No System is Perfect

No System is Perfect

While it may sound trite, it bears repeating that no data management system is perfect. I have yet to meet an association executive who thinks their system works perfectly.

And yet, very often we'll spend hours trying to find "perfect" software or trying to design the "perfect" data management process. The reality is, if you're hitting 80%, you're probably doing really well. (Click here to read more on that.)

For example, almost invariably when I work with a new client, one challenge they'll have is the creation of duplicate records by their members and customers. As it is typically put, "Our members will come online to do something, they can't remember their username or login, and so they create a new record. And then we have to de-dupe it."

The reality is, challenges like this will NEVER go away. Members and customers will find a way to create duplicate records, no matter how many "forgot your name/forgot your password" options you offer. Because they're humans!

Maybe we can improve this, maybe we can't. But we'll never reach the point where it's perfect, so don't set that expectation, or you'll always be disappointed.

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

Eyes wide open and affirmative decision-making

April 16, 2025

Eyes wide open and affirmative decision-making When I work with my clients on any type […]

Honoring an industry legend

April 9, 2025

Honoring an industry legend I’m taking a break from my usual data management tips to […]

Never burn a bridge

April 2, 2025

Never burn a bridge My children have reached the age where they have, or are, […]

You CAN compete with the big guys…

April 2, 2025

You CAN compete with the big guys… In my experience, associations often undersell their actual […]

Join (or start) your users group!

March 26, 2025

Join (or start) your users group! Today’s message is simple: If the AMS you’re using […]

They don’t care, until they care.

March 19, 2025

They don’t care, until they care. One of the more common questions I get from […]

Longfellow and data management

March 12, 2025

Longfellow and data management “We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing while […]

Do you really need all that historical data?

March 5, 2025

Do you really need all that historical data? A question I’ll often get from my […]

AI actually requires thinking

February 26, 2025

AI actually requires thinking “I don’t think AI introduces a new kind of thinking. It […]

It’s not the mistakes, but how you respond

February 19, 2025

It’s not the mistakes, but how you respond Recently a client was complaining about a bug that […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top