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Please Read: An Important RoadTest Program Change

rscasny

This is the third virtual "fireside chat" that I'm writing regarding the RoadTest Program. For this one, I'd like to roll out a RoadTest Program change and explain why the change is occurring.

 

To start, I'd like to share a snippet of an email I received yesterday from a vendor who participates in the RoadTest Program:

 

"We received only 13% reviews back from the RoadTests we sponsored in 2016. I would like to know the status of each of these roadtests. Are the missing reviews still being pursued? I would also like to know if the members that failed to post a review are now being flagged so we do not chose them again."

 

It was not pleasant to respond to. I had to eat "humble pie," as we say in the US, when I responded to this vendor.

 

To solve the problem, I decided I don't want to go down the road of suspending members from the RoadTest program. Suspensions sound too much like the hard rules of the military. I was in the Navy for 10 years and I didn't like tough rules back then, but I knew they were necessary given the reality of uncomfortable shipboard conditions and potentially dangerous operations we were participating in.

 

But this is a community. It should be a place to have some fun, meet new people, network professionally, be a mentor, or get mentored. Suspending people just is the wrong road to follow.

 

The way I've chosen to resolve the problem is the program change.

 

RoadTest application reports will soon include whether a specific applicant has completed all of his/her previous RoadTest reviews. I'm told by our developers this is very easy to do. We will provide this information to the vendor with a RoadTester's application. The supplier will make the decision where to select the RoadTester or not. Given the above comment by the supplier, I think the answer is self-evident.

 

Now, this change will probably cause me more work. If someone were flagged, I will have to check to see if that person is on a current RoadTest and it's before the due date of the official review. I surely don't want to penalize a conscientious RoadTester. I will also have to ensure there are not any extenuating circumstances that have caused the person not to write the review, i.e., sickness, family issues.

 

I am ambivalent about this whole thing. There are many RoadTesters who are doing a fantastic job. But a 13% success rate is not successful. I really have no choice but to implement this change.

 

Sincerely,

 

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager

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  • it really disappoints me to read that only 13% of road tests are completed. I've applied for a few and only recently got accepted to do one so on the one hand I'm looking forward to writing a review but on the other had it annoys me that myself and probably many other people who have good ideas for a readiest miss out or don't apply because they don't feel they will be chosen. theres been a lot of interesting bits of kit on offer for review since I've signed up and it makes me wonder if people are just applying to get free stuff?

  • in reply to mmcphail

    We are improving. But, unfortunately, there are people who register on the community, apply for the roadtest, and then cease to log in to the community for months. And a handful create mutliple accounts.

     

    Well, when I get the list of applicants, I try to select 10 or so that I think are the best to recommend to the supplier, who makes the final decision.

     

    Besides looking at the questions, I do look in to see when the applicant last logged in. If an an applicant hasn't looged in for a long time, I keep that in mind when making my recommendations to the supplier. Someone who logs in and engages in the community I feel deserves my attention over someone who is disengaged.

     

    I look for experience, but I also am looking to recommend a new roadtester. So even if you are new to the community, you still have a chance of roadtesting and receiving a free product.

     

    The final issue is your background. I am scheduled to roadtest a absence-of-voltage indicator for 600V applications. So, I would be more likely to recommend someone to the supplier who has experience at this level or perhaps facility engineering.

     

     

    Randall Scasny

    RoadTest Program Manager

  • in reply to rscasny

    I'm happy to work with the "absense of 600V", it's just the presence of 600V I'd have a problem with image

  • in reply to Workshopshed

    Having worked with very high voltages 25K +, you definitely need to keep your head in the game.

     

    One false move and SNAP.  If you are lucky you get just a little jolt.  If you are working with high frequency RF, then you can fins small holes burned in your clothing or body.

     

    If it is DC and you wake up, then you lived.

     

    DAB

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  • in reply to Workshopshed

    Having worked with very high voltages 25K +, you definitely need to keep your head in the game.

     

    One false move and SNAP.  If you are lucky you get just a little jolt.  If you are working with high frequency RF, then you can fins small holes burned in your clothing or body.

     

    If it is DC and you wake up, then you lived.

     

    DAB

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