CONTACTS 
0201 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers         415 705 1625
020101 - Mr. Mike Grebinski; Chief
020102 - Construction Operations Division
020103 - Description

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
CE HQ Evaluation, Wider Use Comm Metrics
Comm Metrics Solves CESPN Staffing Problem
Intranets, Web, CESP Review

1306 -    ..
1307 - Summary/Objective
1308 -
130801 - Follow up ref SDS 30 0000, ref SDS 29 0003.
130802 -
130803 - Demonstrated SDS to Mike and showed how it supports Communication
130804 - Metrics described in CESPN reports.
130805 -
130806 -
130807 -
1309 -
1310 -
1311 - Progress - Dr. Moonja Kim               217 373-6791
1312 -
131201 -  ..
131202 - SDS Presentation for Mike on 971121
131203 -
131204 - Followed up work at ref SDS 30 1159.
131205 -
131206 - I asked Mike if he would like Tom Keesling to attend the meeting for
131207 - background and application of Communication Metrics relative to USACE
131208 - USACE procedures and culture?
131209 -
131210 - Mike indicated that Tom's report adequately explains these points and
131211 - provides the perspective needed to assess Communication Metrics.
131212 -
131213 - As a result, I suggested we procede without Tom.
131214 - ..
131215 - I showed Mike how SDS integrates time and information by
131216 - creating automatic linkages of cause and effect that show alignment
131217 - with organizational objectives, policy and history, including project
131218 - requirements, laws, regulations.
131219 -
131220 - Mike indicated concurrence with CESPN's report that is this method of
131221 - producing daily business intelligence is a powerful new tool for
131222 - improving management.
131223 -
131224 -
131225 -  ..
131226 - Leadership Overcomes Fear, Ignorance and Denial of Better Methods
131227 -
131228 - We considered the challenge of introducing new ways of doing business.
131229 - There is initial ignorance of benefits, fear of cost, and these
131230 - conditions lead to denial of the need for change.
131231 -
131232 - We reviewed Tom Keesling's initial feeling that Communication Metrics
131233 - was a narrow and limited methodology. ref SDS 5 8888  We also looked
131234 - at Tom White's early rejection and later recognition of value added to
131235 - CE management methods after gaining actual experience with
131236 - Communication Metrics. ref SDS 6 1220
131237 -
131238 -     Discussed the importance of leadership to give people a chance to
131239 -     experience Communication Metrics.
131240 -
131241 -     Mike noted the challenge of establishing cost effectiveness.
131242 -
131243 -     We considered this in relation to SVGA technology which people at
131244 -     Intel initially said was not evident, yet now is making them
131245 -     billions of dollars a year.
131246 -
131247 - I asked Mike for ideas on the best way to address the group that Jim
131248 - Jones seems to be assembling, ref SDS 28 1200.
131249 -
131250 - Is agenda okay? ref SDS 28 1109.
131251 -    ..
131252 -    Mike suggests focusing the presentation on verbal explanation
131253 -    with minimal interaction of SDS program.
131254 -
131255 -        This reflects consideration in telecon with Jim yesterday, ref
131256 -        SDS 27 1200.
131257 -
131258 -    Mike indicated that the level of people Jim seems to be assembling,
131259 -    are primarily communication (verbal) people, rather than "bells and
131260 -    whistles" types.
131261 -
131262 -    I explained Jim's idea to begin with a business discussion and then
131263 -    offer to demonstrate technical features for those who have time.
131264 - ..
131265 - Mike has a strong sense of the role Communication Metrics
131266 - performs in keeping managers, projects and organizations aligned with
131267 - requirements and objectives.  He cited my expression that projects...
131268 -
131269 -                         drift off course
131270 -
131271 - ...due to information overload, which is also cited by the U.S. Air
131272 - Force Institute of Technology, as causing cost and schedule growth,
131273 - ref SDS 10 0108.  Mike recalled that in his prior assignment in Hawaii
131274 - his team was responsible for a number of major projects.  He was not
131275 - aware of cost and schedule growth that would justify the expense of
131276 - Communication Metrics to maintain alignment with project requirements
131277 - and organization objectives.
131278 - ..
131279 - Mike noted his earlier observation from our telecon on 971104,
131280 - ref SDS 22 0116, that adequate staffing, including appropriate
131281 - contract administration, prevents information overload from impacting
131282 - project performance. Mike indicated a GS 13 contract administrator
131283 - would make a significant difference on the Oakland Harbor job.  He
131284 - noted the downside risk of inadequate management is reflected by the
131285 - current large staff needed to address claims.
131286 -
131287 - There was discussion of unique staffing situation in the Construction
131288 - Services Branch, which presents an opportunity for improvements as
131289 - turnover in personnel eventually occur.
131290 -
131291 - We, also, reviewed Jack Farless' comments from the meeting on 960103
131292 - on the need for communication support, ref SDS 4 121624.
131293 -
131294 -
131295 -
1313 -

SUBJECTS
Prepare & Meet with LTC Thompson

1404 - 0812 called Mike Grebinski
1405 -
140501 -  ..
140502 - Mike Has Not Had Time to Meet DE on Solving Manpower Shortage
140503 -
140504 - Followed up work at ref SDS 30 085414,
140505 -
140506 - Any chance of scheduling meeting on solving CESPN staffing shortage,
140507 - per ref SDS 22 0853.
140508 -
140509 - Mike said he is planning to meet with the Commander on this matter and
140510 - other issues.  We did not discuss whether Jim called him on this, per
140511 - telecon on 971113, ref SDS 27 062320.
140512 - ..
140513 - He seemed to indicate having finally read the notes of the
140514 - meeting with LTC Thompson on 970624.  Mike commented that this
140515 - background gave him good ideas about what to discuss with the
140516 - Commander.
140517 -
140518 - We considered the importance of leadership in helping people who are
140519 - not experienced with Communication Metrics, transcend denial of
140520 - problems so they can have an opportunity to gain experience.
140521 -
140522 -
140523 -
1406 -