| I can think of two possibilities:
1. There are consultants who work with customers on "Enterprise
Information Architectures" and such things. These architectures become
frameworks for projects that we would be in an excellent position to
propose or to bid on. The problem is that there is, as far
as I know, generally no handoff to project delivery people. The
consultants are measured on getting paid for doing the architecture, not
for finding other groups to pick up follow-on business.
A change in metrics would be required to get the desired behavior.
2. We have products like LinkWorks and BaseStar, whose engineering
groups can't support all the requests for customizations for projects.
One possibility would be to have have some PSCs be "accredited VARs" or
something, to deliver such customizations - and maybe hand them back to
the Engineering groups for inclusion in the products. These PSCs could
also provide consulting to other PSCs on projects. Another possibility
is to have investments in tools that would make customizations simpler.
We made a lot of money on ALL-IN-1 this way.
This would also require a change in metrics, since Engineering wants
product revenue, and PSCs get paid for projects or continuing support.
One possibility is to have joint business plans; e.g., so that PSCs and
Engineering could justify the training and tools investment.
|
| re: .1 If you know of any specific situations where an Information
Architecture was done with no handoff or attempted furthering of the
"food chain", please let Steve Stolle @MSO know about it. He is the
Director of IT Strategy consulting, the clear role of this group is
to insure we maximize revenue at all phases. In addition, as the CSPs
get in place, they should be the ones driving the next phase in the
consultancy/project.
steve
|
| To the person who wrote the base note:
you may be interested to know that the solution you have described
has been developed and implemented with success. The Information
Design & Consulting (IDC) group that I work with in Littleton, MA
has developed an interactive product catalog and sales tool for PCs
and laptops that is delivered on a single diskette (for mailing or handout)
or downloaded from the network. The Components & Periphals Product
Information diskette contains images of hardware and software products,
description of key product features, competetive comparisons,
accessories, and ordering information, that can be accessed with
the touch of a button on a very-easy-to-use interface.
The interactive catalog is very modular and as a template can
be used to present information on any kind of product.
If you are interested in speaking with the developers of the
tool and would like to receive a demo copy, please contact:
Scott Jeffery ZENDIA::JEFFERY 227-3109
Liz Guth ZENDIA::GUTH 227-3220
Doug Bonin ZENDIA::BONIN 227-3013
|
| Re: -1
Thank you for the information. I apologize for not placing my name
in the base note. Sometimes electronic communications can seem so
impersonal. My name is Dave Stevens and I am an Account
Representative/MCS Engineer in the Multivendor Customer Services
organization. I am also a Lesley College School of Management student,
currently working on a thesis which addresses the impact of change
on internal communications.
In addition to the information you have provided, I have just received
a Livewire article which detailes a similar solution available on
VTX. It is called the Performance Information Repository. I will
post the article at the end of this note.
Perhaps a larger problem than the one originally stated, is that
multiple solutions are available yet many people are unaware of their
existence or benefits.
As more employee share their situations in this conference, we may
begin to see a more global corporate issue of a fragmented internal
information architecture. The question remains though, where are the
critical issues and how can we address them quickly enough to survive?
Regards,
Dave Stevens
Digital - Performance Information Repository established on VTX
{Livewire, Worldwide News, 19-Apr-94}
The Performance Information Repository has been established and is available
on-line. Created by the Systems Engineering Group, the repository was
established to give Digital's Field personnel easy access to current
performance information that they can use to help customers select products
that meet their needs.
The repository will contain information on industry standard benchmarks,
product and application characterizations, tuning and sizing guidelines,
performance presentations (at DECUS, etc.), and information on performance
management tools and products. The repository will contain two types of
information: information that is externally releaseable, and information that
is intended for internal use only.
A committee, chaired by Linda Wright and made up of managers of the various
Digital performance groups and Digital performance marketing groups, has been
established to screen the information prior to inclusion in the repository.
Automated data handling tools as well as ongoing administration of the data
base are the responsiblity of the Systems Engineering Performance Tools
Program that is managed by Glenn Rosander.
The repository can be accessed via VTX by typing VTX IR at the system
prompt. Choose #1 "Alphabetic Search" on the Information Repository "Home"
page. The next page is labeled "Information Categories and Sub-categories."
Under Products and Services, select "PB" for Performance Information, then
follow the instructions.
Access to Customer Consumable (External) Performance information from the
Internet on GATEKEEPER is as follows:
By FTP: ftp.digital.com: /pub/Digital/info/performance
By World-Wide Web: http://www.digital.com/info/performance.html
Via Virtual Terminal access mechanism:
Most Digital sales people in North America have a PC notebook with a VT
terminal emulator and communications software package called KEAterm, which
enables the user to access their Digital account via telephone (DIAL UP), LAT
and Xircom to Ethernet.
Once in the account, access VTX. The method may vary in different locations
in the U.S. One way is to use the Keypad "Tool Bar." Click on "Keypad," then
select VTX. This enables the user to quickly access all of the VTX keys. Once
in VTX, users can use the VTX process shown above.
Outside North America
At present there is no standard access application used by sales reps who
are outside of North America. In general, however, all use some sort of
terminal emulator. Once a sales rep has connected to her/his corporate
account, access the system prompt and use the procedure explained above.
Questions?
Questions about access, access times, or keyboard functions while in VTX IR
should be directed to Corporate Information Repository Administration at
SALES::DFLECK. For specific information about the content of reports in the
Performance sub-category, see below.
Feedback about the Performance Information Repository should be sent as
follows:
VAXmail: VICKI::PRF_FEEDBACK
ALL-IN-1: PRF_FEEDBACK@VICKI@VMSMAIL.
If @VMSMAIL is not available, try
PRF_FEEDBACK@VICKI@MRGATE; or
_VICKI::PRF_FEEDBACK
Via Internet: [email protected]
Permission to copy material from this VNS is granted (per DIGITAL PP&P)
provided that the message header for the issue and credit lines for the
VNS correspondent and original source are retained in the copy.
<><><><><><><><> VNS Edition : 3064 Wednesday 20-Apr-1994 <><><><><><><><>
|
| Re: .4,
I've just connected to the Information Repositary, and can honestly say
that it's the sort of thing I've been waiting for in the field.
Like Dave, I'm also an MCS Engineer in the U.K. based on a customer
site. The problem which Dave has identified is an all too painfull one,
especially when the customer (quiet rightly so) sees us as the first
point of contact for nearly all Digital enquiries. I guess that over
the years most of us have found ways of getting competitive / selling
information in an individual fashion. There are all too many sources of
(electronic or otherwise) "bits" of info about a "part" of Digital.
Sometimes, our contacts within VAR organisations are more helpfull when
it comes to finding the spec of something. What a shame.
Maybe with a company the size of ours that's the only way?-�
Me-? well, I'd like a laptop,modem & order-book - and some worthwhile
reward in commission.
Mike King (842 3259)
|