Conference 7.286::digital

At the end of the program, the next "edition" was announced for
  August 19.  Although this doesn't fulfill the request for a
  permanent interchange, I think it's fine...
  
  I had heard Ken make comments in the past about "treating your
  data with more respect" than to put it over a voice-grade line,
  but this was the first time I heard him make reference to the
  regulatory aspects of technology development in the voice
  industry...made a lot of sense...
  
  I also liked the reference to "be proud; be humble; don't be
  arrogant"...
  
  I was disturbed, as were other women, by the offhand comment
  "Let's take the girls to dinner; I don't want to get any more
  serious than that!" ... This sort of remark in the middle of
  a business-related Q & A session only tends to trivialize women
  and their contribution to the corporation's success.
  
  I am looking forward to the next one!
  
  Marge
  

    OK, I'll be the first hayseed from the out in the boondocks to ask:
    
    Just what in the Sam Dickens are you talking about here? I'm assuming
    that KO appeared on some kind of TV/satellite hook-up and talked
    to some employees in real-time, but how about some details folks?
    Like when, who, what sites, and how? Maybe I'm just dumb but I don't
    remember seeing anything like this on my cable TV.
    
    Paul.
    Syracuse, NY

        re .2
        
        There is an Internal Dec TV transmission network. I think the
        thing is driven out of MK or LKG. A number of facilities have
        the appropriate Satellite HArdware to connect in. I believe
        it can do videoconferencing as well. 
        
        However, pity us in the boonies, (Outside the U.S.). I have
        never seen K.O. in the flesh, and am only likely to do so if
        I am in ML at the right time. A visit from the Top Dude to
        the subsidiaries would improve moral out here no end.
        
        
        q

        Pick a DECmail router, e.g., MROMTS, FLOTSM, RUGGED, etc. 
        There are usually several in each area.  I don't know where
        to find the list.
        
        Send the mail to NM%router::MRGATE!Ken_Olsen@MLO.  It will
        be delivered to his DECmail, VAXmail, or All-in-1 account (I
        don't know which he has, probably DECmail).  I doubt that he
        personally will read it -- but someone who works for him will,
        and if it's important, it will get acted on.
        
        Make sure you don't write something that would justify shooting
        the messenger -- and don't just flame, if you have a complaint,
        state the case calmly, and give the background justification.
        
        Tom

    Try this:
    
    
    $ PHONE
    (A screen comes up)
    DIR SIERRA
    (A list of people logged in comes up, sometimes including the name
    OLSEN)
    DIAL OLSEN
    
    ............
    If he types in ANSWER, you're in business.
    
    Remarks:
    
    1. You'd better have something to say.
    2. I don't know if it's THE Olsen. (I don't have anything to say.)
    
    Have fun :-)
    
    MFG

        re .-1
        
>            $ PHONE
>    (A screen comes up)
>    DIR SIERRA
>    (A list of people logged in comes up, sometimes including the name
>    OLSEN)
>    DIAL OLSEN
    
 	This would surprise me as I was under the impression that Sierra
        is a terminals engineering machine. There are 4 olsen's in
        the Mill ( and maybe others with accounts on Mill Machines
        that don't work there.) Lin, Pat or Robert Olsen are more likely
        than not going to be the ones you annoy rather than K.O.
        
         Q

        Pick a DECmail router, e.g., DRWHO, MROMTS, FLOTSM, RUGGED, etc. 
        There are usually several in each area.  I don't know where
        to find the list.
                  
        Send the mail to NM%router::MRGATE!Ken_Olsen@CORE.  It will
        be delivered to his DECmail account. His secretary will give
        it to him, and if it's important, it will get acted on.
        
        Make sure you don't write something that would justify shooting
        the messenger -- and don't just flame, if you have a complaint,
        state the case calmly, and give the background justification.

    	I have no complaints or flames at all, just some ideas and
    suggestions about communicating with employees, which was what he
    and John Sims seemed especially interested in, from the broadcast.
    
    	Thank you. I'll post the letter here, when it's finished. 
    
    	Ed
    

        Don't feel bad Q.  It's not just the overseas people that are
    in the boonies.  This is the first I've heard about the broadcast.
    (And I'm not likely to see KO walking around my plant either!)
    
        (This is one of the strong points about NOTES.  Its allows those
    of us who are geographically separated to share some sense of community
    with those of you who are "At the center of the DEC universe".)
    
    tlh
    

    A while ago, KO came to ZK and gave a talk in our cafe.  One of
    the things he mentioned was that he doesn't use any of our equipment
    (and hasn't for years).   He also commented that he printed out
    his electronic mail, but there was too much of it for him to deal
    with.   
    
    Maybe these days a secretary deals with it all?
    
    	KC

    	Did he give any reason for this? Does he think he works
    better than he could with the use of computers? Keep him away from
    customers! :-) Seriously, maybe some group should talk to him,
    and design with him some ideal system that could convince even him
    that computers can make his job easier and his time spent more
    efficiently. 
    
    	What does he do all day, anyway? 
    
    	Ed

    Ed Kramer has been working on just the sort of system and software
    that could make a workstation for senior executives. So someone
    is working with Ken to figure out how to make computers useful to
    him personally.
    
    He spends his time working with people. One-on-one, in small groups,
    in committees, and at larger meetings.
    
    Although I am several levels below him, I find that I rarely spend
    any work time using computers. I do handle my own mail, but few
    of the managers above me do. I use editors/word processors to compose
    documents because I write faster than I speak. Above me, there are
    few documents generated over a page in length. The longer documents
    that benefit from word processing are generally created at lower
    levels in the organization.

Even if you work in the Mill, the chances of seeing KO are pretty small. I 
have been working here for 5 years and I think I've seen him three times.
Once, he was greeting some visitors in the (old) main lobby, another time he 
was speaking before our whole Plant (used to be the Maynard MFG Plant and were
embarking on a new charter: New Product Operations). I was videotaping the 
presentation and after it was over, I kept the videotape rolling and went up 
and shook KO's hand and I now have a record of it. The third time, I saw him 
leaving the Mill in his Ford Bronco II 4x4.

Ken (to my knowledge) never eats in the cafeteria or walks down Main Street
here in Maynard like so many other Digital employees do. 

jim

    On the other hand, KO does give blood.

    I have just read this topic, not having accessed the DIGITAL conference
    for a while.  I feel compelled to share the following with you.
    I did not write it; it was distributed privately by an employee
    here in Bedford, MA (which is where the DVN broadcasts emanate from).
    I did, however, verify the facts.  The incident and language mentioned
    were used.  I only edited out a couple of letters and replaced them
    with "*", as I am no longer sure what the rules are around here.
    The author knows that I am posting this:
    
    
                          A LESSON IN ARROGANCE
                                     
    The president was talking to the company's employees over the corporate
    video network but I got the distinct impression his remarks on
    arrogance were directed at his vice-president of Sales and Services.
    It was one of those sermons where the more the preacher talks about
    avoiding the pitfalls, the clearer it is the preacher (or a close
    associate) is in the pit.
    
    Somehow it seemed rather arrogant just feeling the need to verbally
    chastise oneself and associates as a form of preventive maintenance
    against a pending onslaught of arrogance.  Nonetheless, the message
    was clear - we're pretty awesome but we really should eat some humble
    pie.  The old adage, "We're Digital and you're not", had come true
    and, therefore, it wouldn't be too prudent to keep cramming it down
    other people's throats.
    
    Signal received, lesson learned, end of show.  But not really, the
    real lesson was about to start in, of all places, the Digital Bedford
    parking lot.  The lesson - companies aren't arrogant, individuals
    are arrogant.
    
    Assume you are the Vice-President of Sales and Services of the world's
    second largest computer manufacturer.  You have just been one of
    the four featured guests on "your" own private television network
    and are on your way out to your car to head for your next important
    event of the day.  You were well controlled in your video performance
    and answered questions, addressed issues and spoke with authority.
    You're something else!  But what's this sh**!  Your car is blocked
    in by one of your own company's commuter vans.  Sure you're parked
    in the VANPOOL parking space, but at your facility those spaces
    are available to anyone after 9AM.  Boy, are you pi**ed!
    
    After security finally gets the damn driver's a** out to move the
    f___in' van, guess what?  The f___in' van driver doesn't even recognize
    you.  An exchange follows:
    
    "Move this van, I'm already 35 minutes late for a meeting in Merrimack
    and Merrimack is 30 minutes away."  This reasonable facsimile of
    the VP's opening volley gives him the benefit of the doubt that
    expletives were delted.
    
    "What's wrong, can't you read!  That sign says VANPOOL parking!"
     Probably not the best choice of words for a humble employee addressing
    his fearless leader, however, two points for honesty.
    
    The stage is set and arrogance waits in the wings.  The US sixth
    fleet is positioned off the coast of Lybia and the marines are about
    to land in Granada.  Slowly he turns, step by step .....
    
    "You're a f___in' smart ass!  I could wipe out this VANPOOL with
    one phone call!  What's your name and badge number?  How long have
    you been with Digital?  After 9AM, these spaces are available to
    anyone!  You can park up the hill and walk down here like everyone
    else!"
    
    In less than three minutes, it was all over.  Kadaffy's two young
    sons lie bleeding in the ruins and his infant daughter was dead.
    It was supposed to be a surgical strike; takeout only VANPOOLS
    being used to support terrorism.  What was it really - it was an
    abuse of power - a lesson in arrogance.  VPs are human and certainly
    have a right to argue with other humans about human things like
    "get your f___in' van out of my face".  But "I could wipe out this
    VANPOOL with one phone call"? - arrogance.
    

    Well, it took him two or three calls to wipe out the National Sales
    Desk.
    
    It was cost reduced out of existence by a couple of air strikes and
    replaced with more expensive area level telemarketing sites leaving
    1-800-DIGITAL in limbo for a few months.
    
    I wasn't involved personally or that closely but it certainly had
    all the ear marks of the attitude described in .-1.
    
    I'm still amazed at this type of attitude by a 'leader' of a fine
    company.
    
    Don 

What's this stuff about van spaces being available for anyone after 9:00?

I've been riding a van for 5 years and NEVER heard that one.  Periodically,
the driver has to take the van out for either service or to run an errand.
Upon returning, if anyone is in our space, it's interpretted as a dare to
block them in.  Most van drivers I know ALWAYS block in cars parked in van
spots and I fully support their actions.  Are people really that lazy that
they can't walk a few extra feet?

One the other hand, if this 9:00 stuff is legitimate, it might be a good idea
to tell the van people as well as the rest of company.  If true, then the VP
is question certainly deserved to be upset.  On the other hand, if it's not
policy, he deserved the reaction he got.

-mark

    In the Lower Thompson St. parking lot by building ML05 there are
    several van parking spaces. 
    
    Signs in each space clearly say (this is from memory) "Reserved for
    commuter van until 0900."  [Can a mill rat correct this, if my memory
    is wrong?]
              
    I frequently go to ML for a 9:00 meeting. I usually arrive around
    8:45. I have never attempted to park in the van spaces, but most
    of them are already taken by cars by that time. 
              
    -bs

     Re: .19 
     
>    Signs in each space clearly say (this is from memory) "Reserved for
>    commuter van until 0900."  [Can a mill rat correct this, if my memory
>    is wrong?]
              
     Your memory  is fine.  At the Mill, this is indeed the rule, and has 
     been so for the past 3+ years.
     
     Unfortunately, I have  found  that  this  appears to be an exception 
     rather than a rule  relative  to  most  other  DEC facilities.  If I 
     recall  correctly,  at PKO AND  BUO  the  Van  spaces  are  reserved 
     Forever!
     
     I think that it only makes  sense  to  reserve  them for a specified 
     period of time, adn then open them  up  to  any  comers.    If a van 
     leaves the space, or if I have to  leave  the  Mill  for any reason, 
     neither of us has a right to expect our  space  to be reserved until 
     we return!  Any of us can walk the extra  mile  (few  feet  my foot!  
     I'll bet it is 1/4 mile from Lower Thompson door to  end  of parking 
     lot!),    if    not    we  can  get  a  special  exemption  for  the 
     Medical/Handicapped spaces!!!
     

     re .18:
     
     > Are people really that lazy that they can't walk a few extra feet?
     
     Does that include van drivers who run errands during the day? 
     
     --Mr Topaz

I guess I should have included a little more information about why spaces
should be reserved ALL day.

Some of the errands that van drivers go on are meetings at other sites or
for van maintenance (I know, they sometimes take them to lunch too).  Anyhow,
when people get out of work, they typically walk over to the van to wait for
it to fill up and leave.  If the van is not there, it causes a lot of confusion
since the first fear in someone's mind is that they got left behind (rarely, but
occasionaly happens).

Part of the reason thevan program works is that it's fairly painless to ride
one.  It drops you at the door and you pick it up at its parking space.  To
start making contingencies for lost spaces when the van went on an errand would
add to the complexities that already exist.

-mark

    My guess is that all the Mill vans are parked "ALL day" at Parker
    St. since the Mill spaces are 90% cars after 9:00.  Could this be
    Van "policy" since it might reduce congestion to start at PK and
    circle past ML?
    
    	RMM