<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<br>
Dear IMs,<br>
<br>
Is there a bit of a lull on the DDMS, or perhaps, Im in the dark - I
didnt hear about VTCs, or anything. Well, I keep mulling these
ideas, met with Bob Waide (get feedback), talk to my PI, and will
talk some more. It is an interesting opportunity for the LTER to be
mum, guys.<br>
<br>
We are working towards what is being coined "LTER Distributed IM
model".<br>
<br>
As I read through the folders (some documents dissapear..), and read
the paperwork thus far, I wonder whether a better name would be
"LTER Data Center", and not really an "LTER Distributed IM model".
The reason is I fail to identify the "distributed" part of the
equation in the "model".<br>
<br>
Could you please identify for me what parts are "distributed"? I
fail to see those clearly. I see governance schemes, with elaborate
diagrams. I see a financial model and I see a service bucket tasks
(wrote most of these tasks). We had budgeted a few items for the
eventuality of hosting solutions in the Cloud ( I would stay away of
becoming a Guinea pig - re: NSF Dear letter). <br>
<br>
But in my mind, the LTER IM Distributed model always has played like
IMs working on a coordinate fashion to leverage our collective
strengths, hence mitigating our individual gaps. <br>
<br>
I do not see that vision explicitly in the work thus far. For me,
the "LTER Distributed IM model" may entail a profound change in LTER
and specifically, a change in the way we operate. See, this far, we
are site-centric, and network later (if at all). Sure, we have EML
medal, but it sounds more like the Euro for Europe in terms of
integration/ distributed (bad analogy, unless you are a Greek, then
you may know what I mean).<br>
<br>
Since I do not know, I would like you to tell each other what do you
think working in a "LTER Distributed IM model" means.<br>
<br>
Yes, I am aware sites (PIs) "want to have their IM there 150% and on
the cheap". True, we identified that we need a person at each site
to solve the day-to-day issues related with the handling of each
site digital's assets (and some hardware, I must add). <br>
<br>
It sounds to me, that to have a concerted effort, you would have to
have those IMs really involved with the persons who are truly
network dedicated (the Data Center staff) and I am unsure how is
this going to work, given the experience thus far. One example -
after years of asking for compensation for "network-dedicated" time,
we got it, and while it lasted (not too long), the resource or
instrument was seriously under-used. (How much, I do not really
know). Point is "money" did not kept us from being immersed in a
network project. Then what is it? Perhaps the weak link was
motivation and purpose (those are the main drivers to get engaged in
any activity, along with the mastery of the activity). The reason I
ask, is cause the key on a "LTER Distributed IM model" seems to me
the collaborative aspect of the human assets, that is, <u>you</u>
and <u>me</u> working on a common project.<br>
<br>
Or perhaps, the "LTER Distributed IM model" means something else for
you, I just would like to read what that means for you. I may be
wrong, but there is quite a bit of room for status quo in the ideas
that bounce off the documents and watercoolers.<br>
<br>
Thanks for your comments,<br>
Inigo<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Inigo San Gil
+1 505 277 2625
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=foIppL4AAAAJ&hl=en">http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=foIppL4AAAAJ&hl=en</a></pre>
</body>
</html>