Newham Online News -10

And finally

Richard Stubbs

Earlier on we mentioned that you can get a report "Moving Into the Information Age" (MIA) which is the '98 benchmark study published by the Information Society Initiative. But it may not be as easy as you might think.

Craig Pickup (of UKCOD and DigiTrade) phoned the ISI and asked for both the '97 report, known as "Moving into the Information Society" (MIS) and the '98 MIA report. He was told the '97 MIS report was being reprinted but that the '98 MIA report would be sent.

Several days later the '97 MIS report arrived with a covering letter saying that the '98 MIA report was enclosed and that the '97 report would be delivered once re-printed. Craig was confused but noted that the letter gave the product number of the '98 report as 97/147. Craig phoned up the ISI, explained what had happened and said that the product number on their database appeared to be wrong. He asked that the back order for the '97 MIS report be cancelled and that the '98 MIA report be sent.

A few days later Craig received two further copies of the '97 MIS report with a covering letter explaining that they were both the '98 MIS report but still giving the tell tale 97/147 product number.

Craig again phoned the ISI. The product number is wrong he told them, every time someone asks for the '98 report you send out the '97 one. Please send me the '98 one. A couple of days later the fourth copy of "Moving into the Information Society" arrived. Craig again phoned the ISI and was told that the problem had been rectified. He asked for the '98 report to be sent and once the order had been accepted asked "what is the product number?" - "97/147" he was told. He explained this would mean that he would be sent yet another copy of the old report. "Please enter 98/147" he begged.

A few days later the postman delivered. The covering letter proudly announce that the enclosed report was "Moving into the Information Age - the '98 benchmark study". Unfortunately the product number was 97/147 and the enclosed report was, of course, the MIS '97 report.

Craig phoned and asked to speak to the Manager. "Unfortunately the '97 report is out of print but we can send you the '98 report"

Craig has started acting as a distributor for the MIS '97 report and very nice it is too. Just as well we have the ISI to help us all with Moving into the Information Age!

Articles wanted!

Editor richard.stubbs@newham.org.uk

Please submit articles for October's issue as soon as possible.   Nominations for "And finally" which is dedicated to exposing IT as it works in practice are particularly welcome.