Be careful about getting tangled
“We had done a lot to tangle ourselves up.” - Bridget Walsh, Chief Operating Officer at Emergency Nurses Association
In a discussion at AMS Fest this week, this is how Bridget Walsh characterized what their AMS of 17+ years looked like as they worked to move from their legacy system to a new one.
I love this quote for two reasons:
- The use of the word "tangle." It's very descriptive of what many AMSes look like after years of use.
- The ownership of the entanglement ("We had done a lot..."). Data management systems don't just tangle themselves. They become tangled for many reasons including neglect, staff turnover, outdated/ineffective business rules, and lack of documentation.
Seventeen years in one system is a very good run, so ENA should be proud of that. But I appreciated Bridget's acknowledgment of ENA's need to "untangle" where they were as they moved to a new system.
So what are you doing to make sure your AMS doesn't get too tangled up?
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Write it down!
Write it down! If you’re in the market for a new AMS (or any new […]
Why “weeding the garden” is so important
Why “weeding the garden” is so important One of the most important activities for maintaining […]
It’s time to stop excusing association professionals
It’s time to stop excusing association professionals I worked in associations for nearly 10 years, […]
More demos is not better
More demos is not better When I work with clients on selecting a new system, […]
The database owner should be “passionate”
The database owner should be “passionate” I’m frequently asked by my clients: “Who should we […]
Discipline is required
Discipline is required Last week I discussed the importance of taking action. To manage data […]
Action is required
Action is required Over my many years of consulting, one thing I’ve noticed about many associations […]
Some data analytics tips from the DAN “Science Fair”
Some data analytics tips from the DAN “Science Fair” Last week I had the opportunity […]
Are all your processes frictionless?
Are all your processes frictionless? I’m not a huge fan of buzzwords, but I love […]
Trends don’t need perfect data
Trends don’t need perfect data When it comes to analyzing data trends (changes in data […]
