2A: Bug List
Bug List:
1. The network at my place of employment runs extremely slow and will kick users out of the main program used on campus.
This happens because our school size has tripled since opening and cannot support the number of users on the network at the same time. Our bandwidth needs to be increased in order to support the needs of both students and administration.
2. My calls dropping in the same place on the way to/from work.
There is a dead-zone in an area on the way to and from work where the Verizon network cannot pick up any signal, and therefor drops calls in that area.
3. The electronic padlock on my front door not working properly and then having to use my key instead, defeating the entire purpose of the electronic key pad.
The batteries in the electronic key pad die quickly causing the lock to unlock only half way after entering the correct code to lock/unlock the door.
4. The main copier at work constantly jamming, and then the person who jams it leaves the next person to be the one to deal with it.
There are many employees who do not know how to properly load the paper when it is low, causing the copier to jam frequently. They also do not attempt to understand how to unjam it and cause the next person to have to fix it.
5. Attempting to train someone who does not take notes and then getting asked how to do something you have already been over multiple times.
People think a task or specific directions will be easy to remember so they do not take step-by-step notes. However, they are not able to recall based solely off of memory and then have to ask to be shown again.
6. Other drivers not using their turn signals.
The driver not utilizing the turn signal is either careless or does not think the signal is necessary. However, this signal is to help other drivers know to slow down and be cautious.
7. Paying inflated prices to be able to park downtown in Pensacola. If you have parked without paying, you will be towed.
The Downtown Pensacola Improvement Board recently implemented having to pay to park downtown using meters in parking garages, on the side of streets, and in parking lots. Previously, most parking was free downtown. However the implementation happened quickly with no warning and the prices to park are extremely overpriced and the county residents are unhappy.
8. Trying to get the last bit of cleanser, soap, or any time of liquid that comes in a pump bottle, but not being able to.
The tube that connects to the pump is always just a tiny bit shorter than the distance down the bottom of the bottle, causing the consumer to have to unscrew the lid to pour out the remaining bit in their hand.
10. Umbrellas that unfold up and fold down which causes water to drip everywhere when you close the umbrella when getting in your car.
For years, this was how umbrellas were made and no one thought any different. Its main purpose was to cover the consumer from the rain. However, recently a new umbrella design has the umbrella folding down to open and folding up to close, helping to trap the water on the umbrella that would have otherwise dripped on the consumer when closing after getting in their car.
11. When my windshield wipers are no longer working properly and it is hard to see while driving.
The windshield wipers have worn down and are old and need to be replaced.
12. The Weather Channel App predicting rain/sunshine on a specific day or specific set of days, and the weather ends up being the exact opposite.
It is hard to predict exactly what the weather will be ahead of time. It is usually only accurate with a window of a couple of days before the time period.
13. The difference in standards between privately owned colleges and public colleges.
There have been privately owned colleges who have taken advantage of their students and Title IV funding. This has led to giving a bad reputation to vocational colleges and stricter standards to be followed by privately owned colleges.
14. When someone is unprepared and then complains that things did not work out in their favor.
The person failed to prepare and take necessary steps to ensure success and refuses to take accountability for their own actions.
15. When someone tells you they cannot find a file, paper, etc, when in fact, they misfiled it.
The person is not paying attention to the task at hand.
16. Your spouse or roommate leaves their clothes in the washer too long and then has to waste water re-washing their clothes for a second time.
The person may be wasteful or lazy and does not take into account or care about how their actions may affect others. (Ex: Not being able to wash your own clothes when needed.)
17. Paying a premium price for service with the expectation of good results, but instead receiving poor service.
The employees within the company do respect the company they work for and/or do not appreciate the job they have.
18. Using your GPS in a different city to find your way around, but the GPS fails to load the directions.
This type of technology requires service and if it is running slow or unavailable, it will directly affect your ability to be able to utilize the product.
19. A person who blames everything on everyone else or something else, whether in their personal or professional life.
The person is not able to take accountability for themselves or the situation. Instead of being proactive in helping to remedy the situation at hand, they look for excuses to get themselves out of it.
20. Receiving a drink in the drive-thru and the lid is not on correctly and it spills in your car and on you.
The employee working the window at the drive-thru was not careful to double check that the lid was on before handing it over.
REFLECTION:
I initially thought this exercise would be simple, as there are many things that I let 'bug' me. I got through the first ten with ease, but then struggled to think of ten more things to include. I did appreciate that the exercise made me stop and think why exactly all of these things tend to bug me.
1. The network at my place of employment runs extremely slow and will kick users out of the main program used on campus.
This happens because our school size has tripled since opening and cannot support the number of users on the network at the same time. Our bandwidth needs to be increased in order to support the needs of both students and administration.
2. My calls dropping in the same place on the way to/from work.
There is a dead-zone in an area on the way to and from work where the Verizon network cannot pick up any signal, and therefor drops calls in that area.
3. The electronic padlock on my front door not working properly and then having to use my key instead, defeating the entire purpose of the electronic key pad.
The batteries in the electronic key pad die quickly causing the lock to unlock only half way after entering the correct code to lock/unlock the door.
4. The main copier at work constantly jamming, and then the person who jams it leaves the next person to be the one to deal with it.
There are many employees who do not know how to properly load the paper when it is low, causing the copier to jam frequently. They also do not attempt to understand how to unjam it and cause the next person to have to fix it.
5. Attempting to train someone who does not take notes and then getting asked how to do something you have already been over multiple times.
People think a task or specific directions will be easy to remember so they do not take step-by-step notes. However, they are not able to recall based solely off of memory and then have to ask to be shown again.
6. Other drivers not using their turn signals.
The driver not utilizing the turn signal is either careless or does not think the signal is necessary. However, this signal is to help other drivers know to slow down and be cautious.
7. Paying inflated prices to be able to park downtown in Pensacola. If you have parked without paying, you will be towed.
The Downtown Pensacola Improvement Board recently implemented having to pay to park downtown using meters in parking garages, on the side of streets, and in parking lots. Previously, most parking was free downtown. However the implementation happened quickly with no warning and the prices to park are extremely overpriced and the county residents are unhappy.
8. Trying to get the last bit of cleanser, soap, or any time of liquid that comes in a pump bottle, but not being able to.
The tube that connects to the pump is always just a tiny bit shorter than the distance down the bottom of the bottle, causing the consumer to have to unscrew the lid to pour out the remaining bit in their hand.
10. Umbrellas that unfold up and fold down which causes water to drip everywhere when you close the umbrella when getting in your car.
For years, this was how umbrellas were made and no one thought any different. Its main purpose was to cover the consumer from the rain. However, recently a new umbrella design has the umbrella folding down to open and folding up to close, helping to trap the water on the umbrella that would have otherwise dripped on the consumer when closing after getting in their car.
11. When my windshield wipers are no longer working properly and it is hard to see while driving.
The windshield wipers have worn down and are old and need to be replaced.
12. The Weather Channel App predicting rain/sunshine on a specific day or specific set of days, and the weather ends up being the exact opposite.
It is hard to predict exactly what the weather will be ahead of time. It is usually only accurate with a window of a couple of days before the time period.
13. The difference in standards between privately owned colleges and public colleges.
There have been privately owned colleges who have taken advantage of their students and Title IV funding. This has led to giving a bad reputation to vocational colleges and stricter standards to be followed by privately owned colleges.
14. When someone is unprepared and then complains that things did not work out in their favor.
The person failed to prepare and take necessary steps to ensure success and refuses to take accountability for their own actions.
15. When someone tells you they cannot find a file, paper, etc, when in fact, they misfiled it.
The person is not paying attention to the task at hand.
16. Your spouse or roommate leaves their clothes in the washer too long and then has to waste water re-washing their clothes for a second time.
The person may be wasteful or lazy and does not take into account or care about how their actions may affect others. (Ex: Not being able to wash your own clothes when needed.)
17. Paying a premium price for service with the expectation of good results, but instead receiving poor service.
The employees within the company do respect the company they work for and/or do not appreciate the job they have.
18. Using your GPS in a different city to find your way around, but the GPS fails to load the directions.
This type of technology requires service and if it is running slow or unavailable, it will directly affect your ability to be able to utilize the product.
19. A person who blames everything on everyone else or something else, whether in their personal or professional life.
The person is not able to take accountability for themselves or the situation. Instead of being proactive in helping to remedy the situation at hand, they look for excuses to get themselves out of it.
20. Receiving a drink in the drive-thru and the lid is not on correctly and it spills in your car and on you.
The employee working the window at the drive-thru was not careful to double check that the lid was on before handing it over.
REFLECTION:
I initially thought this exercise would be simple, as there are many things that I let 'bug' me. I got through the first ten with ease, but then struggled to think of ten more things to include. I did appreciate that the exercise made me stop and think why exactly all of these things tend to bug me.
Christine,
ReplyDeleteWhether intentional or not, I thought your use of related bugs to a larger issue, was a great approach to creating a bug list such as this. From seeing the different bugs you list, I was not only able to tell about the individual problems but also the functionality and practicality of some of the products and situations you described. Besides for those bugs, the personal bugs you described about character and actions were interesting as well. I never thought to look at personal decisions and human behavior in the same way you would look at items for this bug list.
I found your bug list to be very much like mine. It is obvious that you work in an office and experience some of the same headaches everyone in an office encounter. Copier jammed, network issues and best of all the commute when people do not use turn signals. I am glad to know that other people see behavioral issues are a big problem. It may not always be a product that gives you trouble but the people you deal with that bother you.
ReplyDeleteHello Christine,
ReplyDeleteGreat job listing your bugs! It seems you had a good idea of what bugs you, since your “bugs” are very diverse. Nothing annoys me more, than when I forget to buy a new bottle of product and forced to scavenge every drop left in that empty bottle! At the beginning of the assignment, I also thought it would be simple. For future reference, when needed to list some things, try taking a walk around your apartment, neighbor, or even work. There might be more things that bug you then you think!