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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:	The Digital way of working

Moderator:	QUARK::LIONELON

Created:	Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5321
Total number of notes:	139771

3930.0. "Engineering Phase Management" by TNPUBS::PHALEN () Mon Jun 12 1995 17:03

A team of writers and SSB New Products Introduction folks are working on a
Software Techfile.  In the text we have referred to the Engineering Phase
Management Process as described in Digital Standard 028-0. 

Several of our engineering reviewers have told us that:

	Phase Management is being abandonded

	Something else, as yet unnamed, is taking its place.

Digital Standard 028-0 is currently in revision but the person managing it, 
Bill James, appears to have left Digital.

We would be very grateful for any information about the current status
of Phase Management or its successor.

Cordially,

Alice Phalen      TNPUBS::PHALEN
Diana Taheri	  WMOIS::REV_BOARD
Cynthia Anderson  SSBDEV::Anderson_C

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3930.1	Cynical answer from left field.	BOSEPM::GUNN	I couldn't possibly comment	`Mon Jun 12 1995 18:21`	17
	I can't wait for the "official" answer to this question! :-) From my perspective most groups are still following a skeleton of the Phase Review Process. There was an attempt at a "re-engineering" of the Process in which the names of the phases were changed and more emphasis was supposedly placed on defining product and market requirements. Then development budgets got cut and cut again so development groups had a hard time delivering what had already been committed let alone any shiny new products. As a consequence the effort fell apart. "Central Engineering" is no longer; each development group nominally reports to a business manager so there no central focus. The "product prevention teams" that used to infest the Digital bureaucracy and feed off the Phase Review Process seems to have been mostly TFSO'd. Now the problem is finding if there is anyone left to do the administrative steps which are necessary to get a product out of the door.
3930.2		SX4GTO::WANNOOR		`Mon Jun 12 1995 22:07`	32
	<<< TURRIS::DISK$NOTES_PACK2:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EASYNET_CONFERENCES.NOTE;1 >>> -< EasyNet Conference Directory >- ================================================================================ Note 2362.1 Phase Review Process (PHASE_REVIEW_NOTES) 1 of 1 CRAMTB::BOICE "When in doubt, do it." 25 lines 7-JUL-1994 15:43 -< Removed >- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOKUR::PHASE_REVIEW_NOTES conference has been deleted. Current information relative to the Phase Review Process... Digital's Phase Management process, which is used for the development of all products worldwide, is ready to implement according to schedule. The Phase Management process replaces the Phase Review process. It applies to the life cycle management of all products intended for sale by Digital, including buyouts and external alternatives or technologies, as well as those that are developed internally. Several products, including some development efforts in Europe, were part of the process pilot. Their experience and feedback has been used to refine process steps as well as the documentation and training packages. All documentation relating to the Phase Management Process will be available July 1 on the WorldWide Web at http://cr-www.ljo.dec.com/PMP/PMP_HOME.HTML (This is case sensitive). Digital Standards 028 and 130, the Phase Management Process Manual and guidelines will be available on VTX on July 1. Type VTX SMC at your system prompt. To obtain an hour-long videotape of Phase Management process training, contact Candy Newton, DTN 226-2868 (LJSRV2::NEWTON). For information about "live" training, contact Sally Keene, DTN 381-0198 (WECARE::KEENE). There is a modest cross-charge for this training.
3930.3	acronymns 'R Us	HDLITE::SCHAFER	Mark Schafer, Alpha Developer's support	`Tue Jun 13 1995 11:09`	1
	that's easy: "current status of Phase Management - TBD"
3930.4	Product Prevention or Planned Parenthood	USCTR1::HUNTER		`Tue Jun 13 1995 12:47`	33
	I have heard of these mythical "product prevention teams" before but have never run across any of them. I have, however, had a great deal of experience with a number of people who had the best interests of our customers and the sales force at heart, and who tried to ensure that hardware didn't get announced without operating system support, that I/O devices were certified for the systems they were supposed to run on, that layered software was supported by the correct version of the operating system (not one due for release 6 months after announce- ment of said layered software), that the sales force were trained and ready to sell the new products and that manufacturing could deliver - all without negatively impacting current business. I have many examples of all of the above in my files, and I am sure these people saved Digital from a number of lawsuits and could have prevented others if they had been listened to. Whatever appears as the new process, it will fail or lose credibility with the engineering, marketing and sales organizations if it is not implemented with the training AND THE DISCIPLINE the old process lacked (how many product managers have you heard brag about the fact they were able to bypass a negative PAC or PMC decision, and how many product business plans have you seen that were recycled versions of a three year old plan with the same old financials left in them - ask and I'll send you copies). Digital should give thanks that the mythical "product prevention" people haven't all been TFSOd, and that some of them are still around to look after the needs of the customer and the field (and therefore of the company.) Barrie all been TFSOd.
3930.5	Thank you note	TNPUBS::PHALEN		`Tue Jun 13 1995 14:18`	42
	Thank you, SX4GTO::WANNOOR and Jan Litchfield--who replied by mail. The information and pointers that you supplied are very helpful. Regards, Alice <<< Note 3930.2 by SX4GTO::WANNOOR >>> <<< TURRIS::DISK$NOTES_PACK2:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EASYNET_CONFERENCES.NOTE;1 >>> -< EasyNet Conference Directory >- ================================================================================ Note 2362.1 Phase Review Process (PHASE_REVIEW_NOTES) 1 of 1 CRAMTB::BOICE "When in doubt, do it." 25 lines 7-JUL-1994 15:43 -< Removed >- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOKUR::PHASE_REVIEW_NOTES conference has been deleted. Current information relative to the Phase Review Process... Digital's Phase Management process, which is used for the development of all products worldwide, is ready to implement according to schedule. The Phase Management process replaces the Phase Review process. It applies to the life cycle management of all products intended for sale by Digital, including buyouts and external alternatives or technologies, as well as those that are developed internally. Several products, including some development efforts in Europe, were part of the process pilot. Their experience and feedback has been used to refine process steps as well as the documentation and training packages. All documentation relating to the Phase Management Process will be available July 1 on the WorldWide Web at http://cr-www.ljo.dec.com/PMP/PMP_HOME.HTML (This is case sensitive). Digital Standards 028 and 130, the Phase Management Process Manual and guidelines will be available on VTX on July 1. Type VTX SMC at your system prompt. To obtain an hour-long videotape of Phase Management process training, contact Candy Newton, DTN 226-2868 (LJSRV2::NEWTON). For information about "live" training, contact Sally Keene, DTN 381-0198 (WECARE::KEENE). There is a modest cross-charge for this training.