Entering data - tables vs. BAD forms

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Guest

I am one of two staff in a very small supporter-driven nonprofit. I inherited
what I consider to be a very badly-designed Access database of supporters and
a designer who is not collaborative. Briefly - I cannot search in forms
except by name; I cannot enter donation on main form; etc etc. Using the
tables was my solution (I do have experience with Access) but now I have been
locked out, rendering me helpless and making the whole process extremely
cumbersome, time-consuming, and very ineffective. I have about 2,000 records.
I would really like an independent assessment of this DB which, in its 3rd
year, is not "complete." Suggestions? My attempts at conversation continue to
default to the designer's wishes, not to my (organization's) needs. SCREAMING
LOUDLY, I appreciate any help anyone can provide.
 
Coralzz,

Whether the developer is a current employee of your company or an
independent contractor, I think you should discuss your data entry needs with
your boss. If it's possible that he or she is unaware of the situation,
bring printouts of the screens, and a well-thought argument for what would
better serve the organization's needs, perhaps with sketches of what you
believe would be better-designed forms.

Focus on the organizational needs and an outline of a solution, not your
irritation with the application as is nor your relationship with the
designer. A savvy boss should both appreciate your being proactive and your
attention to the company's interests, and do something about it.

Hope that helps.
Sprinks
 
Thank you for responding. Unfortunately, there exists a much bigger problem.
Attempts at presenting to boss (many, many times) have resulted in defense of
independent contractor. Period. I have reached the point where I believe I
need to seek out an assessment of the DB from a professional and then present
results. Of course, there is so much more to this ... bottomline, however, is
that I can't be effective and productive. Again, thanks, and if you'd like to
take a look at the DB, wow, I would be grateful!
 
I'd tread carefully if I were you. You're calling your boss's judgement into
question, and that's rarely a career-enhancing move - even if you're right.
In effect, you will be saying to your boss: "Look, I'm not the only one who
thinks you don't know what you're talking about, here's an expert who thinks
you're an idiot too." You know your boss, I don't - how do you think he/she
will react? And showing the application to an outsider without permission
might be considered a breach of confidentiality - especially if your boss
becomes annoyed enough to want an excuse to fire you.

As you have some experience with Access, you might consider putting together
a demonstration of your ideas. Don't try to replace the whole application,
just focus in on one or two key features - something that you have to do
frequently, and doesn't work in the present application. Don't just tell
them there's a better way - show them. You might have to do it in your own
time. But if you feel that strongly about the issue, you may feel it would
be worth it.
 
Coralzz,

I'm not sure how to advise you without knowing all of the politics of your
situation, but if you've approached your boss many times with the same
result, and that you've communicated I suspect he may feel some sense of
ownership of the current system, have a relationship with the developer, or
have some other rational or irrational reason for wanting to leave the
current system alone.

However, I could certainly look at the application and give you my opinion.
Please include a solid generic description of the application's intent and
outputs, and a description of what you consider its deficiencies. I'll be
happy to give you an anonymous opinion, but it will be up to you to decide
how to use it.

Remove NOSPAMALOT from the email address below:

(e-mail address removed)
 
coralzz said:
Thank you for responding. Unfortunately, there exists a much bigger problem.
Attempts at presenting to boss (many, many times) have resulted in defense of
independent contractor. Period. I have reached the point where I believe I
need to seek out an assessment of the DB from a professional and then present
results. Of course, there is so much more to this ... bottomline, however, is
that I can't be effective and productive. Again, thanks, and if you'd like to
take a look at the DB, wow, I would be grateful!
Click to expand...

Time to look for a new job.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
 
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