12. Norway Plans
Norway Plans
Things were moving fast with Claire's solution. The financial team had cleared her report code proposal for use last week and pulled Noah in to help. Today, they were reviewing the plan and discussing reports needed to use the codes.
"We just need to build it like we do the income statement, except instead of rolling up G/L accounts, we roll up the report codes."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "Are we learning accounting stuff now?"
Del shrugged. "Nope. You don't have to worry your pretty little head about anything so difficult.
This is a coder's behind-the-scenes thing I'm referencing.
" Larry snorted and chucked a giant foam finger at him.
The guys had gone to the Astros game over the weekend and sports memorabilia littered the war room today.
Rick calmly moved a stray ball out of the way.
"This solves every single issue we've identified with the sites needing to be unique.
Noah, you and Claire need to spend some time getting this all configured.
Our site list is out-of-date and you need to tell Claire which sites belong in what area.
Once you have that she can upload it programmatically, so you don't have to set up each one manually. "
Noah met Claire's gaze while Rick went on dispensing instructions to the other team members. He sighed internally. All this one-on-one time was going to test the limits of his control. More time spent with the tiny ginger meant more cold showers in his future.
"Hold that thought," Simon announced as he walked into the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing and gave him their attention. "We've got a problem with Norway. They have some legal oddities in the way they handle credits and returns that throw a kink in the works."
"And we're just now hearing about it?" Del asked. "This should've come up during the requirements-gathering trip."
"Apparently, it slipped their minds and the European accounting team didn't include it.
We need to make a trip over there to understand what's going on.
This is another one of those easier-in-person conversations.
Everyone, pull out your calendars and let's figure out who is going and when.
Getting this resolved takes precedence over everything else. "
Simon was not happy. Between the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays next week and some hard deadlines the week after, the developers couldn't get to Norway until the second week in December.
Claire listened as everyone looked through their calendars and coordinated with Simon on determining dates for their trip.
The chief complaint centered on traveling during the winter months.
"Are you sure this isn't something we could do remotely?" Delbert asked again. He counted off the folks Simon wanted on the trip. "Rick, Claire, Noah, and myself all for a misunderstanding?"
"Unfortunately, remote isn't going to work.
You know Caprock's policy on face-to-face to avoid miscommunications," Simon said.
"And our accounting folks have already tried to break it down, but something is getting lost in translation.
We need to see their process for ourselves and understand how they are pushing data through MADS.
Everyone lumped them in with the rest of Europe, which seems like a colossal mistake right about now. "
"Isn't it a bad sign if the accounting guys don't understand?" Jenny asked, showing her business analyst chops. Claire thought the question was valid.
"We'll be fine. Grace Simmons from the GFS team is coming with us. She works with these guys every day and should be able to translate the accounting pieces."
Simon paused with an eyebrow raised, then continued when no one said anything further.
"Noah, Claire. The brass wants the two of you in England the week prior to our Norway trip."
"What? Why?" Noah asked. Even with an empty seat between them, the icy stiffness of his response blew over her, giving her goosebumps, and Claire leaned forward, waiting for Simon's answer.
"Claire needs to visit the England plant, and it's good timing.
You're scheduled to go back to England in December anyway and this way, you can show her around and introduce her to everyone.
In the future, she'll be working with both the users and the IT folks from England as well as here.
From there, you'll both fly to Norway and join the team to work on this credit issue. "
"I'm not scheduled to go back until closer to Christmas," Noah argued.
"Well, now you're going a couple of weeks early." Simon paused. "Is there a problem?" he asked.
Noah grumbled under his breath. "Nothing I can't rearrange."
"Claire."
She jumped as her boss focused on her. "Sir?"
"You have your passport in order, right? No problems there?"
"No. I mean, yes, no problems. I'm good."
Simon nodded. "Okay. Call Jake in HR. He's with the travel group. He can help you arrange your flights."
Noah pushed back from the table and stretched. "I'll do it. No sense in the two of us trying to schedule our flights separately."
Before she could thank him, Noah stood and walked out of the room.
Claire blinked as she watched him leave.
She didn't ask him to book her flights. She could take care of her own arrangements.
Before she could get herself worked up, she remembered Simon had blindly overridden Noah's plans for December.
Without knowing more than that, she decided to choose grace and assume Noah was annoyed with Simon, not her.