All posts by: Joel Ewald
Value creation checklist
It is pretty amazing some of the ideas we come up with here through the myriad of idea generating avenues we have – swimtank, hackathon, R&D, etc. Everyone truly wants to be part of solving great problems. Currently we are...
The Value of Naming Constraints
In certain designers, such as SQL Server Management Studio table designer, when you create certain constraints (Primary and foreign keys, defaults, and check constraints) they will be given a name that contains a GUID to verify the name is unique. This...
Performance Troubleshooting without Data? Enter DBCC Clone Database
With SQL server 2014 SP 2 Microsoft added a new feature that sounds pretty sweet for troubleshooting some performance problems. It is called Clone Database. In a Nutshell Clone database gives you a copy of the specified databases without any...
Improve data quality by addressing non-stated requirements
I read an article by David Poole a few weeks ago where he talks about addressing non-stated requirements. I believe this is an area that is quite often overlooked when data modeling; at least up front. He sums it up...
Using medium-term goals to drive Now vs Not-Now prioritization
Mike Cohn posted an article a few years ago on Now vs Not-Now Prioritization Along with Medium-Term Goals. The article is a good read. In the article he states. At the start of each quarter, a product owner should put...
Our enterprise tools and using the CUSTOM schema
I was recently asked a question about what is the CUSTOM schema in our tools used for and I thought it may be a good idea to write about it in case you are not familiar with it. With our...
Rapid product delivery shines the spotlight on issues for SSMS
In an article posted by Phil Factor on SQL Server Central he relates how SQL Server Management Studio had to undergo some pretty significant changes in order to support rapidly delivering improvements. “SSMS got very little love over the years...
Healthcare AI helps diagnose eye disease
I had meant to post a technical article today on a new SQL 2014 feature that could help with troubleshooting performance problems, but I ran into an environmental snag. So look for that in the coming weeks. Instead I thought...
Gas Refueling – Removing the guesswork
Have you ever tried to refuel a car but pulled into the station only to find out you have the gas pump on the wrong side? You are not alone. Today I will just share a nugget of wisdom that...
Knightmare – Where were the testing and development practices?
The Dark Knight showed us what a psychopath could do with gasoline, a match, and large piles of other people’s money. It seems insane to most people to burn Certificates of Performance (money) in this way. “This is the story...