Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

RE: Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

colporteur — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 17:26:23 GMT

Great consolidation in writing of RoadTest review expectations.

If I could indulge my obtrusion, to add one more to the fold.

Plan for Failure. What are the contingencies if things don't work out as planned?

First and foremost, communicate with the program manager. He has a vested interest in your success and failures. Entering an application come with the expectation you may have to dine on crow of your own making. You can eat the when it is young and tender or when it is fat and gristly. Meaning the longer you wait to report failures to deliver, the harder it becomes to report your failure.

It is never easy or comfortable to admit failure. You have earned the merit badge of responsibility, when you own up to your own failures. Expect a negative reaction, disappointment and frustration are acceptable. Take solace when a negative reaction doesn't come. Those are few and far between.

Sean

RE: Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

three-phase — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:56:48 GMT

A well written blog, all valid points and good advice, added to by some excellent comments from other community members.

Kind regards.

RE: Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

stevesmythe — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 08:57:15 GMT

Very helpful blog. I certainly agree that preparation is the key thing:

Reading up on the product before you decide whether to apply gives you a good idea if you have the knowledge and information to complete the test as you would like to. I remember deciding not to apply for the NXP PN7150 because I couldn't work out how to use it with the FRDM KW41Z boards supplied.
If selected, you can assemble all the data sheets, download any software and watch any helpful videos that you can find. You can even start writing the "background information" part of the review before you even see the product. Then when the product turns up, you can hit the ground running.

RE: Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

jw0752 — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 03:10:27 GMT

Hi David,

Excellent post with really good points for anyone considering doing Road Tests.

John

RE: Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

aspork42 — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 01:02:37 GMT

Planning in advance is really the key - that is a great point. It makes everything simple - start with a very rough outline. As you dig into the product, expand on that outline. When you get to the stage of the actual work, you'll already have learned 80% of what you need and the words start flowing. It is exactly how I wrote my papers in English class back in the days - "Ok - I need a intro paragraph, three paragraphs supporting my opinion, and a closing statement." Then I just start filling in the blanks.

The other tough part is sticking to it after that - I just finished my first road test and got stuck with a family emergency and three travel weeks at work right at the start. It was hard to get back into it. But I would just re-open my outline and Road Test application and say "What's the next step" and that is what I would work on. I did have to trim back my goals due to the time constraints, but still did five total posts and two videos.

RE: Why you should put effort into completing your road tests

dougw — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 22:40:34 GMT

Great blog. One of the intangibles that can be a big benefit in completing a road test is that it is an accomplishment you can be proud of, and the harder the road test is and the harder it is to blog about, the greater the sense of accomplishment. You will get compliments and comments that would just never happen if you didn't put yourself and your work out there. Even if you don't manage to execute a perfect road test, blogging about your experience will certainly earn you respect.