Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

2296.0. "Suffering the "Baby duck syndrome"" by IJSAPL::ROLING () Fri May 19 1995 11:58

Hi,

I'm suffering the "baby duck syndrome *"

When I entered Digital October 1993 I was placed on the mail
distribution list of Sue Skonetski. She provided me until recently
with all the information I ever wanted to know about the "Network
Product Business Unit"

Two weeks back I spoke to John Burdon, the new communications guy for
the NPBU. He claims that over 60% of us (digital employees) don't read
there mail. So he besides that a different approach is needed in
providing information. No DELIVERY ON YOUR DOORSTEP but GET IT YOUR
SELF AS YOU NEED IT.


I have some principle problems with that attitude: 

1)I personally have to many sources to check for possible new info; 
  thus wasting bandwith on easynet 

2)There is no automated tool to WATCH www pages, like AVN
  for NOTES 

3)That is no attitude for a business to promote there products, 
  competitors are more responsive to deliver their product info 
  on my doorstep than my very own NPBU.


All in all please let Sue collect and distribute the information (she
is so dammed good at it) that is inaccessible today. 



regards 

Jos Roling 
ABU sales support network consultant 
The Netherlands



*) Jerry Pournelle described this syndrome in one of his columns in BYTE 

It deals with the phenomena that when a little baby duck is born
(crawls out of the egg) the first mother it sees is the one and only
mother for him/her.

This holds truth for : 
	EDITORs aka WORDprocessors 
	Programming languages 
		and  
	INFORMATION RESOURCES

    I wonder if the folks who are makign the comments about "60% of the
    folks" ever spent time in the field.  Yes, I know that they have and
    they will say "when they were in the field...".  That was THEN, this is
    NOW.  And unless they come out every few months and see what is
    happening their knowlege of what we need is dated pretty quickly.
    
    Also, info is likely to be needed from a VARIETY of sources...no one
    size fits all.
    
    I wonder when these folks will come and visit BEFORE they implement?
    
    Digital's failure syndrome is "� implement...when it doesn't work,
    don't understand the PROCESS, but go out and implement more or
    different...".   That may have worked in a cash rich environment, I
    think that today we may need to do more SHOOT/LOOK/RETARGET/RESHOOT
    to survive.....
    
    ttfn,
    j

    Jos -
    
    Your high praise of Sue is much appreciated.
    She will be back soon, we trust, but has been
    in the hospital.
    
    How is your Rotterdam harbor network design
    going?
    
    Dave