This is just a question of how to ensure two instances of an application are using synchronized times, though in this day and age I suppose the system clocks would almost assuredly be synchronized to within some very small delta anyway. Update: Let me just add that I'm not interested in actually synchronizing the system clocks of two computers-I'll presume that the operating system will handle this in most cases. This would only need to be done occasionally as the offset itself would not likely change greatly over a short period of time. One thought that just popped into my head would be to synchronize each node (each client) with an offset calculated at some point prior, perhaps by calculating the offset of the system clock with a global time server. Presumably this (combined with shared resource locks) could guarantee no accidental overlap of synchronized time, but it's not very practical. One solution would be to always use the same clock on both ends, such as a global time server, rather than the local system clock. Luckily the work I'm doing isn't very fine-grained, so it's not a terribly important concern, but I'm still curious nonetheless. I'm sure a lot of research has been done on this topic and don't want to get too theoretical, but I'm wondering if there are any accepted best practices for minimizing temporal discrepancies between remote clocks?įor example, a start is to always use universal time (UTC) as that avoids timezone problems, but there is no guarantee that two computers will have exactly the same system time. Instead, get honest and real with yourself and your advisers as you investigate how you can best grow your great people into the unstoppable force you know they can be.I'm looking into writing a simple synchronization ability into my app and one of the concerns that has popped up is synchronization of time between two remote computers, each with their own clock (in particular concerning the modification dates of files/objects). Remember, don’t just talk the “teamwork” talk–any old business firm can do that. Instead, you instantly can see what went wrong, pick the ball back up and keep moving. Seamless, up-to-the-minute updates and information give your team the freedom to actually work together as a team and eliminate the need for the blame game or finger-pointing when someone drops the ball. Instead, cloud-based project management software hooks everyone up to the most up-to-date version of the program at all times, no matter what mobile device, tablet, laptop, or computer each person happens to be using at the time. Gone are the days of hassling with your MS Project software on a local server or attempting to configure and sync multiple installs across a ridiculous number of computer setups at different homes and offices. Removing the cumbersome nature of emailing files back and forth or running important documents around the office on a thumb drive is a freeing experience for companies who have moved into the 21st century of project management systems. Programs from various vendors such as Basecamp or Workzone offer nimble and accessible online document management software so your people can share, edit, and tap into files simultaneously. In contrast to the older single-user software paradigm, modern project management tools offer far more than just number crunching. If you’re still using Microsoft Project or another locally based program, you probably do not have the platform you need to supercharge the efforts of your best people across all levels of your organization. Does your project management software provide the powerful tools you need to sync up the efforts of multiple teams and departments across multiple regions, or is it simply a fancy spreadsheet tool people utilize individually? While there are many ares in which companies can start to improve their approach to cooperation, the project management realm is one that can often be neglected. Do your policies, procedures, and workflows encourage a team mentality, or do they primarily push everyone to continue looking out for number one? Have you begun to invest in or upgrade to collaboration software and cooperation-focused systems that remove common roadblocks to a department’s synergy? In order to achieve this lofty vision of real community within a business or organization, you must begin by examining every facet of your company. Lip service to cooperation and collaboration is nice, but action is needed to see the awesome results of everyone working in sync. But it’s rare to find a business that will put its money where its mouth is and fully invest in the framework and architecture necessary to truly unite all its workers together as one. Most companies recognize the value of working together as a team and even support initiatives to cultivate a sense of teamwork.
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