Conference 7.286::digital

    A few days ago I called a DVN folk at a DTN to find out about
    getting a DVN site set up, and when she pointed me at a Convergent Media
    Systems person, I asked "Is there anything I should know about working
    with Convergent Media before I talk to this fellow?"  And she replied,
    "Oh, actually, I'm a Convergent Media employee..."
    

    
    	Actually I'm looking forward to the day we begin to outsource
    middle management.
    
    	My first choice is Microsoft for the marketing dept.
    
    	Second choice is Motorola for administrative systems.
    
    	Feel free to add your own...
    
    
    		the Greyhawk

RE:    <<< Note 4074.2 by LACV01::CORSON "Higher, and a bit more to the right" >>>
     
    
>    	Actually I'm looking forward to the day we begin to outsource
>    middle management.
 
    *laugh*   Exactly.  Now the big challenge is getting middle management
    to buy into this idea.
   
>    	My first choice is Microsoft for the marketing dept.
    
>    	Second choice is Motorola for administrative systems.
    
>    	Feel free to add your own...
 

        H.P. for foresight.   They're downsizing functions/project groups
    (in the midst of profitability) that they've internally determined to
    be money losers.  Make the hard decisions early on. In the long run it
    it affords all parties concerned, the opportunity to see the "writing on 
    the wall" and act accordingly.

   
                                                          --- BMG  
  

    Re .2
    		We were also discussing outsourcing middle management as 
    a neat solution to bring back some enthusiasm between the very top
    and the grass roots, with all the added benefits of reduced costs,
    fewer layers & greater efficiencies & hopefully 100% outwards focussed,
    but it's only a dream...
    				:o)

    re: .3
    
    I believe that this reflects HP's "eat your own young before someone
    else does" philosophy. This is opposed to the "milk the product as long
    as you can" philosophy. They can be used jointly if management has
    the understanding of where they meet and the gumption to throw the     
    switch when the time comes.....

Re: .3,
>>    	Actually I'm looking forward to the day we begin to outsource
>>    middle management.
> 
>    *laugh*   Exactly.  Now the big challenge is getting middle management
>    to buy into this idea.


Why? Did they ask for buy-in from the trenches when they started outsourcing
there???   

    
    
    If the voicemail doesn't say "this is so-and-so with DIGITAL EQUIPMENT
    CORPORATION" it is wise not to leave a work related-detailed message.
    You're right. Things change so quickly there's no telling who you're
    talking to or what you're giving away. 
    

    A major pain in the telecommuting world has been the separate voicemail
    systems.  The sales reps I work with alot are home and as part of
    the program get a voicemail account on their new home business line
    via the phone company.
    
    This means when a customer calls the sales rep and leaves a detailed
    voicemail about some technical issue, the sales rep can't transfer
    to the inhouse voicemail system (my account).  Result: lots of
    double effort, and lots gets lost in the translation.
    
    Some reps get around this by forwarding their office phone to
    their home, but I understand that this can really tie up trunks
    and is, officially, a no-no.
    
    Their original office voicemail account is supposed to be deactivated
    upon moving home, but they aren't, so they also have to check two
    voicemail systems all the time.
    
    So much technology, so little progress.
    
    Dan
    Sales Support
    
    PS.  Did I forget to mention that we all got pagers?  The first
    ones were great:  The voicemail system could page me on receipt of
    an urgent voicemail.  But we've since gone to nationwide SkyPage
    service that requires touch-toning a billion numbers to make it 
    beep, and the voicemail system can no longer page me.  So it
    rarely goes off, but does make a handy, if expensive, backlit clock.

    There were bound to be a bunch of ragged edges to this telecommuting
    thing and the base noter has hit one. I hit another that is also
    associated with the telephone lines. It appears that the voice line
    that I was assigned had last been used by an old guy named Harold, who
    ran a water softner sales and service company out of his home, until
    his recent retirement. About half the calls that I get (mostly immediate 
    hang-ups) are from irrate homeowners whose water softners are on the 
    fritz. At least I was used to the irate customer part already, but the 
    water softner twist was a new turn. So far I have been unable to sell 
    any of these callers an Alpha water softner control system. For a
    while, I added a disclaimer to my Voicemail greeting message that
    included the phrase "I don't do water softners" and provided Harold's
    new phone number (yes, even Harold called me one day, once someone told
    him that a new guy was answering HIS phone). Eventually these things
    will work themselves out, but I suspect that there will be plenty of
    fodder for this Notes conference over the coming year.
    
    -OFWAMI- 
    

    FWIW, I work closely with someone who works closely with the
    Telecommuting people, so if it is OK with y'all, I will forward the
    relevant notes in this string to her.  Hopefully there will be some
    kind of a solution.  

    RE: .-1
    
    Maybe you can add this one, too. Names omitted to reluctantly protect
    the foolish. This affects telecommuters in our organization in addition
    to the usual 60-hour-a-week types. Part of our ongoing de-motivation
    program, perhaps?
    
From:	NAME: xxx xxx                                                          
	FUNC: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
	TEL: DTN xxx-xxxx                 <ALL-IN-1 never-work-at-home[?] type>
Date:	24-Aug-1995
Posted-date: 24-Aug-1995
Precedence: 0
Subject: RE: OFF-SITE TELEPHONE SERVICES
To:	NAME: xxxx xxxxxx... <more of the same>
CC:	NAME: xxxx xxxxxx...

    Given the expense controls required by the Company we will 
    reimburse individuals for specific charges demonstrated on their 
    phone bill.  Dedicated phone lines supported by Digital will not 
    be reimbursed.
    
    Regards,
    xxx
    
    :xx
                                          

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    Re: .10
    
    	You might also show them how to use notes and point them to 
    	conference rumor::telework "The Virtual Office - working from Home"

    re: 10
    
    Anything in Notes can be forwarded internally without the poster's
    permission.  ("Internally" is the operative word.)
    The opposite (internal mail into Notes) requires the sender's
    permission. 

>    Anything in Notes can be forwarded internally without the poster's
>    permission.  ("Internally" is the operative word.)
    
    I can see the justification for that in an "open" notesfile.  But I
    would think that notes posted in a "members-only" notesfile would
    require author's permission -- else why restrict membership in the
    first place?
    
    Is there some official document that states that *anything* in *any*
    notesfile can be forwarded internally?  That sounds too sweeping.
    
    -Mark

    you risk losing your membership and maybe a few fingers :-)
    
    Actually, I doubt that you'll find anything "official", other than that
    nice, full color poster "Proprietary Information Protection Guide." 
    Doesn't mention notesfiles, only mail.
    
    Mark

    Re: .11
    
    That's lunacy.  In our group, we've even managed to get back
    to the summary phone bill for the group, where all
    Digital-business-only home phones show up on one bill that
    a financial person takes care of.  No personal check writing,
    no expense reports, no is-it-in-the-checking-account rubbish.
    My understanding from the telecomm people is that any group
    that can manage this themselves financially (keeping records
    for audits, being sure to remove people from the bill if they
    leave the company, etc.) can do this. I would have someone reasonable
    get in touch with Gail Kennedy, US Telecomm Business Operations
    Manager, or Liz Morales, Accounts Payable Operations Manager,
    who are the folks I contacted to get an okay for this.