I was talking to my neighbor the other day, as our dogs did their traditional “meet and greet” on the sidewalk. Mostly this means constantly untangling leashes, but she happened to ask me about “that IBM software” I represent (IBM TRIRIGA). Honestly, I had to pause and figure out a good example. She’s a home healthcare worker, so I didn’t think explaining the traditional corporate office would be meaningful. And then I realized “home” was a pretty good metaphor…
- Do you lease your particular castle? Or is your home mortgaged? Either way, Real Estate Management can help you keep track of all your payments, including real estate taxes, school taxes, utility payments and whether or not the landlord owes you for shoveling the sidewalk all winter.
- Have you shuffled the kids between bedrooms, added a new child (or pet) to the family or rearranged the furniture lately? That’s Facility Management for you–complete with Move Management and Onboarding activities. And, if your bathroom is overrun by too many people in the mornings, maybe it’s time you implemented Reserve. Bonus points if you set up a catering menu for Friday night pizza parties!
- How about the AC unit, the furnace and those rain gutters? They all need regularly scheduled maintenance, whether that comes from you or the local guy in town. That’s TRIRIGA Operations. And, if you’ve ever cleaned up an “accident” left by an unhappy/lonely Puggle, then you’ve conducted an on-demand maintenance activity. It also occurred to me that if I used TRIRIGA to track my vehicle maintenance, I wouldn’t be constantly overdue on my state inspections.
- Last fall, I installed a patio and a fence in the backyard. OK—I didn’t really install it myself. But, I did do all the financial planning, design work, materials selection and project coordination. My landscaper supplied the labor and expertise. I subcontracted the assembly of the patio furniture and grill to my nephew. And there you go—the home-based version of Capital Projects.
- I didn’t have to think hard about TREES and Energy Management. My electric company sends me a “green house” scorecard every year, telling me how well I am doing in energy utilization compared to my neighbors. Apparently, some of my neighbors are overachievers. That scorecard really does serve as a reminder. I’m much more conscious of the thermostat settings, both in winter and summer.
I could have continued, but the dogs were getting impatient. So, we untangled the leashes one last time and said our goodbyes. As the Puggle tugged me towards home, I kept thinking of all the other examples I could have given: painting the garage, cleaning the gas grill and considering the next round of landscaping projects. (And then I remembered the nephew was available in August for all sorts of chores.)
What are your “TriHouse” stories? Look around tonight. I’m willing to bet you spend a lot more time on home-based IWMS activities than you realize!
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