A Cut Above the Rest
It sounds like it has been a tough road for Stephen Gass and his power saw that shuts down when it touches skin ["He Came, He Sawed, He Took On the Power-Tool Industry," July]. I'm glad he pushed ahead and didn't let industry heavyweights stifle his innovation. The SawStop cabinet saw is a splendid piece of machinery that far surpasses anything else I've seen. I love mine.
Kudos to Stephen Gass for having the courage to fight for something he believes in. I admire his passion for excellence and his desire to make the world a better, safer place to live and work. I've worked in advertising since 1974, and I have an idea for Gass. I think he should, working state by state, give one SawStop to each and every public school, free of charge. Letting students and shop teachers spread the word about SawStop would generate sales in a new way.
Avoiding $150 Million Mistakes
Another way to avoid a computer system development disaster is to hire
developers who use the agile development process ["When Technology
Runs Amok," July]. This process provides immediate feedback and constant course correction, so business owners don't have to wait until the end of a project only to find out they didn't get what they were expecting. One of the more popular of these project management systems is called Scrum. Many companies are finding the process dramatically improves the ROI of their projects.
We Fired Them All Too
Good for Vance Patterson for having the courage to fire all of those problem employees [Case Study, July]. Our company had a similar problem at one point. We terminated the troublemakers and, to our surprise, the company became immensely profitable almost overnight. Sometimes the most progressive policy is to just start over.
Don't Discount Service
As a fan of Norm Brodsky, I was disappointed about the way he compensated the interior designer he was so happy with ["How to Lose Customers," July]. He was 100% satisfied with her performance, but paid her 75% of her value. Paying people what they're worth is truly how to get good service.
Unhealthy Investment
In more than 20 years of treating obesity, I've rarely recommended the types of bariatric surgery that are attracting venture capitalists ["Obesity Whets VC Appetites," June]. Mortality rates for bariatric surgical procedures--such as gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, and duodenal switch--can be as high as one in 100.
Arbitration Prevention
Yes, mediation and arbitration are preferable to a long court battle, but it's even better to catch problems before a lawsuit ["Can't We All Get Along?" June]. Ombudsman services can provide a comprehensive early-warning system for emerging concerns like workplace bullying and appearance discrimination. These consultants empower employees to resolve troubles early and without executive involvement, freeing up owners to focus on their business goals.
Raising the Green Roof
Installation of green roofs is not inherently difficult ["Green Is the New Black," June]. I'm not sure why the green roof leaked at New Belgium Brewery. The failure may have been incorrectly engineered growth media, the wrong plants, or improper waterproofing materials. An experienced team of designers and installers working with high-quality products and accurate specifications should ensure a successful project. Most buildings can hold the weight of a green roof.
Correction
Norm Brodsky's new dentist is in Rockville Centre, N.Y. The town's name was misspelled in July's Street Smarts column.
