Date: December 30, 1994 File #: Welch
| To: | Chris Snyder |
| From: | Bill DeHart |
| Subject: | SDS - Evaluation |
Chris:
PG&E entered into contract Z10 5 245 94 for the Welch Company to provide
automated management support beginning on August 11, 1994.
..
Our intent was to evaluate Welch's product, SDS, for improving our
management techniques. As the lead PG&E contact with Welch, I reported in a
memo dated September 27, 1994 that "...we have had very successful results in
the application of SDS...."
..
Since then, I have concluded that SDS can significantly improve PG&E earnings
if adopted more widely. I based this on our customer response,
other PG&E
department staff, and
my own interaction with SDS.
..
During my 30+ years with PG&E undertaking project and functional assignments, I
have participated in numerous company efforts to help managers do a better job.
These include executive training, automated systems, and re-organizations,
popularly called, today, "reengineering" our business systems. None of these
efforts have had the impact of SDS to help managers
get things done accurately,
on time
and
within budget.
Accordingly I recommend wider use of SDS at PG&E.
..
Since SDS implements a new concept called POIMS to convert information into
knowledge, it requires dedicated training and support, as we have done in the
past with other major business improvements. Our project managers travel too
much to be able to assimilate SDS within the demands of their daily routine.
..
Therefore, dedicated training is essential. Adopting SDS requires
executive sponsorship because inexperienced managers will initially shun its
methodology of converting information into knowledge, since at the time events
occur, people feel they know what has transpired that is important. However,
experience using SDS
shows there is a lot more that occurred than seemed
apparent at the time, which impact PG&E earnings. Since PG&E executives are
responsible for earnings, their sponsorship of SDS training and implementation
is critical. Please let me know if you need more information on this matter.
..
Bill DeHart
cc: Rod Welch