Conference 7.286::digital

5281.0. "Digital Products Division structure" by ASABET::SILVERBERG (My Other O/S is UNIX) Fri May 09 1997 08:02

Systems Business Unit -- Online

New Products Division

The DIGITAL Products Division was formed with two key objectives-- to 
better align our resources behind the corporate strategy, and to 
create synergy across the business units.  In line with these 
objectives, I am pleased to announce the creation of  two new 
business units:  one is focused on the high volume opportunity in 
the NT market, the other to maintain our leadership in high 
performance servers.

The NT Systems Business Unit, led by Howard Elias, will focus on 
developing clients and servers to capitalize on the high volume NT 
market.  This business unit will include the Commercial Desktop 
Business Segment, the Mobile Business Segment, an NT Server Business 
Segment and the Workstation Business Segment.  The NT Server and 
Workstation business segments will be responsible for developing a 
seamless family of products which includes both Intel and Alpha.  
Additionally, the Workstation business segment will support all 
three operating systems.  Howard also will be responsible for the 
NT Platform Software segment.  

The UNIX and OpenVMS Systems Business Unit, led by Jesse Lipcon, will 
focus on developing high performance servers.  This business unit 
will include the UNIX Software Business Segment, the OpenVMS Software 
Business Segment  and the UNIX/OVMS AlphaServer Business segment.  
The AlphaServer segment will have responsibility for delivering NT 
on our high performance enterprise class systems.  Additionally, 
Jesse will be responsible for  the Core Technology Group (compilers, 
performance benchmarks and High Performance Technical Computing).

I am also pleased to announce the following additions to the DIGITAL 
Products Division managment team:

Storage is a critical part of our systems in the both the volume and 
performance markets.  Ellen Lary will continue to lead the Storage 
Business Unit reporting directly to me. 

Mahendra Patel remains as leader of the Systems Engineering 
organization including CSS.  Mahendra will also assume responsibility 
for the Embedded and Real Time Business Segment.

Art O'Donnell will continue to manage the corporate SAP implementation 
as well as lead the Quality focus for the DIGITAL Products Division.

Although there is still much work to be done, I am pleased with the 
progress we are making as we drive towards a July 1 implementation of 
the new DIGITAL Products Division.   

Our focus during the next two months will be to:

  Refine our strategy
  Complete the organization
  Create integrated business processes
  Finalize the FY98 business plan

This URL points to an organization chart which includes the names of all
the members of the DIGITAL Products Division management team.

               http://sbu.mro.dec.com/productsdivision/

                     Please give them your support.

I've concluded that there is a prepackaged form for such announcements, with
blanks for filling in group and VP names.  The wording sure looks the same 
as the countless others I've seen over the past 19 years, right down to
"to better align our resources behind the corporate strategy" and the
use of "synergy".

However, what I read from this latest is that the company has decided that
UNIX workstations are dead too, along with VMS workstations.  Another
self-fulfilling prophecy, I predict.

					Steve

    
>  Refine our strategy
>  Complete the organization
>  Create integrated business processes
>  Finalize the FY98 business plan
    
    Make out three envelopes.  ;-)
    
    I take it the author was Harry Copperman?  Didn't see it attributed in
    the text...
    
    

    Well, I'm not gonna be cynical here (nobody fall off their chairs
    please ;-).
    
    I see several positive things here (remember, I have a distinct OpenVMS
    slant given my job):
    
    	1) While workstations have been pushed squarely into a NT focus...
    	   it explicitly *does* say that they will support all *three*
    	   operating systems.  So.  It's no worse than today, and there
    	   is a explicit directive to support us at least at some level.
    
    	2) Jesse Lipcon continues to own, and gets to focus on the most
    	   profitable part of our business.  I believe that if Jesse is
    	   allowed the freedom to manage his business, we will be very
    	   successful.
    
    	3) Storage continues to have the right person in charge.
    
    Strategies are nice, but I continue to believe that putting the right
    people in charge, and giving them the freedom to succeed, is what makes
    the difference between success and failure.
      

>>> Additionally, the Workstation business segment will support all 
>>> three operating systems.

My first interpretation for "three operating systems" was Windows, Unix and 
OpenVMS.  However, in the PC context, this could easily be interpreted as 
Windows95, NT/Intel, and NT/Alpha.

I hope my first interpretation was correct!  However, parts of the company 
already believe and are working toward the second interpretation for desktop 
systems.


						-Paul

    	"freedom to succeed" - wonderful phrase.  I'll remember
    that one, especially on those rare occasions when it happens.
    
    Cheers!
    Dave Eklund
    

    My copy from MRGATE::"SALES::A1::COPPERMAN.HARRY"
    
    has at the bottom:
    
    DIGITAL Company Confidential ~ For Internal Use Only