CONTACTS 
0201 - Corps of Engineers, SFD
020101 - Mr. Thompson F. Keesling, Architect; Assistant Chief
020102 - Construction Operations Division

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
CE HQ Evaluation, Wider Use Comm Metrics
Comm Metrics Solves CESPN Staffing Problem
Intranets, Web, CESP Review
Intelligence Business, Similar to Military
Accountability Avoided, Turn Out the Lights
Anytime Anywhere Management Support
Teamwork, Cooperative Competition
Helping Hand Welcomed, Fear Accountability
Keesling Evaluation
Learning Plan
Discover Scope of Comm Metrics

1414 -
1414 -    ..
1415 - Summary/Objective
1416 -
141601 - Follow up ref SDS 23 5568, ref SDS 21 2610.
141602 -
141603 - Tom indicates the Web page format for Communication Metrics work
141604 - product is easier to use than manual printed material.  He feels the
141605 - Communication Manager can be more effective providing business
141606 - intelligence by using the Internet Web page delivery method.  We
141607 - considered some manual steps CESP can try to improve communication
141608 - without using Communication Metrics.  Gave Max a copy of the analysis
141609 - on IBM's plans for Business Intelligence.  He advised the District
141610 - plans to use Windows tools to support communication.
141611 -
141612 -    [On 980403 demonstrated Welch Web site to support use of Windows to
141613 -    for deliverying Communication Metrics work product. ref SDS 24
141614 -    2849]
141615 -
141616 -
141618 -  ..
1417 -
1418 -
1419 - Discussion
142001 -  ..
142002 - Initial SDS Web Page Design Helpful; Web Site Access Available Soon
142003 -
142004 - Tom received ref DIP 4 2486 sent yesterday, ref SDS 23 0000.
142005 -
142006 - He likes the ideas and analyses of business intelligence.  Getting
142007 - access to his Web browser is still a little awkward.  I showed Tom how
142008 - to print Web pages attached to email.
142010 -       ..
142011 -      [On 980520 access to Web site from email was improved. ref SDS 26
142012 -      1906]
142014 -  ..
142015 - Tom said the SDS records delivered as Web pages are easier to work
142016 - with because the user is not burdened initially by a large stack of
142017 - paper that discourages immediate review of things that need immediate
142018 - attention.  The Executive Summary allows the reader to make a quick
142019 - judgement that can be fairly accurate of important information that
142020 - needs prompt review.
142021 - ..
142022 - I advised that in about a week or so, I will have the SDS record
142023 - on a Web site, so the links in the records, sent like the one on IBM's
142024 - marketing plans for business intelligence, can be accessed on-line.
142025 -
142026 -    [On 980403 notified of Welch Web site to support use of Windows to
142027 -    for deliverying Communication Metrics work product. ref SDS 24
142028 -    2849]
142029 -
142031 -  ..
142032 - Web Site for Intelligence May Explain Communication Metrics
142033 -
142034 - Tom said that using a Web browser to access the links between SDS
142035 - records on the Internet will help people see the power of
142036 - Communication Metrics to produce "intelligence" that saves money, per
142037 - his report to CEMP-E. ref SDS 13 1273
142039 -  ..
142040 - This reflects other views as shown in the planning for the Web site.
142041 - ref SDS 14 1459
142043 -  ..
142044 - Timely delivery of information that is connected to related history,
142045 - requirements, policies and commitments is a major part of what we mean
142046 - by...
142047 -                   ..
142048 -                   Anytime, Anywhere Intelligence
142049 -
142050 -     ...and so may help people who are too busy to think, ref SDS 11
142051 -     2139, grasp the cost savings from adding Communication Metrics, as
142052 -     set out in Tom's memo to CEMP-E. ref DRP 1 0129 received on
142053 -     971008, ref SDS 13 2979.
142055 -     ..
142056 -    [On 980403 notified Tom that his system is on-line. ref SDS 24
142057 -    2849]
142058 -
142059 -
1421 -

SUBJECTS
Accountability is Burdensom Metric for
Bureaucratic Inflexible Formalistic
Documents Change to Automated Knowledge
Documentation Takes Time, Distinction from
Dilemma Accountability Feared Better Management Desired
Bad Management Successful, Rather than Technology to Make Good Manage
Accountability Avoided by Verbal Skills, Gain Credit, Training
Bad Management Technology Brings Success, Impossible

4510 -
451101 -  ..
451102 - Intelligence Helping Hand Reduces Worry About Accountability
451103 -
451104 - Tom said managers who have not worked with Communication Metrics have
451105 - told him they are worried about intrusive accountability, per his
451106 - discussion with Max Wideman reported on 970830. ref SDS 10 0995
451107 -
451108 - They want things to get done, but worry that keeping track of what is
451109 - done, winds up being used to point fingers rather than help people
451110 - discover what needs to be done and get the information to do it
451111 - quickly and accurately, so that people get credit for good results.
451112 -
451113 -     [On 980403 Max Blodgett cited this concern. ref SDS 25 5065]
451115 -      ..
451116 -     [On 980405 developed ideas on this in meeting with Bill DeHart.
451117 -     ref SDS 25 5065]
451119 -  ..
451120 - Ross Chittenden got similar responses from his colleagues at Caltrans,
451121 - ref SDS 12 1427.  Jim Jones reported a similar concern on 971202. see
451122 - ref SDS 15 2837
451124 -  ..
451125 - On 950611 professional event presented case study showing how fear of
451126 - accountability and desire to take short cuts hoping to save time by
451127 - ignoring good management practice, causes huge loses. ref SDS 2 2066
451129 -  ..
451130 - Tom feels a big part of the Communication Analyst's job is to present
451131 - the record in a manner that is constructive without being accusatory,
451132 - (i.e., raise issues without raising temperatures), so that managers do
451133 - not feel threatened or defensive by organizational memory.   Managers
451134 - need proactive support that expands span of attention so that little
451135 - mistakes do not grow into major problems when daily communication
451136 - fails to align with objectives, requirements and commitments, as
451137 - related in the record on 921127. ref SDS 1 0674
451139 -  ..
451140 - Tom feels this was the basic benefit using SDS for Com Metrics on the
451141 - Oakland Harbor project.  Giving others credit in the record for
451142 - effective communication created faith that led everyone to rely on the
451143 - record, rather than personal recall, and this improved the work, as
451144 - reported on....
451145 -
451146 -       Contractor accepted record............ 970107, ref SDS 7 4953
451147 -       Government accepted record............ 970110, ref SDS 8 2487
451149 -  ..
451150 - It takes leadership with a broader vision, however, to empower people
451151 - to gain experience with the benefits of adding intelligence to daily
451152 - management by using a Communication Analyst, as seen by the record on
451153 - 960924, when Max had to encourage Tom to deploy Com Metrics to the
451154 - weekly progress meetings on Oakland Harbor project. ref SDS 6 4454
451156 -  ..
451157 - Max reported in his memo for the District's report on Communication
451158 - Metrics, that the Communication Manager on the Oakland Harbor project
451159 - was effective by providing useful intelligence to avoid problems and
451160 - get things done, rather than point out a constant stream of mistakes.
451161 - ref SDS 9 2103
451162 -
451163 -     [On 980403 Max Blodgett cited similar concerns. ref SDS 24 4129]
451164 -
451165 -
451166 -
451167 -
4512 -

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
CE HQ Evaluation, Wider Use Comm Metrics
Comm Metrics Solves CESPN Staffing Problem
Intranets, Web, CESP Review
Intelligence Business, Similar to Military
Accountability Avoided, Turn Out the Lights
Management Improvement Without SDS Com Metrics
Meeting Notes Action Item Reviews
Action Items, Liked to Context of Work and History Manages Complexity
Action Items Manual Complex Difficult Without SDS Context and Connect
Waste Time Resolving Who Said What at Last Meeting
Action Items Difficult Without SDS Context and Connections to Informa

6714 -
671501 -  ..
671502 - Manual Com Metrics Can Work, But Hard to Keep Up
671503 -
671504 - We discussed a few ideas CESPN could try for accomplishing Com Metrics
671505 - using Microsoft and other programs without Welch and SDS...
671506 -
671507 -            [On 010720 Morris feels Microsoft programs, secretaries,
671508 -            filing cabinets and 3x5 cards enable people to accomplish
671509 -            SDS tasks without a Com Manager. ref SDS 31 0K5K
671510 -
671511 -    1.  Assign someone at each staff meeting or other meeting that
671512 -        involves managers on the same level, to write the record of the
671513 -        meeting.
671515 -         ..
671516 -    2.  Keep a list of major objectives and action items with Microsoft
671517 -        or other technologies.
671518 -
671519 -            [On 000307 research at SRI reported the scope for Knowledge
671520 -            Management, ref SDS 27 767G, and found this is a lot of
671521 -            hard work without SDS. ref SDS 27 LP7G
671523 -             ..
671524 -            [On 001126 SRI team developing OHS/DKR technology decided
671525 -            to try using email for Knowledge Management, rather than
671526 -            SDS. ref SDS 29 QW8I
671528 -             ..
671529 -            [On 011003 Eric Armstrong says using tools and methods
671530 -            everybody likes is too hard. ref SDS 32 O73F
671532 -             ..
671533 -            [On 020504 FAR requires documentation of communications to
671534 -            authenticate accuracy of daily work, ref SDS 33 XV7L; case
671535 -            study shows failure to comply with regulations and
671536 -            standards for good management. ref SDS 33 NS6F
671538 -  ..
671539 - Tom said USACE does not have a process or procedure for assigning
671540 - someone in a meeting of senior managers to develop comprehensive notes
671541 - of meetings.  He recalled that in years past, a secretary would take
671542 - notes of staff meetings and distribute them, but this practice has
671543 - been discontinued.
671544 - ..
671545 - Tom recalled recent meetings where the Commander directed that
671546 - tasks be performed, but there is no process for capturing the context
671547 - of what is requested.  The Commander was disappointed about lack of
671548 - interest and performance; but, so far there has been no effort to
671549 - develop a set of business metrics to improve communications.
671551 -  ..
671552 - On 970110 Monti Jaggers cited a similar problem, and noted it had been
671553 - solved by Com Metrics. ref SDS 8 2487
671554 -
671555 -     [On 980520 proposed using Communication Metrics to support
671556 -     District Staff meetings. ref SDS 26 2862]
671557 - ..
671558 - Tom said tracking action items doesn't work using conventional
671559 - methods, based on his personal experience reported on 960202.
671560 - ref SDS 5 4488  He said that about a year ago the Commander mandated
671561 - that the District use Microsoft programs.  This experience revealed
671562 - two problems.
671563 -
671564 -    1.  Action items in Microsoft and other programs do not have
671565 -        context and connections to information needed to perform the
671566 -        work effectively, and
671568 -         ..
671569 -    2.  When there is a lot going on, and everybody is busy, the system
671570 -        breaks down. People fall back on guess and gossip and then it
671571 -        is hard to reconstruct the status to get the action item list
671572 -        back up to date.
671574 -      ..
671575 -     [On 010720 Morris cited similar concern about using Microsoft
671576 -     programs at Intel. ref SDS 31 V55N
671577 - ..
671578 - Tom feels experience using SDS for Com Metrics showed that
671579 - assigning someone to manage the daily record with SDS, who does not
671580 - have operational responsibility, ensures there is enough time devoted
671581 - to creating timely, accurate intelligence for guiding the work of
671582 - those who have operational responsibility.
671583 -
671584 -     [On 000709 Bill DeHart reported SDS advantage is better
671585 -     organization. ref SDS 28 0052
671587 -      ..
671588 -     [On 010425 Morris reported that SDS uses cases are a utopia with
671589 -     everything organized in the right place at the right time.
671590 -     ref SDS 30 EP7F
671591 -
671592 -
671593 -
671595 -  ..
6716 -
6717 -
6718 - 0749 visited Max
671901 -  ..
671902 - Submitted IBM's Report on Bus. Intelligence to Max
671903 -
671904 - Max has not had time to retrieve his email at home, and so he still
671905 - has not seen my letter. ref DIP 2 2479
671906 -
671907 - I gave him a copy of the letter which I printed this morning that has
671908 - some highlights to facilitate his reading.
671910 -  ..
671911 - Max commented that the summary and highlight feature of Communication
671912 - Metrics is an advantage in absoring a lot of information quickly.
671914 -  ..
671915 - We discussed Tom's comments about the Commander's objective to improve
671916 - follow up from staff meetings. ref SDS 0 4705
671917 -
671919 -  ..
671920 - CESPN Planning to use Windows Tools for Better Communication
671921 -
671922 - Max said he got instructions from the Commander that the District will
671923 - be using Windows 95 tools for notes, contacts and scheduling.  Max
671924 - recalled the Commander indicating that the Information Management
671925 - Office (IMO) is configuring computers in the District to facilitate
671926 - better exchange of information.
671928 -  ..
671929 - Max has not seen a demonstration of how these tools will improve
671930 - communications in the District by solving the problem cited by Tom
671931 - this morning, ref SDS 0 4705.
671933 -  ..
671934 - I showed Max on his computer the MS Outlook folder, which sounds like
671935 - what the District is considering, or possibly the updated version that
671936 - is part of Internet Explorer 4.04, Outlook Express.
671937 - ..
671938 - I urged Max to give the Commander's ideas a try.  Since the DE
671939 - does not want to use Com Metrics, then management is still responsible
671940 - to take the best measures possible for understanding daily
671941 - communications and following up effectively on action items.
671942 - Suggested that until the MS Outlook system is implemented, Max could
671943 - keep a list on his blackboard to maintain visibility of big
671944 - objectives, or make a list using a notepad on his desk.  We reviewed
671945 - importance of capturing a useful record of daily work in meetings and
671946 - calls, since this drives the list of action items, per meeting with
671947 - Tom, above. ref SDS 0 5922
671949 -  ..
671950 - Max said USACE procedures call for tracking action items, and he has
671951 - done this during his entire career with USACE.  He showed the current
671952 - list, and said it is helpful, but does not provide the context he sees
671953 - in SDS.  He feels the pace of information in the past few years has
671954 - made it harder to keep a manual list up to date.
671955 - ..
671956 - Max said he will review the memo on industry progress to support
671957 - useful "business intelligence," and submit comments. ref DIP 2 2479
671958 -
671959 -     [On 980403 submitted access to SDS work product, including the
671960 -     review of "business intelligence," showing access via Microsoft
671961 -     Windows platform. ref SDS 24 2849]
671962 -
671963 -     [On 980405 showed Max SDS record on Web site to provide business
671964 -     intelligence using Communication Metrics. ref SDS 24 4756]
671965 -
671966 -
671967 -
6720 -