https://www.posetteforever.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=1305&p=19126#p19126
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Visitor
Tuesday, 01 March 2005, 04:50 PM


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Tormentor, If I understand the purpose of a "coach repairer", the American term for it is "body and fender shop".  In American english "fender" is the same part of the automobile that is called the "wing" in British english.

You are right, around here there is too much reliance on insurance and litigation.  It is true in personal life and even more so in business life.  Too many times a company will spend much more for a project than is needed, as long as they have someone else to blame and make pay if something goes wrong.

An example, from a few years ago.  There was a company who wanted to modernize their computers.  It turned out that they had almost everything that they need in unused equipment from prior failed or terminated projects.  The only addition software they they needed was free open source.  Because most of the equipment was already in place and only needed to be reconfigured and retasked with new software, the disruption of their normal business would have been minimal.  Total estimated cost was around $20,000 for installation, with most of that going to time and labor; and as I recall up to $5,000 per year for maintenance and operation.  The upgrades could have been phased in so that the chage over would not have cause disruptions.  Their regular personnel would have needed very little retraining.

They also had another option offered, it required all new equipment and new commercial software, much of that software was the commercial (and outdated) versions of the same free software of the other option.  The disruption of their normal business under this plan was quite extreme.  None of their existing equipment or software could be reused.  None of their existing software could be used.  Their regular personnel would need to take retraining courses, some on-site some-off site.  The changeover required at least a week down time for their entire business.  Total estimate cost was around $1,000,000 for installation and over $200,000 per year for maintenace (including service contracts and insurance for just in case).

Which option did they select?  The more costly one.  The reason given?  With that option knew just who could be sued to recoop their losses if equipment breaks of software should prove to be buggy.  That way the executives resposible for the selection could pass blame on to someone else and while they woud not be "responsible" for anything and so their reputations and chances for promotions would not be damaged.

Pangor