Work expands to fit the willingness to do
> it."
> 2. Pareto's Law -- "20 percent of the work produces 80 percent of the
> results."
>
> I agree with Al that "good enough" in no way excuses sloppy, mediocre
> work. Nor does it excuse inaccurate work, especially in our
profession.
> That said, I strive for consistent quality, but I also try to avoid
> chasing the elusive siren of perfection. No need to crash upon the
rocks
> when the next challenge awaits.
>
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 7:42 AM
> To: Techwr-l
> Subject: "Good enough"
>
> I just read a fascinating piece from the January 2004 Intercom called
> "Coping with Wordslaughter and the 'Good Enough' Syndrome."
>
>
>
> I had an encounter with "good enough" yesterday. I proofread a small
> procedure no one is going to read!
>
>
>
> That's right. No one is going to read it, but it had to be included in
a
> system we were shipping out.
>
>
>
> Also, I got to be the test subject for the procedure.
>
>
>
> The procedure was a little rough around the edges, but anyone could
read
> it and follow it.
>
>
>
> Support wanted it off their collective desk, so I said it was "good
> enough," even though it could have used some polish.
>
>
>
> My question for you folks is, how do you all cope with "good enough,"
> and how often does it show up?
>
>
>
> -- Craig
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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References:
"Good enough": From: Cardimon, Craig
RE: "Good enough": From: Pinkham, Jim

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