If you follow the link, you’ll see that this number is unique in so many ways.
I won’t go into the specifics of the number, but will provide a general overview along with why I’d be proud to have anybody associate this number with The Planet and myself.
Continue multiplying with further integers and you can add the first number to the remaining 6 numbers to continue this cyclic permutation, or end up with the same nice high repeating number. What is a cyclic permutation? And why would one be proud to be associated with such a sequence? I’ll let you dive further into the details. What we have here is a number that repeats itself in cycles (cyclic permutation) when multiplied by integers.
1 × 142,857 = 142,857
2 × 142,857 = 285,714
3 × 142,857 = 428,571
4 × 142,857 = 571,428
5 × 142,857 = 714,285
6 × 142,857 = 857,142
7 × 142,857 = 999,999
What I see here is repetition at its finest. Repetition in a company is essential whether it be in support, accounting, information technology, networking, marketing or any other department. Repetition ensures that you end up with the same, or at least similar, results. The results should either be those that are expected or close to, with the ability to correct them. We can now associate the expected results to 142857 and the unexpected results to 1142856. When we end up with the figure 1142856, we know what needs to be done in order to correct it: 1 + 142856 = 142857.
In IT departments we should always follow this rule. While every project may be different, and require some fine tuning, we should get used to doing our job the same way every time. This ensures that if someone is sick or on vacation, any other team member can simply jump in and continue the work without breaking stride. Whether someone is evaluating new network equipment or a new control panel everything must be documented from start-to-end.
In our tech support, it’s a rule we work to follow so that we provide consistent service to our customers.
Let us know what you expect and what you were provided with support. This will help us to keep up with your ever-changing world, while we provide the infrastructure and support to ensure your business growth.
- Anthony
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Repetition can also leave people to feel like another cog in the machine, in that anyone can come in and do their job according to policy. It avoids creativity and critical thinking so that the end result will always be the same. Repetition has its place but customer service is not one of them, at the end of the line you are dealing with human and not a computer.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Ed, I think you’re right about the dangers of repetition, but there is a gray area in the realm of “repetition”: redundancy v. consistency. In IT departments, providing a consistent positive result is the primary focus, but that focus should not detract from personal service and support leading to that result. The disconnected “redundancy” kind of repetition is the biggest danger in customer service.