As the Multinational data was already in the Q&A system it was assumed that underwriting input to data conversion could be handled within existing staffing levels (00237). Prior to conversion, Services spent a lot of time updating the Q&A system to ensure that it was ready for conversion. There was then a two week period when the data was converted and the system installed and checked (00499) so that by the time the system was operational the data was already out of date (00939). There were also a number of misunderstandings about how records should be converted. This resulted in problems with some programmes which were not apparent until the programme was individually checked (00501, 00816). Unfortunately validation in the new system prevented the users from rectifying some of these errors (00816, 00943). In addition to conversion problems there were underlying problems with data accuracy in the Q&A system (00817, 00462). The problems of this conversion were so severe that errors were still emerging over a year later when the data was auditted (00921).There was a view from developers and users that the data should have never been automatically converted from the Q&A system (00289, 00702); at the very least they should have trialled the conversion to have identified the problems earlier (00943). Data conversion problems were magnified by the underwriters' lack of ownership of their data on the computer (00289, 00702, 00701) coupled with a shortage of underwriters (00611) and a recognition that it was not appropriate to hire data entry clerks to enter the data (00477, 00702).
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© Clare Tagg 2000