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Conference iosg::all-in-1_v30

Title:*OLD* ALL-IN-1 (tm) Support Conference
Notice:Closed - See Note 4331.l to move to IOSG::ALL-IN-1
Moderator:IOSG::PYE
Created:Thu Jan 30 1992
Last Modified:Tue Jan 23 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4343
Total number of notes:18308

1922.0. "Good bye" by A1VAX::GUEST13 () Tue Dec 08 1992 20:43

This is Karl Barth at my new improved mail address, A1VAX::GUEST13.

I've been handed the package and will only be in the office for the next
day and a half or so.

I have spent my whole Digital career working on OA products, and most of
that time was on ALL-IN-1.  I have enjoyed meeting all of you (even you,
Tony :^) and working with you on our terrific product.  My life has
certainly been more fun and richer because you have been part of it.

With luck, I will have an opportunity to dabble in ALL-IN-1 in my new
job, whatever it is.  I have no worry about my future earning power,
thanks to our premier office product.  I am a little annoyed at the
pain-in-the-ass which is involved in finding a new job.  We may have to
move to another part of the country since the Northeast US is going to
have a lot of unemployed DECfolk flooding the job market.

I will survive.  I hope you do, too.  Please stay in touch if you
can.

I can be reached at home:
Karl Barth
6 Tomolonis Dr.
Nashua, NH 03062-2323 
USA
Phone:603-888-8413

Please do not post "good bye" responses to this note.  You are welcome to 
send a mail message to me, though, at A1VAX::GUEST13, by 5:00pm GMT :^)
on Thursday - 10-Dec-1992.

I'd prefer that you focus this note on the views and concerns I express in
my .1 reply to this note. 

Good luck and my best to all of you A1'ers,

~K
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1922.1And they wonder why rumors abound...A1VAX::GUEST13Tue Dec 08 1992 21:1538
If you work in the U.S. on ALL-IN-1, or sell OA here in America, you
are aware of the critical shortage of ALL-IN-1 skills in this country.

Due to some remarkably poor decisions by field management at the local
and country levels, ALL-IN-1 support has been decimated.  The result is
that ALL-IN-1 is not selling.  There's no one to size, configure, and
recommend solutions.  Even the most basic questions can't get answered.

Here in engineering, everything is being cut back.  Things like TeamLinks
and ALL-IN-1 are not disappearing (far from it), but there are some deep
difficult cuts that do make one question DEC's commitment to office.
The release of Bill Colquitt from product management is one such example.

"Are we serious about getting and keeping the ALL-IN-1 business?"
"Why is there no plan to improve the ALL-IN-1 skills of the US field?"
"If ALL-IN-1 levers 25% of US services business, why are we laying off
residents onsite?"

I don't pretend to know the answers to these questions.  I do NOT think
ALL-IN-1 is going away or being put in maintenance mode or any of that
other nonsense.  But the moves I've seen in the past few months ARE
consistent with a conclusion like that.  And, unfortunately, many
people in the US aren't capable of seeing a world-wide picture.  It's
too bad, since the rest of the world doesn't reflect the mess in the U.S.

Maybe Europe (especially) and GIA can force the US, kicking and screaming,
to admit that ALL-IN-1 isn't pointless or dead or whatever.  Keep up the
good work, all of you.

I do think that the business has been hopelessly mismanaged by the
people in charge of "human beings who visit customers for a living",
i.e., sales support and services.  But then, what do I know?  I'm just
a short-timer who must be going through denial, anger, etc., and couldn't
possibly care about the products in which I've invested 8 years of my life.

Best of luck

Karl Barth
1922.2A Good Brandy Helps AIMTEC::BUTLER_TWed Dec 09 1992 12:5030
    Karl has made a point.  That is some of us are focused on the 
    product(s) while it appears that, as always, others are focused
    on the people that make decisions.
    
    It does not matter if we feel they are right or wrong.  They are
    human and they are in the position to make THE decisions.  People
    like Karl left the field to be in a position to hopefully influence
    those making the decisions.
    
    We have make it through other decisions.  One was moving ALL-IN-1
    Engineering efforts to Europe.  I remember BRITWARE times and that
    has worked out.  Others such as PC ALL-IN-1, etc.., naming our
    products after ALL-IN-1, and ALL-IN-1 survied.
    
    There has always been a shortage of ALL-IN-1 skills.  Very few
    people in the field have been in a position to devote the majority
    of their efforts in this direction.  It is the way DEC does it 
    business.  The history of ALL-IN-1 is ripe with examples on what
    DEC marketing and engineering thought of SWS people.  The managers
    in SWS went along with marketing and engineering because they made
    the decisions.
    
    Nothing has change and ALL has changed.  All of those who have left
    have a new begining and a new roller coster ride.  I hope they 
    enjoy it.
    
    
    Tim