[LTER-imc-ddms] distributed model -- but what distribution?

[Inigo San Gil]

Dear IMs,

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.

We are working towards what is being coined "LTER Distributed IM model".

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".

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

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, _you_ and _me_ working on a common project.

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.

Thanks for your comments,
Inigo




-- 

Inigo San Gil
+1 505 277 2625
http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=foIppL4AAAAJ&hl=en

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