Project managers are busy people who keep track of a boat-load of details. They are under pressure to deliver regular status updates and well-managed results. So, it makes sense that they'd get attached to tools that make their daily work easier and more efficient.
When a trusty Texas Instruments BA-20 calculator went missing for a few months, Senior Project Manager Kyle Witte was thrown off a bit. Besides being out of production, the 20+ year-old calculator was a tool that Kyle relied upon daily to get his job done. He was used to it. His fingers knew the keys. Not having it meant getting used to a new tool, and that meant a learning curve, and that meant a loss of time.
Who can relate? One gets used to the key placement and functions on a device. Making a switch in devices can slow you down. Need proof? Consider the number of typing errors you made the very first time you used a tablet keyboard vs a desktop version. Even the simplest tools can contribute to efficiency.
The day the calculator was found was a good one. It's sort of like finding your old baseball glove or that worn-in sweatshirt with the frayed edges. Sure, he could get used to a new one, but there's another reason Kyle was happy to find THIS particular Ti-BA20.
"I picked this bad boy from the office supplies cabinet at the old office on 23rd and State on Monday, February 3, 1997 -- my very first day in a full-time office role at Lemberg," he said. "It's near and dear to my heart."
He may be being cheeky with that last bit, but we're pretty sure he's happy to have his efficiency back on track.
How about you? What handy office tool would you hate to give up? Leave your comments below.