CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Internet, Multi-media for Meetings
Computers Believed to Make Managers More Productive
Management Productivity Reduced by Technology
Paperless Office Failed
Virtual Office Reduces Cost of Paper Handling
Technology Reduce Productivity Requires Testing Discover Ergonomic Se
Dilemma Subjects Everything Related to Everything Else Complex Imposs
Productivity IT Declined Last 10 Years Info Highway Requires Ergonomi
Information Overload
Productivity Declined Past 10 Years
Paperless Virtual Office Webmail Content Strengthened on Internet SDS

3213 -
3213 -    ..
3214 - Summary/Objective
3215 -
321501 - Follow up ref SDS 60 0000, ref SDS 46 2150.
321502 -
321503 - Articles in "Today's Engineer" support Communication Metrics theory
321504 - and methods explained in POIMS, ref SDS 0 0526, and indicate that
321505 - CESPN calculation of cost savings by improving information management
321506 - is justified.  The article on the "Virtual Office" sets out
321507 - shortcomings of mainstream technology that are solved by Communication
321508 - Metrics, and so makes possible meaningful progress toward a "paperless
321509 - [and/or] virtual office."  This may enable USACE to begin achieving
321510 - its goal to institute a "Virtual District" management model.
321511 -
321512 -     [On 980630 received article on Internet to support "Project
321513 -     Office." ref SDS 62 0606]
321515 -      ..
321516 -     [On 980630 received article on cost benefit study of knowledge
321517 -     based tools.
321519 -      ..
321520 -     [On 980803 visited CESPN and developed demonstration of "Virtual
321521 -     Office" capability supported by Communication Metrics. ref SDS 65
321522 -     1111]
321524 -      ..
321525 -     [On 990215 reviewed paper on "Knowledge Management" that may
321526 -     support virtual office. ref SDS 70 0000]
321528 -      ..
321529 -     [On 990716 sent letter to Mark on NSF proposal. ref SDS 74 0001]
321530 -
321532 -  ..
3216 -
3217 -
3218 - Analysis
3219 -
321901 - Paperless Office Efficiencies Electronic Records Management
321902 - Virtual Office Needs better technology for viable implementation
321903 -
321904 - Received a complimentary/introductory edition of "Today's Engineer,"
321905 - Spring 1998 Edition.
321907 -  ..
321908 - It has an article...
321909 -
321910 -                     The Virtual Office
321911 -
321912 - ...by Mark Haselkorn, ref OF 6 0001
321914 -  ..
321915 - This article was reviewed with USACE on 980520, ref SDS 60 7470, to
321916 - help with efforts on creating a "Virtual District." ref SDS 60 7470
321917 - "Virtual Office" is another experssion for efficiencies of a
321918 - "paperless office" using electronic records management filing,
321919 - organizing, and retrieving documents.  SDS support for this scope is
321920 - reported on 880628, ref SDS 1 BI3G, and again the following year on
321921 - 890523. ref SDS 2 LV59  Research on 960304 showed that in 1945
321922 - Vannevar Bush published an article that proposed using computers for
321923 - efficiencies of electronic records management with trails of
321924 - associations and subject indexing. ref SDS 20 BE6L
321926 -  ..
321927 - Mark is with the National Science Foundation, working on the Y2K
321928 - problem. ref OF 6
321929 -
321930 -     [On 990201 calculated cost savings from using Internet to reduce
321931 -     burden of paper handling. ref SDS 69 6925
321932 -
321933 -     [On 990615 proposal to NSF on accomplishing "virtual office" goal.
321934 -     ref SDS 71 4928
321936 -      ..
321937 -     [On 990713 notified NSF about Mark's article. ref SDS 73 0001]
321939 -      ..
321940 -     [On 990716 sent letter to Mark on NSF proposal. ref SDS 74 0001]
321942 -      ..
321943 -     [On 011102 Larry Prusak at IBM says Knowledge Management tries to
321944 -     implement "paperless office" efficiencies of electronic records
321945 -     management because merely storing information on computers
321946 -     overwhelms human mental biology and so degrades productivity
321947 -     without complementary support for context and connections, the
321948 -     Bush vision for "trails of associations." ref SDS 76 M24F
321950 -  ..
321951 - The article initially notes that computers have not improved
321952 - productivity, except in manufacturing. ref OF 6 6066
321954 -  ..
321955 - On 950209 received a letter citing a project Mark sponsored in the
321956 - 1980s to develop natural language and knowledge representation to
321957 - interactively draw linkages from descriptions of problems. ref SDS 12
321958 - 3584  Mark's article today, appears to indicate the project was not
321959 - successful in improving productivity of knowledge work.
321960 -
321961 -        [On 980630 review of article on Atlantic Bell justifying its
321962 -        mergers and acquisitions on "economies of scale using
321963 -        technology to reduce costs. ref SDS 62 4779]
321965 -         ..
321966 -        [On 980722 Intel's method of using Powerpoint slides and email
321967 -        seem to omit "intelligence." ref SDS 63 4826]
321969 -         ..
321970 -        [On 980803 demonstrated "Virtual Office" capability supported
321971 -        by Communication Metrics. ref SDS 65 1111]
321973 -         ..
321974 -        [On 020608 Dave Snowden reports research at IBM showing that
321975 -        knowledge management technologies have failed to meet
321976 -        expectations. ref SDS 77 ZN6I
321978 -         ..
321979 -        [On 020920 IBM marketing Lotus Notes KM program for Sametime
321980 -        that supports virtual meetings and instant messaging.
321981 -        ref SDS 78 PG7K
321983 -      ..
321984 -     Mark's view aligns with results from the Asilomar Conference on
321985 -     960713, ref SDS 29 1552; with the report by Reuter's on 980511
321986 -     that productivity has declined. ref SDS 59 0000; it reflects
321987 -     articles reviewed on 970919, one in Computerworld, ref SDS 49
321988 -     4739, another on Reuter's Internet News service. ref SDS 49 2349
321989 -     Review on 940729 of book showed "virtual office" had not been
321990 -     achieved. ref SDS 11 0000
321992 -  ..
321993 - Information overload is attributed in the article to faster technology
321994 - that actually reduces management productivity. ref OF 6 3619
321996 -  ..
321997 - Below, another article describes a "tsunami" of information overload
321998 - that reduces productivity and earnings. ref SDS 0 3499
321999 -
322000 -     Dr. Landauer's book, "The Trouble with Computers" explained why
322001 -     computers do not improve management productivity. ref SDS 16 1222
322003 -  ..
322004 - Paperless and virtual office summarize hope for better productivity
322005 - from efficiency storing everything electronically on computers rather
322006 - than using documents printed on paper and stored in filing cabinets,
322007 - and archived in warehouses. ref OF 6 0001  The author cites promises
322008 - of the "Information Revolution," ref OF 6 6066, which was reviewed in
322009 - the Van Kaspar Newsletter on 941008, ref SDS 6 2526, and goes on to
322010 - say....
322011 -
322012 -        ...but, the "Virtual Office" needs better technologies to
322013 -        realize productivity gains that actually improve management.
322014 -        ref OF 6 1492
322016 -  ..
322017 - Bigger storage and faster access to everything electronically was
322018 - presented early in the computer age by Vanivar Bush in an article
322019 - published by Atlantic Monthly in 1945, and reviewed on 960304.
322020 - ref SDS 20 BE6L
322021 -
322022 -            [On 991222 Doug Engelbart cited the Bush vision to save
322023 -            time storing and finding information with computers in a
322024 -            1962 proposal for augmenting intelligence. ref SDS 75 XS6N
322026 -  ..
322027 - On 960405 Turner Construction describes goals for a "paperless
322028 - office". ref SDS 24 0940
322030 -      ..
322031 -     SDS supports an "intelligence" process for converting information
322032 -     into a powerful online Knowledge Space that accomplishes goals for
322033 -     better productivity embodied by dreams for a paperless office,
322034 -     explained in POIMS. ref OF 1 1107
322036 -      ..
322037 -     On 971021 review of article on potential of Internet led to work
322038 -     on Communication Metrics web site to provide the technology needed
322039 -     for accomplishing productivity gains. ref SDS 52 3636
322041 -      ..
322042 -     On 971105 defined project to create technology for Communication
322043 -     Metrics to be delivered on the Internet. ref SDS 53 1459
322045 -         ..
322046 -        [On 980723 Communication Metrics web site supports clear,
322047 -        concise and complete communication using "Virtual Office"
322048 -        environment of Internet. ref SDS 64 2759]
322050 -         ..
322051 -        [On 980803 demonstrated "Virtual Office" capability supported
322052 -        by Communication Metrics. ref SDS 65 1111]
322053 -
322055 -  ..
322056 - Organizations and technology need coordinated attention, as suggested
322057 - by the title...
322058 -
322059 -          Managing the coevolution of technology and organizations
322060 -
322061 -     ... ref OF 6 2027  This proposition supports the theory of POIMS
322062 -     technology that in order for "technology" to be useful to the
322063 -     management process, it must identify and integrate the complex
322064 -     array of relationships between the fundamental dichotomy of
322065 -     community life...
322066 -
322067 -                        personal
322069 -                         ..
322070 -                        organizational
322072 -             ..
322073 -        ... ref OF 1 6528 and further at ref OF 1 0858.
322074 -        ..
322075 -        So POIMS technology, that guides the design of the SDS
322076 -        program, defines an "intelligence" process that synthesizes a
322077 -        critical mass of skills in order to lift human acuity and
322078 -        organizational performance. ref OF 1 2688
322079 -
322081 -  ..
322082 - SDS design supports information management for "Virtual Office"
322083 -
322084 - Information Repositories need a design that supports "real world"
322085 - needs to manage the growing complexity of life, in order to make the
322086 - "Virtual Office" a viable management method. ref OF 6 2583
322087 -
322088 -        [On 980722 Intel's method of using Powerpoint slides and email
322089 -        seem to omit "intelligence." ref SDS 63 4826]
322091 -         ..
322092 -        [On 980803 demonstrated "Virtual Office" capability supported
322093 -        by Communication Metrics. ref SDS 65 1111]
322095 -  ..
322096 - The design must enable the system to keep up with the pace of daily
322097 - management under the rule that "truth is a moving target," developed
322098 - for the New World Order... paper. ref OF 2 5738, see also work on
322099 - 960620 on the fragility of human memory. ref SDS 28 4851
322101 -  ..
322103 -  ..
322104 - The author says the critical need to maintain the data base has been
322105 - overlooked in the rush to create new features that attract customers.
322106 - ref OF 6 2027
322108 -  ..
322109 - This reflects the difference between USACE policy to keep records of
322110 - elements that impact the price of the work, but discontinued the
322111 - practice of keeping a daily diary. ref SDS 34 5602
322112 -
322113 -       [On 980625 the weakness of Internet Server Providers was
322114 -       evident. ref SDS 61 0000 and ref SDS 61 2255.]
322116 -        ..
322117 -       [On 980630 article proposes using Internet Web site to support
322118 -       project management, does not address maintenance. ref SDS 62
322119 -       0633]
322121 -     ..
322122 -
322123 -    "Repository of Experience" came into the record on 970525 from a PM
322124 -    Network article on using a "Project Office" as an organizational
322125 -    element with people who have project experience and also manage
322126 -    project information as "history," for use on future projects. see
322127 -    ref SDS 38 4700
322128 -
322129 -       [On 980630 article proposes using Internet Web site to support
322130 -       project management, does not address maintenance. ref SDS 62
322131 -       0633]
322133 -     ..
322134 -    In this case, "Information Repositories" seems like an effort to
322135 -    avoid using "Information Management," "Data Base," i.e., more
322136 -    cosmetics to avoid association with prior failed initiatives.  IBM
322137 -    seemed to use this "new buzz word" device in announcing plans to
322138 -    market...
322139 -
322141 -                          ..
322142 -                         business intelligence
322143 -
322144 -
322145 -        ...without explaining how it is different from prior efforts,
322146 -        as reviewed on 980226. ref SDS 55 2716
322148 -  ..
322149 - So, we might then assume the author is describing the need to come up
322150 - with a "data base" structure that is useful to daily management, and,
322151 - further that the author is acknowledging this is hard to do and in
322152 - fact has not been done by anyone in the mainstream IT industry.
322154 -  ..
322155 - POIMS technology uses a design that integrates time and information,
322156 - ref OF 1 6649, and it organizes information by an...
322157 -
322158 -
322159 -                       organic subject structure
322160 -
322161 -
322162 - ...ref OF 1 1110, with segmented fields that can be tagged with
322163 - multiple subjects for cross-referenced retrieval, per work on 960322.
322164 - ref SDS 22 7749.
322166 -  ..
322167 - This method is supported by work in cognitive science, which shows
322168 - that the human mind tends to expand information associations based on
322169 - near term perspectives, and so requires dedicated attention and skill
322170 - to maintain effective organization of management information, as
322171 - reviewed on 960324. ref SDS 23 8844
322172 -
322173 -     The same mental phenomenon leads to scope creep, discussed below.
322174 -     ref SDS 0 4241
322176 -  ..
322177 - CESPN reported on 970328 that Communication Metrics was successful in
322178 - organizing information to improve daily management. ref DRP 5 0537 and
322179 - ref DRP 5 0539
322181 -  ..
322182 - On 980403 Welch demonstrated "business intelligence" can be delivered
322183 - via Internet that reduces use of paper and makes managers more
322184 - effective by providing anytime, anywhere access to information needed
322185 - for daily work.
322186 -
322187 -
322188 -
322189 -
322190 -
3222 -

SUBJECTS
Subjects Complex Shocking Everything Related to Everything Else, 980
Computers Reduce Management Focus on Analysis Because Attracted by L
Computers Reduce Productivity Management Focus on Analysis Because A
Failed Promises Technology Has Not Improved Management
Information Management Risky
Information Overload
DKR Single Central Control Invades Privacy
Information Overload New Reality of Technology Revolution Tsunami Se
Data Pollution Understanding Harmed Too Much Information
Internet Needs Content Integration Path with People and Organization
Information Revolution v. Information Highway

5713 -
571401 -  ..
571402 - Information Overload New Reality of Technology Revolution
571403 - Tsunami Sea of Details Information Technology New World Order Chaos
571404 - Information-Technology New-World-Order Overwhelms  Span of Attention
571405 -
571406 - The author argues that technology is reducing management productivity,
571407 - because...
571408 -
571409 -        We all know about this one -- too much information from too
571410 -        many sources on too many interrelated topics. Where do you find
571411 -        what you need? How do you know if you can trust the
571412 -        information.
571413 -
571414 -    ... ref OF 6 3619, which was identified on 950327 as the problem
571415 -    solved by Communication Metrics. ref SDS 13 0023  Information
571416 -    overload is the "new reality" set out in the "New World Order..."
571417 -    paper. ref OF 2 6056
571419 -     ..
571420 -    POIMS defines management as planning to overcome limited span of
571421 -    attention. ref OF 1 9878
571423 -     ..
571424 -    On 980307 information overload is a "strategic inflection point" of
571425 -    major change emerging in the business environment, as defined in
571426 -    Andy Grove's book. ref SDS 57 3151
571428 -     ..
571429 -    On 980412 CBS 60 Minutes reported on information overload and
571430 -    impact on work performance. ref SDS 58 8956
571432 -  ..
571433 - The assumption that everyone "knows about..." the new reality of too
571434 - much information due to faster technology, seems to conflict with
571435 - comments on 971202 at HQUSACE. ref SDS 54 3231
571436 -
571437 -       [On 980630 reviewed article in PMJ on using the Internet for
571438 -       project management, that does not mention the problem of
571439 -       Information Overload. ref SDS 62 2476]
571441 -        ..
571442 -       [On 980807 article cites information overload as making it
571443 -       harder to recruit and retain employees. ref SDS 66 2426]
571445 -        ..
571446 -       [On 980808 managers feel hard work solves information overload.
571447 -       ref SDS 67 3379]
571449 -        ..
571450 -       [On 980815 article says U.S. "Intelligence" failures stem from
571451 -       too much information, not enough understanding. ref SDS 68 1173]
571453 -        ..
571454 -       [On 051130 article in AIA Architect - during the past quarter
571455 -       century, documentation has grown significantly; projects that
571456 -       required only a few file boxes in the 1980s result in many times
571457 -       that amount today. ref SDS 79 Z16L
571459 -  ..
571460 - A second article in the same issue of "Today's Engineer" on page 34
571461 - with the title:
571462 -
571463 -                      Making the Complex Clear
571464 -
571465 -          by Joan G. Nagle (jgnagle@scescape.net)
571466 -
571467 - ...with a magazine section subject...
571468 -
571470 -                   ..
571471 -                  The Architecture of Information
571472 -
571473 -
571474 - ...describes information overload as a...
571475 -
571477 -  ..
571478 - Tsunami of data crashing on beaches of civilized world
571479 -
571480 - Ms Nagle begins with the following quote:
571481 -
571482 -    "There is a tsunami of data," says Richard Saul Wurman, "that is
571483 -    crashing onto the beaches of the civilized world. This is a tidal
571484 -    wave of unrelated, growing data... coming in an unorganized,
571485 -    uncontrollable, incoherent cacophony of foam.  It's filled with
571486 -    flotsam and jetsam.  Its filled with the sticks and bones and
571487 -    shells of inanimate and animate life.  None of it is easily
571488 -    related, none of it comes with any organizational methodology."
571490 -  ..
571491 - This view supports Haselkorn's feeling that information overload is a
571492 - serious problem, ref SDS 0 3499, that costs industry and government a
571493 - lot of money.  Therefore, a solution, should yield considerable cost
571494 - savings by avoiding rework, ref DRP 6 4172, as reported by CESPN on
571495 - 971008. ref SDS 51 2710
571496 -
571497 -       [On 980807 article cites information overload as making it
571498 -       harder to recruit and retain employees. ref SDS 66 2426]
571500 -  ..
571501 - Worry that technology creates a "tsunami" of information aligns with
571502 - the New World Order paper that says managers are drowning in a sea of
571503 - details. ref OF 2 7451
571504 -
571505 -     Therefore, Communication Metrics that adds intelligence to
571506 -     organize, align and analyse details and present a summary that is
571507 -     connected to relevant details, should add value to management by
571508 -     saving time on the one hand of confronting endless details, and
571509 -     avoiding the cost of disruption caused by a "tsunami" by virtue of
571510 -     being connected to the details that are needed to perform the work
571511 -     when those details are needed.
571513 -  ..
571514 - The author's presentation of the information overload problem aligns
571515 - with the review on 940609 of Henry Kissinger's worry that government
571516 - management/communication is becoming an "Alice in Wonderland world,"
571517 - ref SDS 10 4238, relating to his book "Diplomacy" at ref SDS 10 4486.
571519 -  ..
571520 - Peter Drucker urges in his book "Management, Tasks, Responsibilities,
571521 - Practices, reviewed on 931130, that these new realities require
571522 - changes in the structure of management. ref SDS 8 1855
571524 -  ..
571525 - On 970926 the prospect of an "El Nino" of information overload was
571526 - explained to Jim Jones, CEMP-E, as a new reality which impacts the
571527 - ability of organizations to meet objectives. ref SDS 50 2957
571529 -  ..
571530 - A "tsanami" of data crashing on the beaches of the civilized world,
571531 - ref SDS 0 1706, sounds like a "strategic inflection point" cited by
571532 - Andy Grove in his book reviewed on 980307. ref SDS 56 6148
571534 -  ..
571535 - On 980511 economists hope that technology will improve productivity,
571536 - but offer no support to offset mounting evidence that information
571537 - overload reduces management effectiveness. ref SDS 59 6215
571539 -  ..
571540 - This record and prior analysis on 970727, ref SDS 46 2276, supports
571541 - proposal to USACE discussed on 980520 to use Communication Metrics
571542 - that adds "intelligence to information in order to create the
571543 - knowledge need for effective management.
571544 -
571545 -
571546 -
571547 -
5716 -

SUBJECTS
Scope Management
Murphy's Law

6004 -
600501 -  ..
600502 - Project Scope Creep caused by failed communication
600503 -
600504 - A third article in Today's Engineer on page 14 has the title...
600505 -
600506 -                      Project Scope Creep
600507 -             Bringing engineering and marketing together
600509 -  ..
600510 - This article offers a case study as a learning exercise, ref OF 10
600511 - ZP3I, to help project managers, engineers and marketing managers
600512 - communicate better, which seems essential for the Virtual Office model
600513 - to succeed, per the review above. ref SDS 0 3499
600515 -  ..
600516 - Morris explained scope creep in the record on 911221. ref SDS 4 6E5G
600517 - On 950412 scope creep delayed release of Primavera schedule software
600518 - update, ref SDS 14 GF45; discussed with Morris. ref SDS 14 0U4O  On
600519 - 951221 scope creep explained as "pile on the features" without
600520 - thinking about affecting the core objective of the program; this
600521 - creates an unwieldy collection of modules, and nobody understands how
600522 - they interact. ref SDS 18 0221
600523 -
600524 -
600526 -  ..
600527 - Project scope creep is familiar to engineers, developers and
600528 - procurement specialists of all stripes.  The military calls it
600529 -
600530 -                         "mission creep"
600531 -
600532 -     ...it seems likely to occurs because of the minds ability to
600533 -     expand associations without conscious awareness, as occurs in
600534 -     using an organic subject structure for information management,
600535 -     discussed above. ref SDS 0 4581
600537 -  ..
600538 - The article scenario suggests scope creep is caused by failed
600539 - communication, ref OF 10 2858  This reflects the premise of the New
600540 - World Order... paper that a "failure to communicate" is the cause of
600541 - management failures, ref OF 2 0520, particularly those attributed to
600542 - "Murphy's Law," ref OF 2 2536, and so offers the greatest opportunity
600543 - to improve cost savings.
600545 -  ..
600546 - The article does not identify the cognitive process of expanding
600547 - associations as the cause of communication failure, reflecting the
600548 - fact that this is a new field, which is not widely accepted.
600549 - Moreover, "mistrust" seems like a condition that a good leader can
600550 - rectify, whereas, limited span of attention, which is the cognitive
600551 - condition that leads to both expanded subjects and project scope,
600552 - seems beyond the reach of most managers.
600554 -  ..
600555 - This case study involves marketing and engineering, but it reflects
600556 - battles between engineering and construction, or between construction
600557 - and operations, etc.
600559 -  ..
600560 - The author explains the problem as "mistrust" which seems to boil down
600561 - to over reliance on conversation, and too little development of
600562 - factual analysis. (see for example ref OF 10 2410 and ref OF 10 1755)
600564 -  ..
600565 - On 970404 a similar scenario occurred in a meeting where CESPN-E
600566 - (engineering) raised issues on the Richmond project in connection with
600567 - CESPN-CO (Construction Operations) request for clarification of bid
600568 - quantities. ref SDS 36 5839
600570 -  ..
600571 - Better "communications" therefore, seems critical for the "virtual
600572 - office" concept and its corollary of a "Virtual District," which USACE
600573 - is investigating, as discussed with CESPN on 980520. ref SDS 60 7470
600574 -
600575 -
600576 -
600577 -
600578 -
6006 -