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Metra Gets Twittered

Are you a Chicago-area commuter wondering if your train is on time? Now your cellphone and Twitter work together to tell you, thanks to Tony Zale, an enterprising programmer working a few evenings and weekends.
"Metra was surprised to learn someone had figured out how to provide the service on Twitter for free, Zale said.

"Metra also was surprised Zale did it by working a few hours at night and on weekends, spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said. Metra plans to award a contract for a train tracker service this year, she said."
Notice that last sentence? Metra planned to PAY someone to develop the service. Instead, a customer working for free did it for them, using free tools. I wonder how many other customers are interested in solving shared problems at little or no cost to the organization? I smell an emerging trend and intriguing possibilities for leaders everywhere, regardless of industry.

How about an application to let you know if your physician is running on time for your appointment? Or to inform you of a last-minute cancellation on the MRI schedule so you can hurry over and get your procedure done now vs. next week? Or a hospital posting its current ER waiting times so you know whether you'll be treated today or the day after tomorrow? So many possibilities...

Will Metra still award that contract later this year? This being Chicago, I smell some politician's brother-in-law's cousin's nephew or something. So, yes. They'll pay to duplicate what they've already gotten for free.



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