Conference 7.286::digital

    I think the BoD meeting is scheduled for early November, there was talk
    of announcing some new products there, but was it was dismissed because
    the press that shows up for BoD meetings are generally not interested
    in technical stuff (ie: they're the business types)
    
    
    -bill

    The directors of the corporation do not approve individual "budgets",
    "management" does that.
    
    Larger issues like Digital's experience with MIPS Computers and the
    Open Software Foundation are more likely to come up.
    
    In general, I think this is the worst planned fiscal year that's ever
    been started, few groups have even a clue as to their staff, expenses,
    and deliverables and we're over a month into it.
    
    We were all told to expect changes in April.  Gee, when do we get told
    that the changes are done and we can get back to focusing on customers
    again?

    I for one would like to see the BoD take some interest in what's going
    on right now (or rather what's NOT going on).  The note about Ken's
    visit to the Tuscon office contained one comment that worried me a lot. 
    According to the writer's account, Ken made the statement that the
    changes we're going through were going to solve many of the problems
    we've encountered lately, though they're certainly not happening as
    fast as he'd like.  I can't help wondering:  if they're not happening
    as fast as Ken would like, then why doesn't he make them happen
    faster??????
    
    							Pat

        Re: .3

>    I can't help wondering:  if they're not happening
>    as fast as Ken would like, then why doesn't he make them happen
>    faster??????

        What should he do?  Ken has no magic solutions to problems.   
        I don't know the details of the changes or who is working them,
        but some things can't be done faster even with unlimited
        resources.

        If Ken assigned good people to work on the changes (and I assume
        he did), then saying `work faster' won't help--it would either
        have no effect or reduce the quality of the solution.  Giving
        the job to someone else wouldn't be starting over, but would
        probably be a big setback.  Having more people work on the
        changes could add overhead and confusion, not to mention the
        time to bring the new people up to speed.

        I assume that Ken placed good people on the project and realizes
        that the changes, while not going as fast as he wants, are going
        as fast as can be expected.

        					B.J.

    re: 3 "Why doesn't he make them happen faster?"
    
    re: 4 "What should he do?"
    
    He could start by not exposing the readership of the DIGITAL conference
    to his dissatisfaction with his direct reports' performance.
    
    You gotta wonder if any thought is given to the effect such statements
    have on the morale of the ordinary Digital employee out here.

    re .5
    
    I found the fact that KO is aware of the problems and takes time to
    visit a local sales office to be uplifting.  The fact that management
    as well as the people in the trenches is taking heat encourages me that
    something will be done.  The attitude of assuming "I don't need to
    know" is detremental to my ability to contribute.  "The network is the
    system" could have more than one meaning when applied to Digital.

    re: .5 "He could start by not exposing the readership of the
    	    DIGITAL conference to his dissatisfaction with his direct
    	    reports' performance."

    Is there any evidence that Ken has wished this information distributed
    to anyone, much less the readership of this conference?  I am certainly
    not aware of any.

    Just because there are mail messages APPARENTLY from Ken doesn't mean
    that they were written by him.  Even if they were written by him it
    doesn't mean that they were meant to be sent to the world.   I have
    faith in Ken's integrity and trust that he did not mean that
    information shared - if he actually originated it.

    Times are certainly not great as far as morale is concerned.  Maybe Ken
    should be doing more but maybe not.  The best course through stormy
    waters requires a cool head and a steady hand.  Maybe even standing up
    in the canoe when we reach the bank.

    Keeping the faith in Digital for the long term,

    don

>    He could start by not exposing the readership of the DIGITAL conference
>    to his dissatisfaction with his direct reports' performance.
    
>    You gotta wonder if any thought is given to the effect such statements
>    have on the morale of the ordinary Digital employee out here.

It raised my morale.  Sorry if it lowered yours.

- greg