Fast-path Implementations - Are They Good or Bad?
P.J. Jakovljevic & Olin Thompson - July 5, 2002

Introduction

Do you remember the TV show 'Name That Tune'? It was popular in the 50's and 60's so only the more senior members of the readers will remember it. Contestants bid for the right to 'Name That Tune' by bidding lower and lower the number of notes they would hear as a clue. 'I can name that tune in five notes', said the first player. 'I can name that tune in four notes', said the second. 'Three', said the first, and so on. This old game reminds us of the selling game played by ERP players a few years ago and now being played by most vendors in most software categories. They claim that they can implement their solution faster than the competitor's. 'I can implement in 60 days', said the first vendor. 'I can implement in 45 days', said the second, and so on...