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1...DE said he will read the District's report.
2...Welch requested notice of any additional information needed to show
3...A net present value (NPV) calculation could be submitted showing
CONTACTS
0201 - Corps of Engineers, SFD O-00000632 0101
020101 - LTC Richard G. Thompson; District Engineer
SUBJECTS
Corps of Engineers, 970115
Richmond Harbor Deepening
Organization Changes, Planning
DE Receives Communication Metrics Report,
Halley's Comet Scenario Meaning Drift
Humorous Examples
USACE on Using Com Metrics
Sales discussions
Objects to Com Metrics because of Differences in Meeting on 961118 wh
1511 -
1511 - ..
1512 - Summary/Objective
1513 -
151301 - Follow up ref SDS 38 6388, ref SDS 35 0000.
151302 -
151303 - Discussed work performed to prepare for starting construction and
151304 - using RMS on Richmond Harbor project, as related in the District's
151305 - report on Communication Metrics. DE advised he had not seen the
151306 - Communication Metrics report. He requested a copy and this was
151307 - provided. DE cited objective for new business processes to add value.
151308 - Reviewed how Communication Metrics process adds "intelligence" to
151309 - information, as described in the District's report. DE will read the
151310 - report. Welch requested notice of any further information District
151311 - needs to assess Communication Metrics support for District management.
151312 -
151313 - [On 970702 submitted record. ref SDS 44 0000]
151315 - ..
151316 - [On 971030 DE disagrees with Tom Keesling about SDS and Com
151317 - Metrics. ref SDS 59 2336
151318 -
151319 -
151321 - ..
1514 -
1515 -
1516 - Discussion
151701 - ..
151702 - Welch Supported District to Show Usefulness of Communication Metrics
151703 -
151704 - Initially, I expressed appreciation for the opportunity of working for
151705 - the San Francisco District Corps of Engineers, and thanked the DE for
151706 - meeting on short notice this afternoon. ref SDS 40 3967
151707 -
151708 - I noted the effort of DE's team to meet challenges of new technologies
151709 - and expanding work loads due to an expanding economy. Low availability
151710 - of skilled people caused by the lowest unemployment rate in 20 years
151711 - adds to the challenge of leadership. I congratulated the District on
151712 - efforts to improve service and performance, as the hallmarks of a
151713 - strong Command.
151715 - ..
151716 - We reviewed work performed the past 6 months formulating a contract
151717 - under Task Order 2 for Welch to support District needs (Welch advised
151718 - and assisted DE's Richmond Project team in preparing scope of services
151719 - for Luster to provide Inspection and RMS support under Task Order 1,
151720 - ref OF 2 line 8; and, Welch prepared a Construction Launch Schedule,
151721 - WBS, task descriptions and organization chart for the Richmond
151722 - project). This work reflected recommendations by District staff in a
151723 - report that evaluates Welch's work on the Oakland project providing
151724 - Communication Metrics services, ref DRP 1 line 118, per ref SDS 27
151725 - line 173. Max Blodgett, Tom Keesling, Leonard SooHoo, Marc McGovern,
151726 - Herb Cheong and others expressed the need and intent to award a
151727 - contract to Welch, subject to approval of District Command.
151728 -
151729 -
151731 - ..
151732 - District Reports Communication Metrics is Useful
151733 -
151734 - There was discussion that Tom Keesling submitted the Communication
151735 - Metrics report to DE, and notified DE via email of staff determination
151736 - to award Welch a contract to support Tom's assignments and other
151737 - District needs, including analysis of operations planning, and that
151738 - Tom received a reply from DE expressing concerns about this proposed
151739 - action, ref SDS 40 line 127.
151740 -
151742 - ..
151743 - DE Had Not Received Report; Submission Was Made Today
151744 -
151745 - Follow up ref SDS 30 8008.
151746 -
151747 - DE advised during the meeting that he has not seen the staff report on
151748 - Communication Metrics, correcting understandings on 970516 that DE had
151749 - reviewed it, ref SDS 30 8008, and discussion today. ref SDS 40 7105
151751 - ..
151752 - DE requested a copy, and it was provided at the meeting today.
151753 -
151754 - [See follow up clarification where Communication Metrics report
151755 - was given to DDE with understanding it was to be given to DE, ref
151756 - SDS 30 line 254.]
151757 -
151758 - [See where DE advised of having read the report in Sep, ref SDS
151759 - 52 line 108.]
151760 -
151762 - ..
151763 - District Defines Scope of Services for Communication Metrics
151764 -
151765 - There was brief discussion of comments in Appendix A of the report by
151766 - District staff, including Herb Cheong's request for Welch to support
151767 - Herb's work on the Oakland Harbor project, see Herb's memo dated
151768 - 970407 para 3 shown in Appendix A, ref DRP 1 line 799. The need for
151769 - this support was confirmed in a discussion immediately prior to this
151770 - meeting with DE, ref SDS 40 line 181, which led Welch to request this
151771 - meeting in order to expedite consideration, ref SDS 40 line 200.
151773 - ..
151774 - The report cites benefits of business "intelligence" that uniquely
151775 - results from Communication Metrics. It lists under para 5 (p. 9)
151776 - specific initiatives that improved management and added value to
151777 - project stakeholders, as a result of using this new business process.
151778 -
151779 - [See District report on 971008 reporting Communication Metrics
151780 - saved the government $5.8M at a cost of only $50K.
151782 - ..
151783 - Task Order 2 in Appendix D of the District's Communication Metrics
151784 - report shows an organization structure to implement District planning
151785 - for Communication Metrics to support the Construction Services Branch
151786 - while it ramps up personnel strength and implements a new business
151787 - support technology, RMS, to perform new projects over the next year.
151788 - Task Order 2 further specifies Communication Metrics to support
151789 - Contract Administration on the Richmond project. It defines the scope
151790 - of services for Communication Metrics, ref OF 1 line 19, setting out
151791 - Requirements, ref OF 1 line 88, and deliverables, ref OF 1 line 214.
151793 - ..
151794 - The Construction Launch Schedule and WBS for Richmond are shown in
151795 - Appendix E of the Communication Metrics report to illustrate how the
151796 - "organic subject structure," used in SDS technology to organize the
151797 - flow and expedite retrieval of information, is integrated with
151798 - traditional management processes for cost and schedule control, to
151799 - improve command and control of the record by using Communication
151800 - Metrics.
151801 -
151803 - ..
151804 - Communication Metrics Can Support District Improvement Goals
151805 -
151806 - We reviewed Tom Keesling's consideration to use Communication Metrics
151807 - for his assignment to implement automated systems in the District, and
151808 - to upgrade District capability to perform its missions. Task Order 1
151809 - and Task Order 2 (see Appendix D) were designed to develop information
151810 - from the Richmond project to evaluate existing business processes, and
151811 - the Construction Launch Schedule and WBS in Appendix E, including the
151812 - description of task processes, comprise a prototype of a methodology
151813 - for evaluating District operations and recommending better allocation
151814 - of staff and technology in order to improve mission capability.
151816 - ..
151817 - [Task Order 1 was found acceptable for award on 970625 in meeting
151818 - between CESPN and Luster, ref SDS 42 line 98. It has a number of
151819 - key steps that require close attention to ensure the value to
151820 - CESPN is realized. Communication Metrics can do this.]
151821 -
151823 - ..
151824 - Communication Metrics Supports DE's Objective for System of "Metrics"
151825 -
151826 - Tom Keesling has advised of District planning to use "metrics" for
151827 - determining effectiveness of work performance, ref SDS 32 3395.
151828 - "Communication" is the business process that is most critical to the
151829 - success of District operations. The District's report explains on
151830 - page 1 how adding metrics to communication gives the District the most
151831 - direct chance to improve performance, ref DRP 1 line 139.
151832 -
151833 - [On 981027 USACE reports Communication Metrics saved the
151834 - government $190K. ref SDS 64 7315]
151836 - ..
151837 - On 970501 Max Blodgett, Chief Construction Operations, recommends
151838 - consideration of Communication Metrics for better information flow to
151839 - organize District operations along a "geographic template" now being
151840 - planned, ref SDS 28 8852.
151841 -
151843 - ..
151844 - DE Asks about Application of Communication Metrics in District
151845 -
151846 - In the meeting today, DE cited following concerns about Communication
151847 - Metrics for the San Francisco District.....
151848 -
151849 - 1. Communication Metrics is supported by a DOS program, SDS,
151850 - similar to RMS. DE asked if this diminishes the utility of
151851 - DLL protocols and makes SDS harder to learn for District
151852 - personnel?
151854 - ..
151855 - Answer: no. SDS adds value to all other computer programs,
151856 - by adding "intelligence" to documents. Intelligence improves
151857 - productivity and cost savings, as reported by USACE staff in a
151858 - letter to HQ, ref DRP 3 0129, received in the record on
151859 - 971008. ref SDS 57 0001 Lt General Hatch, former commander of
151860 - USACE, noted on 951230 that USACE needs Communication Metrics.
151861 - ref SDS 9 4884 SDS is hard to learn because management and
151862 - cost savings are not easy to improve. Mentoring effective
151863 - management practices is needed, as specified in Task Order 2.
151864 - ref DRP 1 7377 See discussion below. ref SDS 0 4622
151865 -
151866 - [See support from article reporting mainstream IT is not
151867 - improving productivity, ref SDS 54 4739, submitted to Max
151868 - on 970919, ref SDS 55 8492.]
151870 - ..
151871 - 2. Communication Metrics captures management details. DE cited
151872 - SDS records for meetings on 961118, ref SDS 22 0600, and on
151873 - 961101, ref SDS 21 0880, which are different from his
151874 - recollection. He asked if differences between his memory and
151875 - the SDS record reduce the value of business "intelligence" due
151876 - to concerns about accuracy?
151878 - ..
151879 - Answer: no. DE submitted no corrections. Neither did anyone
151880 - else. Therefore, the record stands, which is the purpose of
151881 - business metrics called "feedback," ref SDS 4 4400. Meetings
151882 - DE cites pertained to a contract, which has a provision that
151883 - requires notice. Failure to give timely notice for correcting
151884 - the record, places the burden of consequences on the party who
151885 - fails to disclose potential error. Turning out the lights by
151886 - shutting down the record does not alleviate those
151887 - consequences, but does deny everyone the opportunity to
151888 - discover at an early stage that correction is needed in order
151889 - to avoid mistakes which later, if true, cause delay and extra
151890 - cost. Thousands of years have shown the legal practice of
151891 - notice is the only effective metric for daily communication.
151892 - Greater effort to educate about business processes for
151893 - "metrics," called out by ISO criteria, reviewed on 950721,
151894 - ref SDS 8 1940, and increased attention by key people are
151895 - indicated.
151897 - ..
151898 - Accuracy of the record is discussed further below. ref SDS 0
151899 - 3345.
151900 -
151901 - [On 970917 political forces encourage desire for wriggle
151902 - room. ref SDS 53 2348.]
151903 -
151904 - [See 1978 book on management communications calling for a
151905 - system of feedback. ref SDS 50 4373]
151907 - ..
151908 - [On 971229 management training says "feedback" crucial to
151909 - verify accuracy of communication. ref SDS 61 2914]
151911 - ..
151912 - 3. DE attended a meeting on 961101 where Welch asked attendees to
151913 - clarify discussion points, and Welch clarified background to
151914 - facilitate discussion, because using SDS to capture
151915 - organizational memory, improves natural memory that aids
151916 - conventional dialog in meetings. DE asked today whether this
151917 - reflects lack of self-control, inconsistent with the role of a
151918 - "Scribe" (he used this term in meeting with Port of Oakland on
151919 - 961024, ref SDS 16 8505) whose duty is to take notes; or,
151920 - whether it adds value by clarifying the meaning of
151921 - half-sentences, nods and fragmented discussion that otherwise
151922 - cause confusion, misperception and failed management?
151924 - ..
151925 - Similar issue arose on Broadwater Dam project in 1988.
151926 - ref SDS 1 9602
151927 -
151928 - [See similar concern raised by Jim Jones at HQ USACE on
151929 - 971017, ref SDS 58 4044.]
151931 - ..
151932 - Answer: Clarifications are critical to a system of effective
151933 - "metrics" for the communication. A modern "Scribe" needs new
151934 - tools and methods to be effective on the Information Highway.
151935 - Things move faster today. Since things are different, client
151936 - and consultant need to experiment over time with different
151937 - ways to forge a stronger partnership between technology and
151938 - leadership. Accordingly, DE's concern is legitimate when
151939 - exercised within a framework of discovering better methods.
151940 - Direction by CESPN managers of the clarification process has
151941 - been put in place, as stated in the District's report on
151942 - Communication Metrics. ref DRP 1 8473
151944 - ..
151945 - DE said that he believes Communication Metrics is not cost effective
151946 - and so is unnecessary overkill, despite reports by District staff
151947 - showing Communication Metrics saved the government $M of dollars,
151948 - e.g., on 971007, ref DRP 3 0129 This confirms Tom Keesling's
151949 - explanation today on why DE did not approve staff requests to continue
151950 - Com Metrics, ref SDS 40 6388, and earlier telecon on 961226.
151951 - ref SDS 24 0549
151953 - ..
151954 - This aligns with Bill Benkavitch's analyis on 920513 that SDS would
151955 - not be effective to support Navy contracts for maintaining the fleet.
151956 - ref SDS 2 5592 On 970611, after gaining experience interacting with
151957 - SDS, Bill reversed his earlier assessment. ref SDS 37 0900
151958 -
151959 - [On 970722 DE advised that claims on Oakland project present
151960 - problems outside his experience and that USACE needs specialists
151961 - to support the government. ref SDS 47 7488]
151963 - ..
151964 - [On 971008 CONOPS issued report to HQUSACE estimating that
151965 - Communication Metrics saved the government $317K in direct cost
151966 - and several $M is legal exposure, at a cost of $50K. ref SDS 57
151967 - 2710]
151969 - ..
151970 - [On 981027 District Counsel reported Communication Metrics saved
151971 - the government an additional $190K, making total savings in the
151972 - range of $500K for cost of less than $50K. ref SDS 64 7315]
151974 - ..
151975 - [On 981027 government paid $30M (75%) above contract price to
151976 - complete Oakland project. ref SDS 64 9152]
151977 -
151979 - ..
151980 - DE Will Review District's Report on Communication Metrics
151981 -
151982 - There was discussion that usefulness of Communication Metrics is shown
151983 - from daily interaction with the Communication Manager. New methods
151984 - take time to grasp. Accountants, architects, project managers,
151985 - warrant officers were all once "new roles". The District's report
151986 - notes that it took about a month of daily interaction with the
151987 - Communication Manager for affected staff to recognize its full value,
151988 - ref DRP 1 3156.
151990 - ..
151991 - District staff have invested time to understand value added of
151992 - Communication Metrics business processes, and they have reported
151993 - results in the same way that the Corps of Engineers adopted the role
151994 - of Project Manager. It was tried and found useful, ref DRP 1 line
151995 - 147.
151997 - ..
151998 - Examples evaluating Communication Metrics which were not discussed
151999 - today include:
152001 - ..
152002 - District Staff Found Communication Metrics Improves Management
152003 -
152004 - On 961001, Contracting Officer Tom Benero advised the Oakland
152005 - Project Team that "lessons learned" on the project showed that
152006 - Communication Metrics support is needed on Oakland; and, that it
152007 - would also be used on the Richmond Project, ref SDS 11 line 170.
152009 - ..
152010 - Jim Stout, former District counsel who specialized in contract
152011 - litigation, examined Communication Metrics work product on the
152012 - Oakland Harbor project. In a meeting on 961015 Jim advised the
152013 - Contracting Officer, Tom Benero, that the methodology used in the
152014 - notes for meetings with the Contractor of providing context and
152015 - alignment with requirements and prior events and commitments, is
152016 - helpful to the District, and should be continued for the duration
152017 - of the Oakland project to assist in resolving disputes.
152018 - ref SDS 12 5833 This opinion is supported by the record.
152019 -
152020 - [On 970722 report that District Engineer lacked expertise to
152021 - handle Oakland Harbor situation; CID making investigation.
152022 - ref SDS 48 7488
152024 - ..
152025 - In April 1997 District Counsel, Merry Goodenough asked Marc
152026 - McGovern, Tom White and later Tom Keesling for background on a
152027 - particular legal issue in the matter of Dutra Construction Company
152028 - and the Port of Oakland. On 970417 Tom Keesling made this request
152029 - known to Rod Welch and in 10 seconds, as a marketing courtesy, a
152030 - 60 page report was produced that would otherwise have taken many
152031 - months to prepare using other business processes and computer
152032 - programs, ref SDS 26 8033.
152033 -
152034 - [See telecon with Max confirming this point, ref SDS 48 2838.]
152036 - ..
152037 - On 970624 (today), it was suggested that Merry be asked for a memo
152038 - stating the litigation report aided the District, as reported by
152039 - Tom Keesling on 970530, ref SDS 34 line 272. Such memo was to
152040 - assist District Command in learning about the value added of
152041 - Communication Metrics relative to existing methods. It was
152042 - disclossed (today), however, that after the Welch 970417 report
152043 - was used for its original purpose, it was thereafter lost, and
152044 - that it is now needed again.
152045 -
152046 - [A replacement was provided on 970625, ref SDS 41 0000.]
152047 -
152049 - ..
152050 - DE said he will read the District's report.
152052 - ..
152053 - Welch requested notice of any additional information needed to show
152054 - Communication Metrics improves District productivity.
152055 -
152057 - ..
152058 - Cost Savings Politically Sensitive
152059 -
152060 - A net present value (NPV) calculation could be submitted showing
152061 - savings to taxpayers. Examples in addition to those in the District's
152062 - report could be presented showing Communication Metrics improved
152063 - critical District operations by a factor of 100.
152065 - ..
152066 - This has not been submitted because it might raise political concerns
152067 - at a sensitive time of change in the District. A Communication
152068 - Manager's job is to add value and facilitate change, including build
152069 - commitment to meet future realities, ref DRP 2 8888, rather than point
152070 - fingers, per ref SDS 35 line 179.
152071 -
152072 - [See request for cost savings analysis from HQ, ref SDS 56 2698
152073 - and at ref SDS 56 8562.]
152075 - ..
152076 - [Cost savings report issued by CESPN on 971008. ref SDS 57 2979]
152078 - ..
152079 - [On 971017 help people without finger pointing, ref SDS 58 0230.]
152081 - ..
152082 - [On 981027 District reports with certainty that Communication
152083 - Metrics saved the government over $190K. ref SDS 64 7315]
152084 -
152086 - ..
152087 - Windows 95 Can Use SDS to Support Communication Metrics
152088 -
152089 - The desirability of a Windows 95 application for Communication Metrics
152090 - is well founded, though not dispositive. SDS runs under Windows 95
152091 - and OS2 because these environments improve efficiency. SDS supports
152092 - DLL data transfers between other applications, but this is a minor
152093 - contributor to management productivity. GUI technology in Windows 95
152094 - applications is attractive, however, this alone would not enable
152095 - anyone to use SDS for Communication Metrics because there are a lot of
152096 - tasks to learn due to the inherent complexity of management. The
152097 - primary challenge is overcoming ignorance, fear and denial that good
152098 - management can be achieved by adding "intelligence" to information.
152099 -
152101 - ..
152102 - Introducing New Methods Requires Leadership
152103 -
152104 - Since Managers are generally good communicators and intelligent, they
152105 - deny needing help, and fear being "second-guessed" because they are
152106 - ignorant that their "first-guess" can be improved by unique technology
152107 - to organize and analyse information.
152109 - ..
152110 - Overcoming ignorance, fear and denial requires leadership to help
152111 - people gain experience with the methodology. Leadership was reviewed
152112 - with Max on 970403 to launch the Richmond project. ref SDS 25 7749
152114 - ..
152115 - Therefore, a key factor for implementing Communication Metrics is a
152116 - skilled Communication Manager to mentor others through the cultural
152117 - awakening, and assuage the pain, of recognizing the need, benefits and
152118 - opportunity of a new business process that improves productivity.
152119 -
152120 - [On 970625 reviewed role of leadership. ref SDS 41 8401]
152122 - ..
152123 - [On 970830 managers want "wriggle room" to avoid being second
152124 - guessed, ref SDS 51 0995]
152126 - ..
152127 - Bill Gates had to develop DOS programs in order to earn revenue to
152128 - create Windows 95. Similarly, the Corps of Engineers developed RMS as
152129 - a DOS program in order to learn how to apply automation to document
152130 - management. New business processes, like Communication Metrics, which
152131 - automates the management cycle (Plan, Perform, Report), must also be
152132 - applied using existing tools, here SDS, in order to build awareness of
152133 - value and earn revenue to take the next step. Since the District is
152134 - implementing RMS, there should be no conflict in being supported by
152135 - Communication Metrics using SDS. Like Bill Gates and the Corps of
152136 - Engineers, Communication Metrics technology must proceed one step at a
152137 - time.
152138 -
152140 - ..
152141 - SDS Has Unique Capability to Support Effective Communication Metrics
152142 -
152143 - There is no Windows 95 program available nor any on the drawing boards
152144 - that support business "intelligence." Only SDS makes Communication
152145 - Metrics financially viable. SDS has an advanced design which is
152146 - beyond the reach of established business technology. A simple example
152147 - is Lotus Notes. IBM was shown a demonstration of SDS on 941114 and
152148 - proclaimed that SDS has excellent capability that spans IBM's
152149 - Information Technology, Workflow and Communications development
152150 - groups, ref SDS 7 line 205. Plans were made for an IBM development
152151 - project to create a Windows SDS program. Thereafter, however, IBM paid
152152 - $3.5 billion for Lotus Notes, believing that it had SDS functionality,
152153 - and was already Windows compliant, in addition to having strong name
152154 - recognition from the Lotus 123 program. Lotus Notes in fact does run
152155 - under Windows 95, but it does not have SDS functionality. Bill Gates
152156 - is quoted in an article in the May 26, 1997 issue of Fortune magazine
152157 - that Lotus Notes was not a good decision for IBM, ref SDS 39 line 385.
152158 -
152159 - [See support from article reporting mainstream IT is not
152160 - improving productivity, ref SDS 54 line 134. Article was given
152161 - to Max on 970919, ref SDS 55 line 89.]
152162 -
152164 - ..
152165 - Other Vendors Cannot Provide Business Metrics for Communication
152166 -
152167 - Many organizations have purchased Lotus Notes, including the Corps of
152168 - Engineers, because of marketing hype. IBM is a big, successful company
152169 - and Lotus 123 is a great spreadsheet, so Lotus Notes must do something
152170 - useful, goes the reasoning. Lotus Notes cannot support Communication
152171 - Metrics because it lacks the unique design of SDS that integrates time
152172 - and information. ref SDS 6 0550, ref SDS 5 2171
152174 - ..
152175 - How much value does Lotus Notes add to the District?
152177 - ..
152178 - Where is the record produced using Lotus Notes that can support daily
152179 - management prospectively, and litigation perspectively, as found by
152180 - Jim Stout? ref SDS 12 3395
152182 - ..
152183 - How quickly can that record be culled for relevant information to make
152184 - command decisions, and to show the Corps of Engineers met its duties
152185 - and obligations, but the contractor failed to perform, as was provided
152186 - to District counsel, as a courtesy, on 970417? ref SDS 26 8033 Where
152187 - is the report evaluating the value added of Lotus Notes, Windows 95 or
152188 - anyother system the District is using? ref SDS 40 8445
152189 -
152190 - [See support from article reporting mainstream IT is not
152191 - improving productivity, ref SDS 54 4739. Article was submitted
152192 - to CESPN on 970919, ref SDS 55 8492.]
152193 -
152194 -
152195 -
152196 -
1522 -
SUBJECTS
Pilot for Airplane Communication Manager for SDS
Knowledge Worker Communication Manager
Accuracy, SDS Records Inaccurate
2405 -
240601 - ..
240602 - Communication Manager "Pilots" SDS to Produce Useful Intelligence
240603 -
240604 - Communication Metrics requires a skilled practitioner to provide the
240605 - benefits of SDS, similar to special technology for traveling called an
240606 - "airplane," that has a "pilot" trained and skilled to make the trip
240607 - faster, better and cheaper than using other means. SDS produces
240608 - faster, better, cheaper business "intelligence," in accordance with
240609 - scope of services and deliverables specified by USACE in the report
240610 - received on 970418. ref SDS 27 958L
240612 - ..
240613 - Intelligence produces better work (see discussion below. ref SDS 0
240614 - X55H
240615 -
240616 - ["Pilot" analogy was used at ref SDS 45 8553, ref SDS 45 6440.]
240617 -
240618 - [On 971229 management training file used "pilot" analogy to
240619 - explain value of "feedback" metrics. ref SDS 61 2914.]
240621 - ..
240622 - [On 980326 IBM announced plans to market "business intelligence,"
240623 - ref SDS 62 3342.]
240624 - ..
240625 - District staff can learn SDS, if they choose, at their own pace,
240626 - but need not do so in order for the District to gain immediate
240627 - benefits from Communication Metrics. In performing the work of
240628 - Communication Metrics, the Communication Manager mentors staff to
240629 - recognize the value of relying on the record of business intelligence,
240630 - rather than personal recall, so they can gain faith in the value of
240631 - investing intellectual capital that sustains them through the learning
240632 - curve for adopting automated management as a daily practice. People
240633 - need faith for the learning curve of new methods.
240635 - ..
240637 - ..
240638 - At this time, CESPN staff are stretched so thin that they do not have
240639 - time to learn new methods. They need help getting daily work done.
240640 - Communication Metrics can meet that need faster, better and cheaper
240641 - than any other method, as evidenced by the Communication Metrics
240642 - report.
240643 -
240644 - [On 971104 telecon with Mike Grebinski confirms CESPN needs help
240645 - but cannot hire more people. ref SDS 60 0841]
240646 -
240647 -
240648 -
240649 -
2407 -
SUBJECTS
Anger, Frustruations from Erroneous Meeting Notes
2503 -
250401 - ..
250402 - District Reports Communication Metrics Record is Accurate
250403 -
250404 - DE's concern about accuracy of the record is appropriate. This was
250405 - raised by Max Blodgett, Tom Keesling, Tom Benero on 961030, see the
250406 - record at ref SDS 19 9993, Monti Jaggers on 961024, ref SDS 15 7740,
250407 - Marcus Tikotsky on 961017, ref SDS 13 1381, as well as the Port of
250408 - Oakland and Dutra Dredging Company.
250410 - ..
250411 - The District's report on Communication Metrics shows in Appendix D a
250412 - scope of services for Task Order 2 that sets out in para 5f(1) the
250413 - process the District used to ensure accuracy of the record during the
250414 - Communication Metrics contract that supported the Oakland Harbor
250415 - project, ref OF 1 line 333. Comments by District staff in Appendix A
250416 - of the report show that project staff reviewed the record and found it
250417 - was accurate. That is because they first reported differences in
250418 - recollection (feedback) before the record was published so that the
250419 - official record was corrected to conform to the most agreeable
250420 - alignment of understandings by those who attended meetings.
250421 - ..
250422 - The Port of Oakland staff had the same opportunity. On 961126
250423 - they reported not having enough time to provide feedback. ref SDS 23
250424 - 4988.
250426 - ..
250427 - When time is not invested to ensure accuracy, problems occur, e.g., on
250428 - 940111 seminar and publications from Cal Tech on good management
250429 - practice requiring a system of "feedback," ref SDS 4 4400. On 921021
250430 - review of the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 1986 showed that the
250431 - lack of a feedback loop in communications caused failed management,
250432 - ref SDS 3 4499
250434 - ..
250435 - Dutra was notified of the Communication Metrics procedure by serial
250436 - letter number CESPN-CT 95-C-0003-0010 dated 961028, given to Dutra by
250437 - CE Project Manager at the Progress meeting on 961029, ref SDS 18 0919.
250438 - ..
250439 - Dutra was advised that the Corps intended to rely on the record
250440 - to manage the work and that complaining after actions are taken causes
250441 - harm which CE holds is avoidable and thus the responsibility of Dutra,
250442 - ref DIP 1 8456. Dutra submitted very few corrections and these were
250443 - incorporated into the record, so that the result is a body of
250444 - information on which the parties agree. This gives the Corps of
250445 - Engineers and Dutra a foundation to resolve disputes without costly
250446 - litigation, and a basis for the Corps to seek recovery of litigation
250447 - expense in the event Dutra litigates solely for strategic reasons,
250448 - e.g., seeking to obtain settlement payment of claims that are not
250449 - justified by the record. Jim Stout recognized this value in the
250450 - meeting with the Contracting Officer on 961015, ref SDS 12 3395.
250451 -
250452 -
2505 -
SUBJECTS
Haley's Comet
Knowledge Worker Communication Manager
Com Manager Different Tasks from Traditional Management
Knowledge Work Requires Knowledge Manager Use SDS
Difficult KM Requires Skill Tools Time Support to Tend Garden of Know
Errors Mistakes Psychological Stability Com Manager KM Requires Emoti
4608 -
460901 - ..
460902 - Metrics for Communication Adds Intelligence to Daily Management
460903 - Intelligence Adds Organization, Analysis, Alignment, Summary, Feedback
460904 - Com Manager Builds Maintains Shared Meaning - Difficult Job
460905 -
460906 - Since communication is a predicate to action, "metrics" for daily
460907 - communication provides organization and analysis of daily management
460908 - details that impact objectives, requirements and commitments. This
460909 - enables people to discover differences in understanding early enough
460910 - to avoid mistakes that otherwise cost money and delay the work, by
460911 - applying "conflict management." Differences in human perceptions of
460912 - what was said and understood cannot be avoided (see Halley's Comet
460913 - below...) Linking and integrated context management capabilities of
460914 - SDS make it practical to capture organizational memory, history and
460915 - experience that builds and maintains shared meaning through alignment
460916 - with policies, contracts, regulations and commitments. This process
460917 - discloses opportunities for better management that are otherwise
460918 - overlooked due to limited time and span of attention, because people
460919 - are rushing to the next meeting.
460921 - ..
460922 - Communication Manager is a new role for deliberative analysis using
460923 - SDS to capture and work out differences between participants in
460924 - meetings and other communications. (scope of services and deliverables
460925 - issued by USACE on 970418. ref SDS 27 958L) Information must be
460926 - organized according to objectives, requirements and commitments in
460927 - order to retrieve, like a librarian, and then assemble chronologies of
460928 - cause and effect that provide knowlede and experience for decision
460929 - support. If someone is not assigned to do this, then the record will
460930 - not be captured, nor will organization, analysis, alignment and
460931 - summary, that make organizational memory useful, be developed. People
460932 - avoid preparing detailed notes and analyses, because it is a very
460933 - difficult job that requires skill, tools and emotional (i.e.,
460934 - psychological) stability to withstand stress from constant exposure to
460935 - error, and criticism in feedback about inaccurate records. ref SDS 0
460936 - 1415
460937 -
460938 - [On 000307 Knowledge Management hard work. ref SDS 69 5182
460940 - ..
460941 - An example of this challenge, which was not discussed today, shows how
460942 - easy it is for daily communication to suffer meaning drift, when
460943 - alignment is not maintained is.....
460944 -
460945 - Operation Halley's Comet
460946 -
460947 - [On 990308 plastic cube project scenario. ref SDS 66 6399]
460948 -
460949 - [On 990731 "BINGO" game is humerous way to show need for
460950 - attention and feedback in meetings. ref SDS 67 7140]
460952 - ..
460953 - [On 990924 "telephone game" causes communication mistakes in
460954 - medicine, business and government. ref SDS 68 3955]
460956 - ..
460957 - COLONEL ISSUES FOLLOWING DIRECTIVE:
460958 - ..
460959 - Tomorrow at 2000 hours Halley's Comet will be visible,
460960 - which only occurs once every 75 years. Fall the men out in
460961 - fatigues at 1930 hours and I will explain how this phenomenon
460962 - is controlled by general astronomical forces, prior to
460963 - appearance of the comet. If it rains, march the men from the
460964 - battalion area to the theater for a film on the Comet.
460966 - ..
460967 - EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO COMPANY COMMANDER:
460968 -
460969 - By order of the Colonel, tomorrow at 2000 hours, Halley's
460970 - Comet will appear above the battalion area, where the Colonel
460971 - will explain how astronomy controls general forces. If it
460972 - rains, fall the men out in fatigues and march to the theater
460973 - for a film shown once every 75 years on comets.
460974 - ..
460975 - COMPANY COMMANDER TO LIEUTENANT:
460976 - ..
460977 - By command of the Colonel be in fatigues at 2000 hours
460978 - tomorrow when the phenomenal Halley's Comet will appear in the
460979 - battalion area, controlled by astronomical forces which will
460980 - be explained by the Colonel. If it rains, a film will be
460981 - shown in the theater on comets, which occurs every 75 years.
460983 - ..
460984 - LIEUTENANT TO SERGEANT:
460985 -
460986 - The Colonel has communicated a command that the troops appear
460987 - at 2000 hours tomorrow in the battalion area with Halley's
460988 - Comet to explain the forces that control phenomenal astrology.
460989 - If it rains, the Colonel will show a 75 year old film in the
460990 - theater on fatigues to overcome this difficulty,
460992 - ..
460993 - SERGEANT TO SQUAD:
460994 - ..
460995 - When it rains tomorrow at 2000 hours the Colonel will
460996 - drive the phenomenal 75-year old General Halley in his Comet
460997 - to the battalion area and explain fatigue. The men will then
460998 - force march to the theater for a film on command and control
460999 - of astronomically difficult communications.
461000 -
461001 - Source: Speech by Dan Bellus of the Santa Monica firm of
461002 - Dan Belus and Associates. Reprinted in the DS Letter Vol.
461003 - 1. No. 3 (1971). Published by Didactic Systems, Inc., Box
461004 - 457, Cranford, N.J. 07016
461006 - ..
461007 - The NWO... paper explains scenario. ref OF 5 5827
461009 - ..
461010 - ["Too many cooks spoil broth" - too many layers of management
461011 - become bureaucracy, is also described as "congestion" on 970701,
461012 - ref SDS 43 5503; see scenario on 970726 to calculate entropy in
461013 - communications, ref SDS 49 4579.]
461015 - ..
461016 - [On 970624, today, example of complex communications causing
461017 - mistakes and rework. ref SDS 40 8445]
461019 - ..
461020 - [On 990127 HQ frustrated by communications. ref SDS 65 7399]
461021 -
461022 -
461023 -
461024 -
4611 -
SUBJECTS
Shared Meaning Meeting Notes Linked to Common History
Shared Meaning Create Common Alignment Maintain
Meaning Build and Maintain Shared, Over Time
Shared Meaning Duty of Leadership
Meaning Drift Biggest Risk of Mistakes
Fools Gold Risk 20-60 Min Pilot Test Overlooks Real Gold of KM
5208 -
520901 - ..
520902 - Accurate Communications Requires Team Effort to Support Metrics
520903 -
520904 - The difficult part of communication, as seen from the scenario above,
520905 - ref SDS 0 7006, is maintaining shared meaning over time (see Cal Tech
520906 - seminar publication on Project Management, ref SDS 4 2074). Mistakes
520907 - of "meaning" result from fundamental differences in experience,
520908 - training, interests, momentary stress and feelings. Normally these
520909 - mistakes are not recognized when they occur because the effects are
520910 - deferred and often borne by others. When errors are recognized, they
520911 - are often ignored due to protocol, manners, fear, hubris or lack of
520912 - time. It is therefore critical to work hard every day at building
520913 - shared meaning, also called "alignment."
520915 - ..
520916 - Communication Metrics performs this work by initially writing a common
520917 - story, getting feedback to correct the story, by identifying action
520918 - items and by monitoring the actual work performed against commitments
520919 - to take action.
520920 -
520921 - [On 970525 article on communication practices says "feedback"
520922 - critical. ref SDS 31 0004.]
520924 - ..
520925 - [On 970829 management text book says feedback essential for
520926 - effective communication. ref SDS 50 4373.]
520927 - ..
520928 - We looked out the window during the meeting and noted that IBM
520929 - across the street, Bechtel and PG&E down the street, Shaklee and Bank
520930 - of America up the street are all making mistakes of meaning everyday
520931 - that occur in the military example, above. Some people hope the
520932 - Internet provides alignment of command and implementation (Colonel to
520933 - Sergeant, Executive to Worker, see above, ref SDS 0 8330).
520935 - ..
520936 - This is "fools gold."
520938 - ..
520939 - The Internet spreads the contagion of "guess and gossip" that weakens
520940 - organization like a virus chocking off the lifeblood of knowledge and
520941 - ideas that bring success and joy in work. Information without
520942 - "intelligence" is a missile without guidance that drifts off course
520943 - causing loss, pain, stress and wonder about how things can go so
520944 - wrong. Accelerating the movement of disconnected information on the
520945 - Internet widens the disconnect between leadership and the team,
520946 - between results and objectives, absent an affirmative, proactive
520947 - effort to make the connections that produce useful knowledge. This
520948 - requires cooperation between Communication Manager and the team to
520949 - achieve an accurate record. Teamwork with the right tools, skills and
520950 - dedicated effort can produce an accurate record that improves
520951 - management productivity.
520952 -
520954 - ..
520955 - Dialog, Conversation are Inherently Discursive, Wander Off Subject
520956 - Communication Metrics is Proactive; Improves Cost/Schedule Control
520957 -
520958 - DE's concern about the Communication Manager speaking at meetings is
520959 - recognized by District staff who have promulgated processes for
520960 - effective use of Communication Metrics under Task Order 2, ref OF 1
520961 - line 333. This is expressly set out in the District's report under
520962 - Appendix A, by Herb Cheong's evaluation memorandum, ref DRP 1 line
520963 - 774. The record on 961029 shows the Communication Metrics process to
520964 - prepare for a weekly progress meeting on the Oakland Harbor project.
520965 - ref SDS 17 9453. Tom Benero reported on 961030 that this process
520966 - improved management on Oakland, ref SDS 19 9993; Herb Cheong
520967 - concurred, ref SDS 20 6783.
520968 - ..
520969 - DE noted the need for clarification of half sentences, nods,
520970 - gestures and frenetic, discursive dialog that characterize most
520971 - meetings. Useful business "intelligence" requires skill to draw from
520972 - participants correlations and implications relative to prior events,
520973 - commitments, contracts, policies and objectives, that otherwise cause
520974 - poor management according to the Associated Press reporting on 960205
520975 - that managers waste 70% their time in unproductive meetings. see at
520976 - ref SDS 10 5902.
520977 -
520978 - [On 980824 management expert concerned that following links in the
520979 - SDS record leads attentation away from objectives. ref SDS 63 4920
520981 - ..
520982 - The Communication Manager adds value by reducing "guess and gossip"
520983 - since the process of daily writing and linking understandings to
520984 - discover alignment, and briefing and de-briefing staff, necessarily
520985 - brings deeper awareness of correlations which people in the heat of
520986 - contentious meetings overlook.
520987 - ..
520988 - We considered the benefit SDS brings of leveraging cognition by
520989 - applying automation to the human thought process for better pattern
520990 - recognition, as set out in the Communication Metrics report,
520991 - ref DRP 1 line 130. Proactive application enables discovery of
520992 - mistakes that cause extra cost and delay the work, per Congressional
520993 - review of Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 1986 due to "O" Ring
520994 - failure, see event on 921021. ref SDS 3 4499
520996 - ..
520997 - Accordingly, Communication Metrics adds greater value to District
520998 - management than does cost and schedule control because effective
520999 - communication is a predicate to all other management processes. As
521000 - seen from Appendix E, cost and schedule control can be integrated with
521001 - communications. Communication Metrics can provide the benefits of
521002 - integrated business processes to the District at reduced cost.
521003 -
521004 -
521006 - ..
521007 - Welch Can Provide Communication Metrics for CESPN
521008 -
521009 - Using Welch for Communication Metrics gives the District strong skills
521010 - to provide effective support for District objectives and planning, and
521011 - Welch will invest the time needed to succeed.
521012 -
521013 -
521014 -
521015 -
521016 -
521017 -
521018 -
521019 -
521020 -
521021 -
521022 -
521023 -
521024 -
521025 -
521026 -
5211 -
Distribution. . . . See "CONTACTS"