| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 2961.1 | | SPEZKO::FRASER | Mobius Loop; see other side | Sat Mar 26 1994 14:14 | 8 |
| Count me in, Anker and thanks for a great note in .0.
Andy (registered home SEDT user and been using SEDT since 1985
in work)
|
| 2961.2 | | QUARK::LIONEL | Free advice is worth every cent | Sat Mar 26 1994 20:16 | 27 |
| The reason "nobody does anything about it", where "it" is anything
from the software price book to the ridiculous "Fred's Brand" generic
look to our software documentation is that no organization is
willing to spend the money to do it right. What with all of the
micromanagement and bean counting going on, anything that doesn't
have an obvious direct impact on revenue is cut. Even if the
managers understand that such spending would in fact be beneficial
for Digital and its customers, they don't want to have to defend
it to VPs who only care about the bottom budget line (and/or
their limos.)
Don't get me started on what we had to go through to get ANY sort
of graphic for the packaging of DEC Fortran for Windows NT; what
we were told we had to use was a plain white box with a plain
label pasted on. Just think of how the customer would think of it
compared to the professionally-designed and eye-catching packaging
of our competition in the PC software space. (What we ended up with
is something that looks like a 2nd-grader's doodle, but it's at
least something.)
All I hear when inadequacies in products are discussed is "we don't
have funding to do it right". Well, if we don't do it right, we'll
never make enough money to get the funding to fix it later.
Slash here, cut there, but NEVER invest. We're eating our seed corn.
Any wonder why customers think we're about to go out of business?
Steve
|
| 2961.3 | *Great* basenote, Anker! Here's one response, & a pointer | DRDAN::KALIKOW | IDU/Web: So advanced, it's Simple! | Sun Mar 27 1994 08:58 | 54 |
| The INTRApreneur's Ten Commandments
===================================
1. Come to work each day willing to be fired.
2. Circumvent any orders aimed at stopping your dream.
3. Do any job needed to make your project work, regardless of your job
description.
4. Find people to help you.
5. Follow your intuition about the people you choose, and work only
with the best.
6. Work underground as long as you can -- publicity triggers the
corporate immune mechanism.
7. Never bet on a race unless you are running in it.
8. Remember it is easier to ask forgiveness than for permission.
9. Be true to your goals, but be realistic about the ways to achieve
them.
10. Honor your sponsors.
=========================
By Gifford Pinchot III from his excellent book "Intrapreneuring," 1984.
=========================
Yes, I admit feeling a touch of nostalgia for the "roaring '80s" when I
re-read that (and found it amongst the papers from a Previous Life,
when I had it up on my office wall). But the truths are the same
today. One of the necessary ingredients for an environment where folks
can dream in the above ways is an idea with a reasonable expectation of
success. And there are many within the vast web that is DIGITAL. :)
Let's find them and nurture them -- and one way is, as you say, to work
with and speak out for those who take risks to bring them to reality.
... so for a pointer to one part of DIGITAL where the spirit of
innovation and cooperation flourishes, check out the DECnotes file
SOFBAS::INTERNET_TOOLS. This is a *highly* geographically and
organizationally distributed group of colleagues who share a common
purpose: To maintain and to extend DIGITAL's lead in the Internet.
DIGITAL's Lead??! Yep!
^^^^
Those of you reading this via DECnotes (using terminals that have
keypads) can press KP7 to add that file to your NOTES$NOTEBOOKs. Folks
who are more comfortable with Newsreaders can see the same material
gatewayed to dec.notes.networking.internet_tools .
|
| 2961.4 | Let's "DO IT." | SWENG::ROBERT | | Sun Mar 27 1994 09:57 | 10 |
|
RE.0 Anker,
You can count me in. I will sign up. Great note. Let's "DO IT."
RE.3
I like the 10 commandments.
|
| 2961.5 | Wow! | ICS::DONNELLAN | | Sun Mar 27 1994 16:26 | 18 |
| I must say I was totally surprised when I saw the base note, even more
surprised to find that I continued to read through the entire entry.
It excited me. I wanted to cheer. I believe we have the ingredients
for success in this company - the management team, at least i the US -
is the best I've seen for quite some time. A very seasoned group of
people who have enjoyed the respect of the people who reported to them.
We do have some excellent products.
What we lack - a cohesive strategy and vision - can probably best be
created at the grassroots level (after all, that's where most great
visions begin) through the kinds of initiatives expressed in the base
note.
Count me in. Managers simply cannot do what needs to be done from this
point on. That must come from the spirit and will of the people who
make up this company. We own that.
|
| 2961.6 | I'm with you, Anker. | DEMON::PILGRM::BAHN | Possibility of IDIC | Sun Mar 27 1994 23:27 | 18 |
|
New possibilities come from new conversations. I'm going to start
by attracting more attention to this topic by:
o Forwarding your basenote to the users on the cluster that
I manage
o Forwarding your basenote to my teammates, my friends, and
the leader of my resource group
o Cross-posting your basenote in my organization's DECnotes
conference and the conference read by graduates of the
company's Contextual Management Workshop
o Spreading the word in any other way that I can think of
Terry
|
| 2961.7 | HOLY COW!! I LOVE IT... | ODIXIE::SCRIVEN | | Mon Mar 28 1994 08:33 | 9 |
| WHAT AN INSPIRATION (YES I'M YELLING).
I new here to notes and would like to distribute also. Is permission
assumed? If not, Anker, can you PLEASE give me such!!!
I'm with you....
Toodles.....JP
|
| 2961.8 | YES!! - "The Turn-around Team" | ITRC::omand | Steve Omand | Mon Mar 28 1994 09:54 | 61 |
|
Friends,
From time to time over the past few years, I would go into the DIGITAL
notes conference and take a look. I am not a hard-core 'noter' - I only go
into notes when something spurs me to do so or I have to get information
there or owe a communication there for some reason. Without exception, on the
occasions I have gone into DIGITAL, I ended up discouraged and 'down' and got
out - vowing to never look again! This is because of all the complaining,
bitching and moaning that goes on there. I have work to do and reading the
complaining notes of others is a waste of my time and the company's money!
Anker, your note is positively a breath of fresh air!
You have enrolled me in being a member the 'turnaround team'
(I just coined that).
I also want to thank Terry Bahn for extracting the note and e-mailing it
to me. His action spurred me into action - writing this note and 'siging-on'.
Thank you, Terry!
Terry is a good friend whom I have met through some education which he and I
are involved in, where we learn how language is what makes us who we are
and we learned new meanings for words such as enrollment. This education
brings participants to the place where they realize that all you have is a
sequence of present moments which you can spend in any way you choose. Most
people spend most of their present moments either tied to events of the past or
worrying about the future. Both of which have the effect of buffering us
from what is really happening and causing us to be far less effective than
we are capable of being.
I think complaining, bitching and moaning comes from either of these
immobilizing states.
((If anyone wants to learn more about the education which Terry and I are
involved in, please do not hesitate to contact me - or Terry. The stuff is
truely great and can have a profound transformational effect on human beings
who get into it and those around them.))
I also like the 'Ten Commandments" from .3 -- I think I'll print that out and
hang it on my cube wall. Thanks.
I would further like to make a proposal to whomever it is that looks after
the DIGITAL notes file:
Take the whole notes file as it stands and archive it - make it
read-only - and re-name it. Start it afresh with Anker's note as
one of the first head notes and post a 'guidelines' note that asks
participants to choose their language carefully when posting to the
new DIGITAL notes conference. Everyone has things to complain
about - it is always possible to express what is underneath
'complaints' as 'possibilities' or, better yet, to think in terms
of possibilities instead of 'what's wrong'. As an example Anker
was using language of possibility when he commented on Ed Lucente's
use of a limo.
We are in the New Digital - time for a New DIGITAL Notes Conference
Regards,
Steve.
|
| 2961.9 | Each of us CAN change the world...one person at a time. | DEMON::PILGRM::BAHN | Possibility of IDIC | Mon Mar 28 1994 11:00 | 17 |
|
Re: .7
I assumed permission. As Grace Hopper often said, "It's easier
to apologize than to get permission.
Re: .8
Thank you for the contribution, Steve. I don't see any
particular need to "reboot" this conference. The concerns,
complaints, cynicism, resignation, and complacency give us an
opportunity to offer alternative interpretations and new
possibilities ... to make a difference in the way that all of
us see our work and our world.
Terry
|
| 2961.10 | Thank You - A few thoughts for starters | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Mon Mar 28 1994 15:54 | 22 |
| You can do anything you think is appropriate with my note.
I'm going to let the thread develop a little longer before I
write a long reply, but I deeply appreciate the thoughts already
expressed and the willingness to join me You all have expressed.
My thoughts go in two directions: One is that I have a lot more
thoughts about HOW we need to act, think and behave to turn us
around. The second, and harder, set of thoughts is WHAT we
should do. Our commitment and enthusiasm needs to be applied.
One of the notes mentioned the INTERNET_TOOLS conference. I have
also been impressed with the spirit and attitude expressed there.
Its all "can do".
There's no better place than this notesfile to have the
discussion. If we succeed to change the tone we know we have
changed the mood of the company.
I'll be back soon, and thank you very, very much!
Anker
|
| 2961.11 | Credit due | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Mon Mar 28 1994 16:09 | 15 |
| One more note. I must give credit where credit is due!
The inspiration for the base note came from taking the Contextual
Management course a second time. Thank you Ron Schaefer and
David Marka.
This is the second time I take the course - I was in the first
one ever several years ago. And last time it didn't make a
lasting impression on my outlook and behavior. I suspect I kept
saying to myself "yea, yea that's me alright". So this time I
decided that I was serious, and what better way to commit
yourself than publicly! If you have a chance to take the
workshop, do it. And try to leave you baggage at the door.
Thanks again/Anker
|
| 2961.12 | Presentations | QUICKP::KEHOE | Mr. QuickPIC | Mon Mar 28 1994 20:27 | 55 |
| Let's do something about .... Presentations!
First, let me acknowledge Anker's hard work over the years. I too
am a big SEDT user (oops....I'd better register...). You are one of
those names that keeps getting associated with great Digital lore.
In a move to distinguish myself, and Digital, I created QuickPIC
for Interleaf and DECwrite (remember that? Over 700 of you installed
in on your systems). This made presentation graphics of VAX systems
available to everyone in Digital, giving way to the much better and
current Digital Artlibrary from Mr. Goetze. Like Anker suggests, I just
did it, even though it certainly wasn't a part of my Sales Support job.
So, now, it's "so what have you done lately?" time.
I have a personal drive to distinguish Digital by better presentations.
I have a blossoming hobby outside Digital as a funny after-dinner
speaker/entertainer, and recently I've decided I should use this
approach inside Digital as well.
Think about it...every company has decent hardware, software services,
client/server...you name it. One way to distinguish ourselves is
getting our message across through excellent presentations.
Now, every presentation can't be a Broadway review, and only a few
people have true presentation talent. My goal: Find those people
inside Digital and utilize them for those mid-size to large events.
I want to see real presenters with real talent at territorial, district
and large customer events. Do you have a big event coming up? Are
you planning on finding the most technical person around to present,
even though they are scared to death of public speaking? Don't do
that! Find a real presenter! When the technical Q & A happens, the
floor then belongs to the product managers and technical people.
Some say that you need someone who really understands the topic
to be effective. In a small group, or a training class that is
true; but in a Feb 8th announcement session or Discovery Seminar
you need someone who can present. And besides, if you can't
teach the presenter your 3 or 4 key messages so he or she can
present them to the attendees, what chance on earth do you think
you'll have trying to convey them to the audience yourself? And
do you think they'll take away anything?
On the local level, I have identified some very able-bodied presenters
with a wide variety of talents -- from inspirational to funny, from
CEO material to layman. I believe you have to have the right person
for the job. This especially applies to presentations.
So there you have it. That's how I'm going to make Digital better.
If you have real presentation talent, I hope you are using it to
its fullest. And I hope it is being recognized as one of the keys
to the New Digital's success.
Dan
who will probably have to think up a new tag line...
|
| 2961.13 | | CAPNET::PJOHNSON | | Tue Mar 29 1994 07:31 | 26 |
| I have also followed this conference for a long time, and have left
and returned, and I hope that now I'll stay. I hope this amounts to
something other than bits on a disk.
I flashed back to a movie -- I think it was "The Untouchables" with
Costner -- when Sean Connery, the old touch cop rasped to Costner,
"What are you prepared to *do*?!" with his dying breath. So, enough
talk.
What are you prepared to *do*? I am going to start with the following:
Circulate Anker's topic to the organization I'm in and try to generate
some interest there
Republish something I did a few years ago re: productive meetings that
really streamlined our group then and freed up hours a week for *real*
work
Demand enthusiasm from those I work with. Let's stop looking over our
shoulder. My approach is, I don't make those decisions (who to lay
off, who to keep) so I won't worry about 'em. That side-effect, the
desire to present a low profile in these times, is really hurting us.
We lack excitement, creativity, and guts, the qualities that we need
most.
Pete
|
| 2961.14 | A definition of success
| FORGET::CRAWFORD | I miss my mind the most | Tue Mar 29 1994 07:51 | 12 |
| What a great base note. I try to follow the advice of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Success
To Laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find
the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy
child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one
life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
|
| 2961.15 | | GRANMA::MWANNEMACHER | neck, red as Alabama clay | Tue Mar 29 1994 09:35 | 23 |
|
I think that many of us would love to have this attitude and would be
willing to try again if we thought it would be useful and appreciated.
I understand we are responsible for our attitudes and all. Thing is,
I have submitted idea after idea and they have been shot down. Most of
the reasoning was because they would cost money. The benefit would far
outweigh the cost, and I know that not all ideas could be accepted. I
have been crowing about our systems and all for years and I got, "yeah,
sounds great" and then I heard nothing else. Very, very discouraging.
I have basically stopped trying (not trying to do my job and what's
right, but submitting ideas to try and better the company) as a kind of
self preservation. Going up and down like a yoyo is hard on a person.
I would like to hear more. It needs to be an organized effort from the
workers.
Regards,
Mike
|
| 2961.16 | Remember Dick Joseph? | USCTR1::JHERNBERG | | Tue Mar 29 1994 13:00 | 7 |
|
Remember Dick Joseph? He gave his head, his hand, his heart, his
energy and his reputation as a decent human being to do exactly
what is mentioned in the basenote.
May you not suffer his fate!
|
| 2961.17 | | GRANMA::MWANNEMACHER | neck, red as Alabama clay | Tue Mar 29 1994 13:10 | 8 |
|
What happened? Is there an existing note?
Thanks,
Mike
|
| 2961.18 | I see a pattern | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Tue Mar 29 1994 13:45 | 47 |
| Responses to the base note and mail that I have received fall
into three major groups:
Those who agree and commit to joining me. Thank you to all of
you. Our challenge will be to
A) sustain the commitment. Something I worry a lot about
because I am very susceptible to letting myself
and others down by aiming too high and then
totally missing the mark.
B) Decide how we can make a difference. There is a
personal side to it that I will write several
notes about. But then there is too much of an
opportunity for us to do something together.
Over lunch today I has this discussion with Neil
Rich and together we came up with two really
exciting ideas that I'm not ready to reveal here
until I know we can pull them off, and also
because if we can come up with two great ideas
over lunch, how much better couldn't we do with
more people generating more ideas - so maybe
these two aren't the ones.
Secondly there are those who have made great personal sacrifices
and have been penalized for doing so. I wish I had more to say
to them, but my personal experience has been that you HAVE to
keep at it and I have a very deep personal belief that ultimately
those who deserve to be rewarded will. I hope You will join us
and I will do my utmost to ensure that your experiences aren't
repeated.
The finally there are those who are still locked in depression,
resignation, anger and despair. To You I will say that all of
these emotions are self-destructive! You hurt yourselves
infinitely more than those you are angry with. You also hurt
those you care about. I am not immune to these emotions, not by
a long stretch, but every time it happens I work very hard to
yank myself out of it. If you need help doing so, I stand ready.
My offer to help and support is serious. If you believe there is
an opportunity I'm happy to get together with you for breakfast
or for lunch. I owe dinners to my wife and time between meals to
all of you. You can call me at DTN 223-1170 or send mail to me
at ASABET::ANKER.
Thank you/Anker
|
| 2961.19 | The Software Catalog... | ZEKE::TOWNSEND | | Wed Mar 30 1994 10:17 | 20 |
| Anker,
Just wanted to address a point that you brought up about the software
catalog. Th Customer Value Chain Program has something called the
Offering Management Initiative Preliminary Program Plan. The 80+
page document is obviously the hard work of alot of highly skilled
individuals. The deliverables are things like architecture, "efficient
and effective seamless end-to-end ...busines process", "Work System
Structure", and portfolio's of Digital's offerings. Nowhere does it
mention the basic task of fixing the price book which is the immediate
gratification that the customer (and acct. reps.) wants.
I know it sounds simplistic, but sometimes we just need to pick
a direction and go, instead of bringing a task force together to
compile a program with interrlated deliverables and buy-in etc. etc.
I truly believe that we are paralyzed by hyper-analysis.
We should look to Storage and emulate the drive and focus that
got them from the worst Digital behaviors to a world-class
competitor. You're right, it can be done.
|
| 2961.20 | We can. We should! WE MUST. | CFSCTC::TURNER | Larry Turner | Thu Mar 31 1994 08:15 | 17 |
| Regarding .0
Anker: Please count me in, and thank you.
Regarding .-1
>> The Customer Value Chain Program has something called the
>> Offering Management Initiative Preliminary Program Plan [sic].
>> ...
>> I know it sounds simplistic, but sometimes we just need to pick
>> a direction and go, instead of bringing a task force together to
>> compile a program with interrelated deliverables and buy-in etc. etc.
>> I truly believe that we are paralyzed by hyper-analysis.
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
/l
|
| 2961.21 | That's one. | DEMON::PILGRM::BAHN | Possibility of IDIC | Thu Mar 31 1994 19:02 | 8 |
|
I was pleased to see the success story in topic 2971. The
readers of this conference helped to cut across some potentially
tangled lines of communication quickly. Whether we get the sale
or not, something positive has been accomplished.
Terry
|
| 2961.22 | Thanks for setting an example | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Thu Mar 31 1994 20:39 | 7 |
| Re: <<< Note 2961.21 by DEMON::PILGRM::BAHN "Possibility of IDIC" >>>
Terry,
Thanks for recognizing the work of others, lets keep it up!
Anker
|
| 2961.23 | Power secrets | HANNAH::SICHEL | All things are connected. | Mon Apr 04 1994 23:45 | 36 |
| I too am absolutely committed to helping us turn around.
I know it's hard sometimes. My self appointed job for the last 5 years
has been discovering, and trying to demonstrate how to work together
(officially I'm a VT architect). I make mistakes and get told NO all
the time, but I don't let it discourage me for long because I've learned
some secrets about making things work.
- Power comes from people working together to build agreement.
If your supervisor, manager, or group VP doesn't accept your
ideas, you can work around them so elegantly they won't know
what happened. Be patient, talk to people who can appreciate
your idea, LISTEN and expand your vision to incorporate more
perspectives.
- As .0 indicated, people are very social creatures. When confronted
with a new situation or uncertain how to respond, people will look around
for hints of what is appropriate or acceptable. If you and your
coleagues are clear, you have tremendous power. Most of the managers
don't understand the products, technology, or customers the way you
do. Get enough people around the person blocking your idea to tell
them they need to shift and you can shift anyone.
- Studies show people change their thinking more when talking than
by listening. Talking engages the mind. You can actually LISTEN
your vision into reality.
- Often the harder you push, the more others will resist (and vise versa).
Gandhi and MLK had it right, the secret of non-violence is to provoke a
response and take away the target. It is up to you to choose the right
provocation at the right time. Keep your eye on the prize.
You maintain the initiative!
- Act as if Digital were different, and you help create the difference
you want.
Peter
|
| 2961.24 | I won't be able to! | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Mon Jun 06 1994 16:48 | 5 |
| Much to my surprise, I was just informed that I am "at risk", so
at least I won't be able to make a difference. I would
appreciate any support and help finding a place to make one!
Anker
|
| 2961.25 | Making a Difference | OUTPOS::MURPHY | Dan Murphy, now at LKG. | Mon Jun 06 1994 19:42 | 128 |
| Anker,
I can understand something of the shock that you are probably
experiencing now. I've been there.
In fact, you might say I'm a voice from beyond the grave, since I was
TFSO'd in the December, 1992 wave. I'm writing this now only because I
returned as a contract worker last fall. Also, my contract is coming
to a close and I will be leaving again at the end of this week to take
a new position outside of Digital.
I've found working as a contractor over the past ten months, and the
job I have been doing, to have been very satisfying -- remarkably so.
I thank Providence and my local management for the opportunity. It has
been a very focused, straight ahead engineering effort with a clear
target -- deliver the bits to SSB -- which we did at the end of last
week. All working on code and almost no meetings or bureaucracy! I
guess I'm still a hacker at heart.
That discovery is one benefit of having been booted out. There are
others as well. And I know of other people who are now established in
new and better situations after having been laid off. Seeing the
bright side of it is not unrealistic or unjustified.
However, I don't know of any individual who wouldn't experience some
real shock and anger at being laid off, no matter how many positive
prospects for the future you can conceive of. So, with the benefit of
over a year of thinking about it, I want describe some of the things I
noticed in the hope of showing how common is the ground we all stand
upon.
To say I had mixed feeling would be the understatement of the year.
When it became clear that I was "on the list", I was elated and I was
pissed! I was excited and I was massively disappointed. On one hand,
I saw it as a way out of a situation that had become bogged down,
frustrating, and uninspiring, and I could imagine lots of neat things
to do. On the other hand, I was being cut out from something that I
long felt I was genuinely a part of.
It was more than just having been an employee for 20 years. My
relationship with DEC extends back to 1961 when I discovered the PDP-1
during my freshman year at college. I was offered a part-time job
programming for DEC in 1964 which I turned down. I applied for a job
at DEC when I graduated in 1965. DEC turned me down but then tried to
hire me away a year later. I turned them down. Even so, code I had
written was shipping, or had been ported and was shipping, on several
DEC computers in the late '60s and early '70s. When I finally came to
DEC as an employee in 1973 to join numerous long-time friends, it
seemed like this was where I had belonged all along.
In between then and December, 1992, I had it all. Well, almost all,
anyhow. Shipped various landmark products, got stock options many
times, filed and was granted patents, got promoted to Senior Consultant
Engineer. In one of the more ironic twists, I received one of the
special awards for contributions to the Alpha program during the very
time I was on the cut list and the wheels were already turning to
arrange my departure.
I say all of this only to try to show why I felt that DEC wasn't just a
corporation that I worked for, but rather that I was part and parcel of
what DEC was and is and would be. I knew I had made a difference many
times before and would do so again.
I also say this to show that, whether you have done more or less for
DEC than I have, and whatever your position might be, IT DOESN'T
MATTER! You could be OUTTA HERE, and it has nothing to do with you; it
has all to do with DEC!
I can't state this point strongly enough. It's nearly impossible to
experience being laid off without feeling like you have failed or
fallen short; if only you had done this or that a little better, or if
only you were in someone else's job, etc. Well, I say it again, it
doesn't matter! You could have been anywhere and done anything and
still been hit, and you need only look around at the others who were
hit to confirm that.
And you need not have worked for DEC as long as I did to feel like
being cut off from something that you were a part of. For a long time,
we had a corporate culture that fostered that kind of sense of
belonging, and many people believed in it. It may once even have been
true, but the downsizing processes of the last five years have been
absolutely antithetical to that model and that culture.
And that's why I'm pissed! I know it doesn't have anything to do with
me, but it's there and it affected me and I'm pissed. Pissed at the
system and pissed at those individuals who were party to putting me on
the list. If you are laid off, chances are there is one or more people
that you thought were your "friend", at least in the business context,
but who betrayed your trust and devalued your efforts. Well, that's
how it is for everyone, and it's not about you.
Another irony, and one that I was reminded of by .24, is that in the
last couple of months before I was laid off, I participated in a
program called "Rediscovering the Passion at Work" -- a 3-day seminar
sponsored by the DELTA office. Whatever you may think of the title, I
have, like many people here, found tremendous motivation and
satisfaction doing work over the years, so the idea of getting some of
that back seemed like a good one. Like many others who came though the
program, I indeed found a renewed sense of purpose in getting Digital
turned around and moving toward excellence again! I worked toward
getting others to see more positive possibilities for the company. I
proposed various technical ideas and projects that I thought would make
a strategic difference.
I was laid off anyhow.
It's probably even true that my committed attitude didn't help me stay
in the company. I'm quite sure that some of those I talked to about
job possibilities were bunkered down and not the least bit interested
in "renewal" or improving the fundamentals of the corporation; they
couldn't afford to look beyond getting the next release out the door.
However, I wouldn't go back and do it differently, even if I could, and
that is the thing I most want to say to anyone like Anker who has
spoken out or who has attempted in whatever way to take a risk and make
a difference in the fortunes of Digital Equipment Corporation. We
have made a difference, and yet it may not be the difference in whether
we stay at Digital or leave. I was reminded of that again in reading
Paul Kinzelman's goodbye note in 2485.0.
I didn't get to make the difference I hoped to make, but I was better
for having tried to make it.
And to anyone who finds themself among the *former* employees of DEC,
remember: you are in GOOD company.
dlm
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| 2961.26 | thanks! | ICS::BEAN | Attila the Hun was a LIBERAL! | Mon Jun 06 1994 21:29 | 1 |
|
|
| 2961.27 | Kent State syndrome | ARCANA::CONNELLY | foggy, rather groggy | Mon Jun 06 1994 21:58 | 9 |
|
re: .25
That is one of the more uplifting and useful notes that i've read here. I
think in a lot of cases, maybe most, people who get TFSO'd suffer from the
"Kent State syndrome"...standing in the wrong crowd when someone in authority
panics and starts firing. Good and necessary perspective, Dan!
- paul
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| 2961.28 | | WLDBIL::KILGORE | Remember the DCU 3Gs | Tue Jun 07 1994 09:30 | 8 |
|
Re .25:
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I'm posting a copy in my office. I'm also taking one home, just in
case...
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| 2961.29 | Anker Berg-Sonne | SANTEE::CLARK | Bill Clark | Tue Jun 07 1994 10:04 | 15 |
| re. .24
Anker has made immense contributions to Digital. He has maintained a positive
attitude when all around were losing theirs. He has the ability to look at old
issues in new ways. He has always believed that we can solve any problem, and
has been willing to make the effort and take the risks required. Anker has been
a top performer at every job he's held. He has made a difference, and will
continue to make a difference, wherever he goes.
I hope that the reason Anker has been given an "early warning" is that
management values him, and expects him to find another place within Digital
where he can contribute.
Digital will never recover if it continues to lose people of the quality,
competence and enthusiasm of Anker Berg-Sonne.
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| 2961.30 | I wish this weren't sarcasm | LGP30::FLEISCHER | without vision the people perish (DTN 223-8576, MSO2-2/A2, IM&T) | Tue Jun 07 1994 11:16 | 13 |
| re Note 2961.24 by ASABET::ANKER:
> Much to my surprise, I was just informed that I am "at risk", so
> at least I won't be able to make a difference. I would
> appreciate any support and help finding a place to make one!
Anker,
If you are the caliber of person that the company feels it
can afford to let go, I am in total *awe* of the kind of
person they must be keeping!
Bob
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| 2961.31 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | A-mazed on the info Highway! | Tue Jun 07 1994 12:33 | 13 |
| RE: <<< Note 2961.29 by SANTEE::CLARK "Bill Clark" >>>
� Digital will never recover if it continues to lose people of the quality,
� competence and enthusiasm of Anker Berg-Sonne.
Deja vu...
Anker, I'd like to say I'm staggered, but I can't, I've seen it too
many times. I can't add anything to the earlier noters. Let's just say
you've made a difference to me. Best of luck if you do "get tapped".
Respectfully, Laurie.
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| 2961.32 | | GRANMA::MWANNEMACHER | Wish I coulda been there..for that | Tue Jun 07 1994 13:04 | 7 |
|
It doesn't shock me in the least. It's as though we are in a business
kindergarten class. FIX THE PROBLEMS AND THEN SIZE AS NEEDED!!!!
Probably too late for this to work, however.
Mike
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| 2961.33 | Go Figure. | ASABET::EARLY | Steve Early - DTN 223-3518 - Ops & Planning | Wed Jun 08 1994 10:11 | 37 |
| After watching documentaries and movies about D-Day for the last few
days and reading stories told by veterans in our local newspaper, I
find myself thinking how similar survivors on D-Day are to survivors at
Digital.
One story in particular was told by a person whose nickname was
"Shorty" who peaked at about 5'4" or so. He was standing in front of a
person who was over 6' tall in one of the landing craft. The taller
person right behind him was shot through the head before they even
reached the beach. In another incident, the person beside him was
killed by a piece of shrapnel that whizzed over Shorty's head. So, in
Shorty's estimation, it was his lack of height that got him through the
war in one piece. "Just lucky, I guess."
Who lived and who died on Omaha Beach 50 years ago left many to wonder
"Why him? Why my son ... friend ... father ... ?" There is no answer I
can think of other than maybe "wrong place at the wrong time"? It
certainly had nothing to do with who was the better soldier.
Who gets tapped and who doesn't makes just about as much sense. It
seems to me that trying to rationalize why somone like Anker would get
tapped is like trying to figure out why YOUR best friend got it instead
of someone else's during the landing at Normandy.
Maybe if you were a little shorter, Anker?
I wish you well, my friend. Your contributions have been many, and the
loss is Digital's. I'll think of you often ... surely every time I
fire up Mobilizer and see that message ....
"copyright 19xx - Anker Berge-Sonne"
/se
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| 2961.34 | | WIDGET::KLEIN | | Wed Jun 08 1994 11:47 | 6 |
| > Maybe if you were a little shorter, Anker?
Precisely. In the old days, the nails that stick out were just hammered down.
Now, they're pulled out.
-steve-
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| 2961.35 | Don't feel sorry for me! | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Wed Jun 08 1994 13:12 | 40 |
| Re: <<< Note 2961.34 by WIDGET::KLEIN >>>
Thanks to all of you who have written responses to my
announcement. If you feel sorry for me, don't. I'll explain
why:
My first reaction was complete surprise and partial chock. Then
I started creating an interpretation and naturally moved to the
more sinister ones. That evening and next morning I was full of
nervous energy and had real difficulty sleeping, but then I
started calming down and was able to gather some more facts.
The most important fact that I heard but didn't believe was that
there had been significant effort to place me elsewhere in
Digital, and that I was warned as soon as it became apparent that
those efforts failed. That was the case and is still being
tried. I got a couple of internal leads already.
All of my time since I was informed has been dedicated to job
searching. Most of it outside. My initial impression is very
favourable, there seems to be a lot out there. That thin
evidence is helping me sort through whether I even want to stay
here. To be honest, if it keeps looking this promising, I'll go.
The most important learning is that I realized that I had been
deadly afraid of doing anything to find a job outside Digital. I
have worked here 19 years and have never had to seriously look
for a job. I have been spoiled. The notice made the possibility
real and I'm now energized, motivated and having a lot of fun
talking to my network, following leads and mailing out resumes.
An almost as important learning is that this is the first time in
a long time that I am really focused. It is wonderful to be
working on something thats obviously important and where the
results are clear.
I hope this works out well, and as I said earlier, don't feel
sorry for me!
Anker
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| 2961.36 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | A-mazed on the info Highway! | Wed Jun 08 1994 13:16 | 3 |
| I feel sorrier for DEC, sorry, Digital.
Laurie.
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| 2961.37 | It is really easy to pretend | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Wed Jun 08 1994 15:21 | 16 |
| I said this in my earlier response, but this warrants its own
response:
I am convinced most of us are unnecessarily afraid of leaving
Digital, voluntarily or involuntarily. It is awfully easy to
convince yourself that you are seriously considering leaving the
company, but at least in my case I was just kidding myself. I
was deadly afraid of the idea. Now that I have been given a
good, solid kick in the butt I have to be serious, and it feels
a lot different than when I was kidding myself. Right now I have
to concentrate on taking care of myself, but when that has been
done I'll be delighted to help the rest of you. After DEC I will
be [email protected]. From VAXmail that is
US4RMS::"[email protected]".
Anker
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| 2961.38 | perhaps things are better than they seemed | LGP30::FLEISCHER | without vision the people perish (DTN 223-8576, MSO2-2/A2, IM&T) | Wed Jun 08 1994 15:57 | 19 |
| re Note 2961.37 by ASABET::ANKER:
> I am convinced most of us are unnecessarily afraid of leaving
> Digital, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Well, Anker, I was at risk a year ago, and I did do some
looking, sent some resumes, and went on *one* interview (at
one of the few companies, Kurzweil Applied Intelligence,
whose fortunes of late have been worse than Digital's!).
The job market -- for someone of my skills (and, I assume,
age) --- wasn't too good a year ago. I feel *darn* lucky I
found an internal opportunity a year ago (although much of
that was due to that opportunity -- and the hiring manager --
being one of the best fits I have ever had).
Perhaps I need a better editor for my resum�.
Bob
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| 2961.39 | .37 should be US4RMC::"[email protected]" | XELENT::MUTH | I drank WHAT? - Socrates | Thu Jun 09 1994 11:18 | 0 |
| 2961.41 | He's right! | ASABET::ANKER | Anker Berg-Sonne | Mon Jun 13 1994 17:04 | 15 |
| Re:<<< Note 2961.40 by GNPIKE::SMITH "Peter H. Smith,297-6345,MR04-2 C3,Digital Consulting/FBE Toolkit" >>>
Peter,
I am finding that a specific combination of skills is getting
attention. Healthcare (thanks Willow), technology (thanks DEC)
and strategic planning/change agent is a possible killer
combination. Haveing Healthcare there means that I'm not
competing with a zillion X-decies.
I don't do newspapers. All I have done is networking, calling
and then following up with a resume. I'm planning to write a
long note when I get the time!
Anker
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