Hipmunk has an amazing interface, but I have yet to actually use it to purchase a flight. Quite often I find better deals elsewhere. I really want to use it exclusively, but I just don't trust it to have the best data yet.
When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
31–37 of 37 posts
Re: When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pretty standard/common practice. When discussing certain quantities, including money, it's common to use MM such as $100MM. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SI_prefix#Similar_symbols_in_ab...
Is this just a standard/common practice in America? I have yet to see it used anywhere else but then I am primarily exposed to UK/European news sources.
I think it's used more often in finance here. It is a bit awkward when you have to check if something is "millions" or "millimeters" though.
Re: When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
#33When numbers get large, the more the little things start to matter. It must be exciting to see the changes happen live in front of you when you flick these 'little' switches.
Not that any of my clients would do this (or, candidly, I'd fire them), but suffice it to say I've heard of places where you can make enemies by being a wee bit too effective at plucking low-hanging fruit like this. I think 9 figures is likely to be an exaggeration but say it is 7 figures (or low 8 figures) per year, which is probably pretty easy to verifiably achieve. Large corporations being what they are, there's…
Gerald Weinberg discusses this problem in his "Secrets of Consulting", somewhere after proclaiming "it's always a people problem." One is hired as a consultant, and so one thinks the best approach is to recommend a change that likely achieves the best possible outcome for the client.
But in accepting this, the client would have to acknowledge the existence of this problem and all its potential consequences.
If I remember correctly, his recommendation is for a consultant to only improve matters by, say, 10%, making the client look good for hiring a consultant, making the consultant look good for delivering, and, what seemed to me just a happy side-effect, benefiting the client's organization.
The alternative, I suppose, is for the consultant to move on to greener pastures, and for the organization to see a 0% gain.
Re: When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
#34I work for an airline and recently redesigned the flight search. Saw 10% increase in movement to next stage of the funnel. I still don't feel like I can say 'increased turnover by £70million' in good faith though. There is a limited market out there. For a small business a 10% uplift in conversion really = 10% more revenue. The same isn't necessarily true for a blue chip.
A 10% revenue can drive more than 10% increase in profits.
Sounds like you're doing a fine job of following patio11's advice (getting close to the money). Hope that works out for you! :)
Re: When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
#35When numbers get large, the more the little things start to matter. It must be exciting to see the changes happen live in front of you when you flick these 'little' switches.
Not that any of my clients would do this (or, candidly, I'd fire them), but suffice it to say I've heard of places where you can make enemies by being a wee bit too effective at plucking low-hanging fruit like this. I think 9 figures is likely to be an exaggeration but say it is 7 figures (or low 8 figures) per year, which is probably pretty easy to verifiably achieve. Large corporations being what they are, there's…
I've been on projects that have chosen failing in an acceptable way rather than succeeding in a non-dogmatic way, and I've promptly left those organizations.
That said, many new contractors seem not to realize that their primary job (no matter what is on the paper) is to make the person that is signing the checks look good.
Re: When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
#36Why on earth would someone abbreviate million as MM?
You know, I've always thought of "MM" as "millions," plural, the same way "p. 55" is "page 55" and "pp. 55-56" is "pages 55-56." No idea if that's common usage/interpretation though.
Re: When a few hundred lines of javascript could equal $100 MM
#37My main gripe about the vast majority of travel websites is the complete lack of an "anywhere" option in the destination field. Sometimes I have a week off work, a set amount of cash and don't necessarily care where I go. I just want to see all possibilities for destinations/flights etc. I think SkyScanner is the only site I've seen this option on.
http://www.google.com/flights Select: departure airport, departure date, and return date (optionally price range). Do not choose a destination. See: a map of destinations with price labels shown for major cities. Set: the max price and see possible destinations fade away. Click: on a destination dot on the map and instantly get details of available flights. All without pressing a single "submit" button and without en…
Trying to select Helsinki as departure airport: "Sorry, locations outside the US are currently not supported."
Ah well.