Soon after I arrived I spotted the problem.  Between the time they requested the funds and the equipment was contracted the prices had changed so being a little short on funds they had to leave something out.  The decision was made to purchase all of the computers but leave out the network hubs and cabling.  Hard to run a network if you can't plug it in.

The computer department was an interesting collection of unique personalities with some interesting experience in their resumes.  I never did figure out how it related to what they were doing at CNVM.  They spoke little English and I speak absolutely no Romanian so everything went through a translator.  After one particularly grueling meeting I remarked to the translator that I wasn't able to make any sense out of their discussion in English.  She replied "it didn't make any sense in Romanian either so what could I do?"

Realizing that I was missing a lot I decided to start bringing one of our secretaries along.  Both of our secretaries had engineering degrees but worked for us a secretaries because it paid better.  Alina's job was to listen (never translate) and brief me later on what really happened.  Boy did I learn a lot.

I checked back in the states and the hardware we needed only amounted to about $5,000.  So we ordered it, shipped it over, cleared customs (now that was an adventure) and delivered it to CNVM.  Their building was similar in design, demeanor and current condition to a Cabrini Green high rise in Chicago.

The department head Mr. V was definitely trying to be in charge however everything I tried to do to get the network connected got blocked.  His argument was that it was so difficult and time consuming to go through the governmental bid and approval process that all I could do was give them lot's of money and let them handle it from there.  I was not convinced.  This attitude was consistent with their previous government's way of doing business that they had grown up with.

A department associate Mrs. P had done some sort of project planning before and was was trying to impress me with her book on the Racine method of project planning which she was applying to CNVM projects.  The Racine method looked like something you use to plan a Boeing 777 project.

Mr. V was a bit shocked but said thank you very much but we don't do installations, you have to contract for it outside. We figured it was going to take a long time and be very expensive.  So I sent Alina out to track down network installers while I worked on approvals to pay for it.  In a few days she had lined up three firms to come in and bid on the project.

On a Friday morning  Alina and I arrived at the CNVM and stepped into our meeting with the CNVM Computer department with our translator.  {I didn't pre plan what happened next it just sort of happened spontaneously}. I told them we wanted to move ahead  with the installation and Mr. V educated me on how I had to give them the money and how many moons it would take to get it done.  I looked Mr. V straight in the eye and said "after careful consideration I have decided the best way to proceed will be to adopt the Nike project planning methodology".  Mrs. P perked up immediately.  "What is Nike project Planning" she asked.  I replied, " you know Nike, the shoes, what is their motto?"  The young  programmer at the table said "you mean Just Do It?" I said yes,  we are just going to do it and get it done.

I turned to Alina and said "Alina, I want you to to get contractors in here to bid on this job, can you do that?" She said "Yes".  I said "Alina I want this done immediately can you do this right away" She said "Yes". I said "Alina can you start this afternoon?" She said "Yes".  Now it was very Romanian to say Yes and do nothing, but Alina had already made an appointment with the first vendor for a walk through.  . I said "Alina when can you start this afternoon?"  She said "I will have someone her at 2:00 pm".  I turned to Mr. V and said "This is good, now I am confident we will complete our project successfully".  I'm afraid Mr. V must have injured his jaw when it bounced off the table but the expression on his face was priceless.  Our translator told me later that the young programmers in the back of the room had heard the whole exchange and were in stitches.

The actual installation took place after I left and much to everyone's surprise I left the final selection of vendor up to Alina.  But our relations with CNVM would never be the same.
 

   Return to Tales from a Road Warrior Contents

   © 2001-2010 Telchar Systems, Inc. • all rights reserved