CONTACTS 
0201 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers         202 761 0011
020101 - Mr. James Lovo; Chief, CEMP-EC =202 761 4804 fax 4783
020102 - Construction and Design Branch, CEMP-EC

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
USACE CESPN CSB Review
Wider Use Communication Metrics
Experience, Need Broader Base
SAD Tests New Methods
HQ Review CEMP
HQ Support Local Command Review
Environmental Management
Paperless Office, SDS
Examples of Needs and Requirements
HQUSACE Solves Information Overload

1913 -    ..
1914 - Summary/Objective
1915 -
191501 - Follow up ref SDS 37 0000, ref SDS 35 0000.
191502 -
191503 - Jim issued CEMP-EC's report on 990106 with copies to Max and to Mike
191504 - at CESP.  CEMP reports actual and estimated savings of $500K. The cost
191505 - to achieve this was $50K, which CEMP-EC says is "significant."  A
191506 - snafu delayed distribution of CEMP-EC's report until today.  Jim plans
191507 - to contact the Directorate of Information Management on progress of
191508 - their review for further investigation and use within USACE.
191509 -
191510 - Submitted ref DIT 1 0000 asking if CESPN received CEMP-EC's report.
191511 -
191512 - Submitted ref DIT 2 0000 to Bob requesting clarification of enclosures
191513 - in Jim's memo.
191514 -
191515 -    [On 990127 submitted CEMP-EC's report to CESPN. ref SDS 38 3960]
191516 -
191517 -    [On 990127 talked to Jim Lovo re follow up. ref SDS 38 7399]
191518 -
191519 -    [On 990129 received list of enclosures from Bob. ref SDS 40 0000]
191520 -
191521 -
191522 -
1916 -
1917 -
1918 - Discussion
1919 -
191901 -  ..
191902 - HQUSACE Issued Report, Recommends Direcotrate of Inf Manag Review
191903 -
191904 - Jim indicated his schedule got backed up yesterday, so he was not able
191905 - to call as planned. ref SDS 37 0000
191906 -
191907 - We reviewed our planning on 990105. ref SDS 35 6095
191908 -
191909 - Jim advised that on 990106 he prepared a cover letter for CEMP-EC's
191910 - report on Communication Metrics, that was issued to Mike Grebinski at
191911 - CESP, and to Max Blodgett at CESPN.
191912 -
191913 - He asked if I received a copy?
191914 -
191915 - I explained not having received his report, per prior planning on
191916 - 990105. ref SDS 35 6095
191917 -
191918 -     [Snafu delayed distribution. ref SDS 0 3402]
191919 -
191920 - Jim will send me an email with copies of materials in the report he
191921 - sent to Mike and to Max on 990106.
191922 -
191923 - Jim's submission today will include his transmittal to the Front
191924 - Office recommending that CEMP-EC's report be forwarded to the
191925 - Directorate of Information Management for further consideration.
191926 -
191927 - We discussed Jim's experience with the responsiveness of the IM
191928 - Directorate.
191929 -
191930 - Jim recalled that sometimes this kind of input leads to investigation
191931 - and follow up; other times there is no follow up.  He mentioned that
191932 - the Information Management people are standardizing on Microsoft
191933 - compatibility.
191934 -
191935 - We did not discuss how standardizing on Microsoft aligns with concern
191936 - in CEMP-EC's report that single source procurement warrants caution in
191937 - evaluating Communication Metrics. ref DRT 1 4920
191938 - ..
191939 - Jim has a working relationship with Ed Huempfner, the Deputy
191940 - Director of the Information Management Directorate (CEIM-ZB).
191941 -
191942 - Jim will contact Ed about progress reviewing Jim's report, and request
191943 - feedback.
191944 -
191945 -     [On 990127 notified Jim about contacting Ed in light of snafu on
191946 -     distribution, ref SDS 0 4368, reported below. ref SDS 38 7040]
191947 -
191948 -     [On 990222 Ed had received the report but had not begun a review
191949 -     because other priorties. ref SDS 45 1140]
191950 -
191951 -
191952 -  ..
1920 -
1921 -
1922 - 0613
1923 -
192301 - Submitted ref DIT 1 0000 to Tom asking if he has seen Jim's report to
192302 - Mike and to Max, per discussion with Jim, above. ref SDS 0 8503
192303 -
192304 - Jim's report needs to be aligned with planning for the presentation to
192305 - DDE and District Counsel, per telecon with Tom on 990122. ref SDS 36
192306 - 2700
192307 -
192308 -
192309 -
1924 -
1925 -
1926 - 0649 called Tom
1927 -
192701 -  ..
192702 - Planning to Align Presentation to CESPN with Report from HQ
192703 -
192704 - Tom has not heard about Jim's report.
192705 -
192706 - He will ask Max about it.
192707 -
192708 -    [Distribution of report may have been delayed. ref SDS 0 4826]
192709 -
192710 - Tom is thinking about scheduling the meeting for 990204 or 990206,
192711 - which is next week.
192712 -
192713 - We considered briefly the idea of me doing a preliminary orientation
192714 - meeting with Erik and with Merry individually, to suit their
192715 - respective schedules.  We would then have a joint team meeting with
192716 - them and Tom to consider questions and implementation.
192717 -
192718 -     [On 990202 met with District Counsel. ref SDS 42 0000]
192719 -
192720 -     [On 990204 met with DDE. ref SDS 44 0000]
192721 -
192722 - Under this scenario, Tom can schedule the team or group meeting with
192723 - all of us for 990204 or 6, and let Erik and Merry schedule a one on
192724 - one meeting with me at their convenience sometime this week.  If they
192725 - do not have time, then we can all meet next week per Tom's proposed
192726 - schedule.
192727 -
1928 -
1929 -
1930 - 1227
1931 -
193101 -  ..
193102 - Received CEMP-EC's Report -- Snafu Delayed Distribution
193103 - Savings from Comm Metrics Makes Cost Significant Factor
193104 -
193105 - Bob's letter ref DRT 3 dated today submits CEMP-EC's report dated
193106 - 990106, ref DRT 2, with recommendations for further review by the
193107 - Information Management Directorate. ref DRT 2 8366
193108 -
193109 - Jim's report says the cost of Communication Metrics is "significant."
193110 - ref DRT 2 2520
193111 -
193112 - There is no explanation of why the cost is significant.
193113 -
193114 - It might help reviewing authorities to explain that actual and
193115 - estimated savings of $500K, set out in Bob's analysis, ref DRT 1 2565,
193116 - attached as enclosure 1, were achieved at a cost of only $50K, per Tom
193117 - Keesling's memo on 981223. ref SDS 31 1752
193118 -
193119 - Paying $50K to save $500K seems very significant, and points to cost
193120 - saving potential and opportunity that warrants investigation.  If
193121 - there are other points of significance about costs, these can be cited
193122 - as well.
193123 -
193124 -     [On 990127 sent letter to Jim on this. ref SDS 38 7040]
193125 -
193126 -     [On 990127 Jim explained common sense analysis the Communication
193127 -     Metrics requires significant effort. ref SDS 38 5655]
193128 - ..
193129 - The report concludes that now is not the time to investigate
193130 - whether expanded use of Communication Metrics can expand savings...
193131 - ref DRT 1 2112  This issue was reviewed on 981218. ref SDS 28 3600
193132 - ..
193133 - A snafu delayed distribution of the report. ref DRT 3
193134 -
193135 - The scope of delayed distribution is unclear from the record.
193136 -
193137 - Below, Max advises that he did not receive the report from CEMP-EC.
193138 - ref SDS 0 4826
193139 -
193140 - As a result, Mike at CESP, and the Directorate of Information
193141 - Management may not have received the report.
193142 -
193143 -     [On 990127 sent letter to Jim about follow up. ref SDS 38 7040]
193144 -
193145 -     [On 990127 Jim frustrated by continual mistakes. ref SDS 38 7399]
193146 - ..
193147 - Jim notes in para 1 of his report that Communication Metrics
193148 - solves information overload, which causes snafus that require rework
193149 - leading to increased cost and delay. ref DRT 2 2520  This addresses in
193150 - part the idea considered on 981218 to explain Communication Metrics
193151 - supports USACE strategic objectives to prepare for the 21st century,
193152 - ref SDS 28 6299, by solving information overload, which Jim also cited
193153 - on 981218 as a serious problem. ref SDS 28 8280
193154 -
193155 - Jim Jones, former Deputy Chief, CEMP-E, noted on 970828 that managers
193156 - are burdened by too much information. ref SDS 10 9900
193157 -
193158 -      [On 990303 scientific paper explains cause of information
193159 -      overload. ref SDS 48 0920]
193160 -
193161 - Cost savings from avoiding rework is explained in CESPN's report on
193162 - 971007, which was requested by Jim Jones. ref DRP 2 4172  Another
193163 - example of snafus that cause delay and extra cost occurred on 970926
193164 - when Jim Jones was communicating with CESPN. ref SDS 11 6615 and also
193165 - ref SDS 11 9539
193166 -
193167 -      [On 990224 another example. ref SDS 46 1718]
193168 -
193169 -      [On 990225 general review of this issue. ref SDS 47 0000]
193170 -
193171 - Solving information overload by adding metrics to communications fixes
193172 - these problems and so saves money in the range of $100Ks per year for
193173 - business groups.  Bigger savings occur when large sums are at risk, as
193174 - on a project.
193175 -
193176 - An example of $100Ks at risk occurred on 970624. ref SDS 9 9045
193177 -
193178 - Another example on the same day, ref SDS 9 6615; and yet another at
193179 - ref SDS 9 8445.
193180 -
193181 - On 961218 $M of dollars were at risk. ref SDS 5 5790
193182 -
193183 - An example of communication snafus where $10Ms were at risk occurred
193184 - on 970110. ref SDS 6 2487
193185 -
193186 -     [On 990201 discussed savings with Tom Keesling and calculated
193187 -     advantage of reduced paper handling. ref SDS 41 7399]
193188 -
193189 -     [On 990204 CESPN Op Plan "flattens" organization by reducing
193190 -     organization levels, causing increased complexity and risk of
193191 -     snafus. ref SDS 43 6448]
193192 -
193193 -     [On 990204 information overload impacts management. ref SDS 43
193194 -     4719]
193195 -
193196 -
193197 -  ..
193198 - Need List of Enclosures to Establish Scope of Report
193199 -
193200 - Jim's memo, ref DRT 2 8366, says in para 2 that Bob's analysis of
193201 - Communication Metrics, ref DRT 1 0000, is enclosure 1, and that
193202 - enclosure 2 includes information from the San Francisco District and
193203 - from the Welch Company.  However, the enclosures are not specifically
193204 - identified.
193205 -
193206 - Need clarification on what has been provided to reviewing authorities,
193207 - in order to facilitate communication.
193208 -
193209 - Submitted ref DIT 1 0000 requesting list of documents forwarded to HQ
193210 - Information Management Directorate, as enclosure 2 of Jim's memo.
193211 -
193212 -    [On 990127 called Jim Lovo on follow up due to snafu and continual
193213 -    mistakes, ref SDS 38 7399 and why cost of Communication Metrics is
193214 -    significant. ref SDS 38 5655]
193215 -
193216 -    [On 990128 Max feels need guidance from HQ on need for experience
193217 -    in District showing Communication Metrics is cost effective......
193218 -    ref SDS 39 4361]
193219 -
193220 -    [On 990129 received list of enclosures from Bob. ref SDS 40 0000]
193221 -
193222 -
193223 -
1933 -
1934 -
1935 - 1347 called Max
1936 -
193601 -  ..
193602 - CESPN Did Not Receive CEMP-EC's Report
193603 -
193604 - Max does not recall having received the report from CEMP-EC sent on
193605 - 990106.  Max checked his email records again for the past month, and
193606 - could not find where CEMP-EC's memo on 990106 has been received.
193607 -
193608 - Bob mentioned in his letter today that there was a "snafu" in not
193609 - sending Jim's report to me on 990106. ref SDS 0 4368  Possibly the
193610 - same thing happened to Max and/or to Mike.
193611 -
193612 - Max requested a copy of HQ's report.
193613 -
193614 -     [On 990127 submitted CEMP's report to Max. ref SDS 38 3960]
193615 -
193616 -     [On 990128 Max received the report. ref SDS 39 4361]
193617 -
193618 -
193619 -  ..
193620 - Planning Communication Metrics for San Francisco District
193621 -
193622 - Max feels there are a number of needs in the District for using
193623 - Communication Metrics.  He feels that starting new projects at the
193624 - inception stage needs this support.
193625 -
193626 - We reviewed other ideas for applying Communication Metrics which were
193627 - previously developed in a meeting on 980520. ref SDS 15 0829
193628 -
193629 - Considered importance of initiating contract as soon as possible so
193630 - that Tom Keesling has an opportunity to launch the Communication
193631 - Metrics effort prior to retiring from USACE in July.  Tom's support
193632 - can be helpful to ensure a strong transition essential to achieve
193633 - cultural buy-in of this new management method.
193634 -
193635 -
193636 -  ..
193637 - Record on Savings and Costs May Warrant Use of Comm Metrics
193638 -
193639 - There was brief consideration of cost/benefits.
193640 -
193641 - HQ's analysis cites savings of $500K. ref DRT 1 2565
193642 -
193643 - Max and I recalled today that the cost to produce this savings was
193644 - less than $50K, as reported in Tom Keesling's letter to CEMP-EC on
193645 - 981223. ref SDS 31 1752   HQ's memo says this is significant.
193646 -
193647 -     [On 990127 Jim Lovo feels that implementing Communication Metrics
193648 -     Corps-wide would be a big job. ref SDS 38 5655]
193649 - ..
193650 - Max feels the cost/savings ratio of 1:10 supports wider use,
193651 - even though we cannot exactly calculate future savings.
193652 -
193653 - Adding business metrics to communcations avoids the continual snafus
193654 - and mistakes that cause delay, extra cost and frustration, as occurred
193655 - above. ref SDS 0 4368
193656 -
193657 - He feels Communication Metrics is like an insurrance policy that
193658 - provides an effective risk management strategy, reflecting analysis on
193659 - 981103 by CESPN-CSB, ref DRP 5 1764, which was received in the record
193660 - on 981104. ref SDS 18 0207
193661 -
193662 -     [On 990204 discussed budgeting. ref SDS 43 3850]
193663 -
193664 -     [On 990204 example of information overload causing managers to
193665 -     forget critical information. ref SDS 43 6448]
193666 -
193667 -
193668 -
1937 -