RAF JPA Rollout
I recall being told many years ago that the 3 'M' s were sacrosanct to maintain the 4th:
Meals+Mail+Money=Morale
Now you have PAYD which seems to be a rolling goat f*ck, plus 'capped actuals'....so that's 'Meals' screwed.
Mail. The invention of e-mail has stopped the RAF from porking that up.
Money. JPA....... Need one say more?
Perhaps Them in 't Box need to get back to basics? And they wonder why so many are voting with their feet......
Meals+Mail+Money=Morale
Now you have PAYD which seems to be a rolling goat f*ck, plus 'capped actuals'....so that's 'Meals' screwed.
Mail. The invention of e-mail has stopped the RAF from porking that up.
Money. JPA....... Need one say more?
Perhaps Them in 't Box need to get back to basics? And they wonder why so many are voting with their feet......
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Beagle
Regarding mail you're not strictly correct. Military computers, utilising Microsoft's latest 1997 technology, offer many features that cause e-mail not to reach destination, often without an error message. Address books list addresses that nobody apparently ever logs onto and fairly regular unexpected denials of service from servers/networks/drives.
Even if the system is working, a moronic system of file naming created by FoI clouds the ability to find anything and the plods' contribution - having to type 'Internet-Authorised:' in the title of every off-base e-mail - is a valuable
tool to preventing people efficiently just pressing 'send'.
JPA follows a proud history of the military screwing around with technology that seemed to work okay for everyone else.
Regarding mail you're not strictly correct. Military computers, utilising Microsoft's latest 1997 technology, offer many features that cause e-mail not to reach destination, often without an error message. Address books list addresses that nobody apparently ever logs onto and fairly regular unexpected denials of service from servers/networks/drives.
Even if the system is working, a moronic system of file naming created by FoI clouds the ability to find anything and the plods' contribution - having to type 'Internet-Authorised:' in the title of every off-base e-mail - is a valuable
tool to preventing people efficiently just pressing 'send'.JPA follows a proud history of the military screwing around with technology that seemed to work okay for everyone else.
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A colleague over the corridor expended 63 minutes of his life attempting to enter a very simple travel claim and a leave pass for the Bank Holiday weekend (for we must now do that) and didn't even get to finish the transactions.
JPA is the worst introduction of a system I've ever seen - and I have seen some stinkers. If anyone else had tried to introduce something like this (anyone who accepts that ISO 9000 or QA or anything with standards exixts) they would have been told to go away and get it right.
Good idea, badly managed, badly introduced. A trait of military projects???
JPA is the worst introduction of a system I've ever seen - and I have seen some stinkers. If anyone else had tried to introduce something like this (anyone who accepts that ISO 9000 or QA or anything with standards exixts) they would have been told to go away and get it right.
Good idea, badly managed, badly introduced. A trait of military projects???
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Mr C
I agree with you that JPA is a good idea, as I'm sure is BOCS, in theory. What astonishes me is the apparent lack of thought that accompanies the introduction of new systems. Simple questions go unanswered, practices we've been carrying out for decades can't be accommodated but without anyone apparently having thought out an alternative!
Surely the number of senior officers at HQs various, who allegedly 'staff' projects from rucksacks to JPA decades in advance, have had more than enough time to apply the working RAF model to JPA? And if it doesn't work, get it to work before introducing it and looking like a bunch of numpties! You could argue that JPA is indicative of our culture - senior officers giving unrealistic, budget-driven deadlines to less senior officers who are culturally discouraged to give negative feedback or non-party views.
As for embracing change, no problem, let's do it, but it's got to work!
I agree with you that JPA is a good idea, as I'm sure is BOCS, in theory. What astonishes me is the apparent lack of thought that accompanies the introduction of new systems. Simple questions go unanswered, practices we've been carrying out for decades can't be accommodated but without anyone apparently having thought out an alternative!
Surely the number of senior officers at HQs various, who allegedly 'staff' projects from rucksacks to JPA decades in advance, have had more than enough time to apply the working RAF model to JPA? And if it doesn't work, get it to work before introducing it and looking like a bunch of numpties! You could argue that JPA is indicative of our culture - senior officers giving unrealistic, budget-driven deadlines to less senior officers who are culturally discouraged to give negative feedback or non-party views.
As for embracing change, no problem, let's do it, but it's got to work!
Last edited by dallas; 14th Apr 2006 at 08:55.
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SRENNAPS
From my previous posts, I don't think that you can accuse me of looking at this through rose-tinted spectacles. Yes, access is appallingly slow at the moment, when it can be achieved at all. I also agree with the sentiments of other users that a better phased introduction and completion of data entry before the system was released to all users would have helped the current situation. Nevertheless, on the odd occasion when you have access (about 3 am), most of the functions do work.
Not sure where you got the bit about PICs not existing any more. As a self-service manager (yes, I am one, which came as a bit of a shock!), all my guys are listed against their PICs, and those that don't have one yet are shown on a local Overborne code.
To be fair, I haven't had to try the allowances/journey/advance functions yet. That pleasure is to come. But I have booked a number of periods of leave successfuly, although with a success rate of about 1 in 3 attempts; the leave balance function has then updated successfully (this happens overnight).
I do agree that it needs to get a whole lot better to be "fit for purpose".
Regards
Ginseng
Not sure where you got the bit about PICs not existing any more. As a self-service manager (yes, I am one, which came as a bit of a shock!), all my guys are listed against their PICs, and those that don't have one yet are shown on a local Overborne code.
To be fair, I haven't had to try the allowances/journey/advance functions yet. That pleasure is to come. But I have booked a number of periods of leave successfuly, although with a success rate of about 1 in 3 attempts; the leave balance function has then updated successfully (this happens overnight).
I do agree that it needs to get a whole lot better to be "fit for purpose".
Regards
Ginseng
dallas - actually I meant that now most people can have access to a proper Internet terminal (not something screwed around with by Plod on your work PC), at least they don't have to wait for personal letter mail to make its tortuous way to the recipient through the military post system....
Once, as a test, I put a letter to myself in the Islas Malvinas in the Sqn out tray the day I left the UK. It took 3 weeks to arrive! Even on Bennycom I could send and receive e-mail - but at a wondrous 17.6 Kbps and £1+ per minute.
Once, as a test, I put a letter to myself in the Islas Malvinas in the Sqn out tray the day I left the UK. It took 3 weeks to arrive! Even on Bennycom I could send and receive e-mail - but at a wondrous 17.6 Kbps and £1+ per minute.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I have two Mil email addresses. One I don't let on about and the other one.
The other one, that everyone knows about, forwards my mail to the one others don't know about and sends a message back to the originator that I cannot be reached and the email bounced.
Makes for a quiet life.
Does mean I have to be careful replying.
And as far as naming and FOI? Easy. Set up a rule that diverts all emails to the Delete folder. Set Outlook to empty the delete folder when you log off.
Drag emails you actually want somewhere else.
The other one, that everyone knows about, forwards my mail to the one others don't know about and sends a message back to the originator that I cannot be reached and the email bounced.
Makes for a quiet life.
Does mean I have to be careful replying.
And as far as naming and FOI? Easy. Set up a rule that diverts all emails to the Delete folder. Set Outlook to empty the delete folder when you log off.
Drag emails you actually want somewhere else.
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Peeps,
Having started this thread as a 'Green Job' to get a feel for what is ahead it doesn't fill me with confidence.
Tongue in cheek - Glad you Guys and Gals are doin the 'Beta Testing' but I am sure our own admin staff will further screw it up when we get our hands on it
Will continue to monitor and get a feel for what is ahead, patience is a virtue, or so I am told,
HEDP
Having started this thread as a 'Green Job' to get a feel for what is ahead it doesn't fill me with confidence.
Tongue in cheek - Glad you Guys and Gals are doin the 'Beta Testing' but I am sure our own admin staff will further screw it up when we get our hands on it
Will continue to monitor and get a feel for what is ahead, patience is a virtue, or so I am told,
HEDP
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Has anyone else out there had their P60 for the last tax year?
I get the impression that now SAMA has gone to the great Recycle Bin in the sky chances of receiving one are slim to zero. Personally, I thought it was a legal requirement to issue them. Or has that been conveniently ignored by the work experience kid in charge of this project/shambles?
Or is it just me who's been forgotten?
CBA
I get the impression that now SAMA has gone to the great Recycle Bin in the sky chances of receiving one are slim to zero. Personally, I thought it was a legal requirement to issue them. Or has that been conveniently ignored by the work experience kid in charge of this project/shambles?
Or is it just me who's been forgotten?
CBA
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Originally Posted by BEagle
Meals+Mail+Money=Morale
Mail. The invention of e-mail has stopped the RAF from porking that up.
Mail. The invention of e-mail has stopped the RAF from porking that up.
Up until last week I had a fully functioning IGS Internet and E-mail account. IT Gurus decided to adopt a standardised e-mail address list, gave me (and about 1000 others)a new e-mail account without telling anybody. Of course they set up an automated reply and forward function for everybody increasing the volume of e-mail traffic in the process. However, I can't now get any e-mails or documents back to my home e-mail to work on or refer to.
Is that why moral is rock bottom at RA F**Kinloss.
Can't wait until the end of the month. Does anyone know how to use JPA to make a claim for interest payments, bank charges etc? Thats if I ever get past the "server unavailable"
Only good thing to come about from JPA was the 2 extra days leave credited to cover the bank holidays that JPA couldn't allow for. I couldn't get past the "server unavailable" so gave up before Easter. I presume we are unable to put leave on retrospectively so thank you very much for the 2 extra days. Nowhere near enough to what we all deserve for having to put up with an ill thought out and poorly executed IT system. Can't wait until the Army and Navy try to get on the system or even to try and make claims when in Iraq, that will be a challenge.
Overall a big negative
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Luckily (?) we in the Navy have only changed allowances and not gone to JPA. This now means we definitely have no idea what we are entitled to and no idea how to claim anyway.
I wonder what the Investors in People scrutineers would say about the whole farce.
I wonder what the Investors in People scrutineers would say about the whole farce.
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Originally Posted by nav attacking
Funny old thing Ice Station have even cocked the emails up.
Up until last week I had a fully functioning IGS Internet and E-mail account. IT Gurus decided to adopt a standardised e-mail address list, gave me (and about 1000 others)a new e-mail account without telling anybody. Of course they set up an automated reply and forward function for everybody increasing the volume of e-mail traffic in the process. However, I can't now get any e-mails or documents back to my home e-mail to work on or refer to.
Is that why moral is rock bottom at RA F**Kinloss.
Can't wait until the end of the month. Does anyone know how to use JPA to make a claim for interest payments, bank charges etc? Thats if I ever get past the "server unavailable"
Only good thing to come about from JPA was the 2 extra days leave credited to cover the bank holidays that JPA couldn't allow for. I couldn't get past the "server unavailable" so gave up before Easter. I presume we are unable to put leave on retrospectively so thank you very much for the 2 extra days. Nowhere near enough to what we all deserve for having to put up with an ill thought out and poorly executed IT system. Can't wait until the Army and Navy try to get on the system or even to try and make claims when in Iraq, that will be a challenge.
Overall a big negative
Up until last week I had a fully functioning IGS Internet and E-mail account. IT Gurus decided to adopt a standardised e-mail address list, gave me (and about 1000 others)a new e-mail account without telling anybody. Of course they set up an automated reply and forward function for everybody increasing the volume of e-mail traffic in the process. However, I can't now get any e-mails or documents back to my home e-mail to work on or refer to.
Is that why moral is rock bottom at RA F**Kinloss.
Can't wait until the end of the month. Does anyone know how to use JPA to make a claim for interest payments, bank charges etc? Thats if I ever get past the "server unavailable"
Only good thing to come about from JPA was the 2 extra days leave credited to cover the bank holidays that JPA couldn't allow for. I couldn't get past the "server unavailable" so gave up before Easter. I presume we are unable to put leave on retrospectively so thank you very much for the 2 extra days. Nowhere near enough to what we all deserve for having to put up with an ill thought out and poorly executed IT system. Can't wait until the Army and Navy try to get on the system or even to try and make claims when in Iraq, that will be a challenge.
Overall a big negative
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That should have been 3 ie 33 days plus carry over (15 of course!). Apparently the system was designed in 1774 when bank holidays hadn't been invented yet.
CBA
awaiting the "Actually the first bank holiday was in 1536..." reply. You get the idea.
CBA
awaiting the "Actually the first bank holiday was in 1536..." reply. You get the idea.
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I managed to log on and check all of my details on thursday afternoon when the rest of the RAF had been stood down. All my bank details were correct and after being awkward for a good while it finally had the decency to allow me to add emergency contacts and NOK details. The system appeared to get faster as the afternoon drew on and the RAF shut down for Easter. Way I figure it is if we could come up with an air force wide Rota where only 5 people can log on at any one time, I'm sure it'll work a treat! I'd like to book 23/06/06 if it's alright with everyone else.
As for my re-engagement leave, that's gone from the system. Fortunately I had the presence on mind to get a print out from SAMA before they pulled the plug on it.
I guess the 20th of this month is judgement day.........................
Oh, and the personal best on Sqn at the moment is 3 hours to submit a leave pass! Anyone done better???
As for my re-engagement leave, that's gone from the system. Fortunately I had the presence on mind to get a print out from SAMA before they pulled the plug on it.
I guess the 20th of this month is judgement day.........................
Oh, and the personal best on Sqn at the moment is 3 hours to submit a leave pass! Anyone done better???
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Has anybody on the system been posted yet?
If that works it will be a miracle.
On an older and maturer system (it crashed in January too) all my 'new' details were correctly mapped across. Where there were no 'new' details all the odl ones were left in place - line manager 3 years out of date - wrong unit - wrong phone numbers - wrong accounts codes.
Don't worry about the little teething problems with JPA. You ain't seen nothing yet. Best bit of course is that all the people capable of sorting in out are being posted.
If that works it will be a miracle.
On an older and maturer system (it crashed in January too) all my 'new' details were correctly mapped across. Where there were no 'new' details all the odl ones were left in place - line manager 3 years out of date - wrong unit - wrong phone numbers - wrong accounts codes.
Don't worry about the little teething problems with JPA. You ain't seen nothing yet. Best bit of course is that all the people capable of sorting in out are being posted.
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Still no BSA, no pay statement for March, no pay statement for April, no JPA password....
What's worse is that I was posted on 20 March back to the UK from an overseas tour. The upshot of that is that now, nobody knows where I am or which unit parents me! I know how it is supposed to be but try telling that to the computer.
SBG
What's worse is that I was posted on 20 March back to the UK from an overseas tour. The upshot of that is that now, nobody knows where I am or which unit parents me! I know how it is supposed to be but try telling that to the computer.
SBG
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found the JPA server
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JPA - don't you just love it?
Came into work for a 8am start . . ..
Tried logging on to JPA . . .
Now going for Lunch at 1pm [5 hours of logging on attempts later]
still not succeeded in logging on yet.
JPA:
Drive to implement - Air Force Board.
[NB Air Force Board are all aircrew]
Blue touch paper lit, now retiring to safe distance . . .
Tried logging on to JPA . . .
Now going for Lunch at 1pm [5 hours of logging on attempts later]
still not succeeded in logging on yet.
JPA:
Drive to implement - Air Force Board.
[NB Air Force Board are all aircrew]
Blue touch paper lit, now retiring to safe distance . . .