Monday, December 21, 1998

The amazing thing about the high tech world is how small it is. Two of my correspondents had personal experience to add about this story... So here is the rest of it:

First, Peter Price:

"...last year we met the guy who along with his VP of Marketing invented the story for an advertising campaign when they were at NCR - he said it was the most successful campaign they ran!"

John Earle adds:

"I worked for Teradata and the man attributed with starting the myth. We had done a data discovery for Osco Drugs...looking for affinities between what items were purchased on a single ticket. Then we suggested tests for moving merchandise in the store to see how it affected affinities.

"...Our 'fearless'leader, Thom Blischok, when talking with prospects and the press, didn't distinguish between the actual affinities tested and our hypotheses. Our job was to sell the value of systems. Sometimes in selling, fact blurred with folklore.

"Anyhow, you can imagine our surprise when a company ran a full page add in the Wall Street Journal with a beer drinker in diapers to promote their data warehousing technology. We all laughed uncontrollably."

So, having completely exhausted this subject (I think), I wish you Happy Holidays and a great 1999!