| I believe the posted vs. non-posted rules theory is an integral part of
the Digital culture. Someone commented to me in the last day or so
that success at Digital is based on gaining forgiveness rather than
asking permission. You have to know where the line is drawn and not
cross it, but there are undefined boundaries within which you can break
the posted rules and sometimes MUST break the posted rules to do
business. I have done things countless times, that broke the posted
rules when it made sense for one of my customers. I have an instinctive
feeling about just how far I can go, though, a feeling I have acquired
through "osmosis" during many years at Digital. The freedom we have to
"do the right thing" in a given circumstance is probably the single
most precious thing to me about Digital's culture. Let's hope it never
changes!
Pat
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| I think this topic is quite appropriate for this conference on
RELATIONSHIPS. Perhaps the title (Digital rules) should be different
though, something like (posted rules vs. understood rules).
For example, consider the "getting to know someone" game.
Suppose you like someone at work, but don't know them very well
yet, perhaps just you know each others names.
There's an understood guideline (not really a rule) that it might
be appropriate at this first level to say "hello" when passing their
office and they look up. However, to ask "hi, would you like to
take a break and go to the cafeteria for coffee" might be
inappropriate. Perfectly friendly request, but during the embryonic
delicate first contacts with someone, even the friendly request
can be an "unposted nono".
Even earlier in the "relationship" too there can be unposted no-nos.
Before being introduced to someone, and before having taken the
time to introduce yourself, if you HAPPEN to know someone's name
and you pass them in the hall, it might seem odd to say "Hi Sally".
/Eric
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