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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

155.0. "Risk-Taking" by VIKING::TARBET (Margaret Mairhi) Fri Jul 18 1986 16:51

    Engineering managers tend to be judged on how well they can predict the
    timing and cost of product development.  This, in turn, tends to mean
    that well-understood, low-risk/low-gain products are favored over those
    that represent (inherently risky) cutting-edge thinking.  
    
    It is widely regarded as vital that hi-tech corporations (particularly)
    be innovative, yet it is also well-understood that much innovation
    comes from people not assigned to formal r&d organisations  (i.e., not
    all creative people work for Sam Fuller).  Presumably, therefore,
    much engineering creativity will reside in product-development
    organisations whose managers have considerable stake in playing
    things safe and little if any in supporting innovation. 
    
    I would argue that that poses a severe problem for DEC and one worthy
    of attention.  I know of 2 creative groups that were dissolved because
    their next-level-up managers could not or would not take the risks
    needed to support their efforts, and I am quite sure that those
    two represent only a small fraction of those that vanish every year,
    their work lost to DEC, for the same reason.  (It should be noted
    that the work of at least one of those 2 groups...I'm not sure about
    the other...fully supported corporate strategy, so incongruity was not
    the reason for the non-support.)
    
    How can that problem be dealt with in general?
    
    					=maggie
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155.1Tell it to the RAD Committee!ATLANT::SCHMIDTI Use VMS. My Cereal? Raw Bits!Fri Jul 18 1986 21:0714
Let's see how out-dated I am...

  In general, the problem is in the hands of the RAD 
  (Reasearch and Development) Committee.  They have a
  pot of uncommitted money, accept proposals, and doll
  out the funds.

  I seem to remember the ceiling on initial handouts was 
  $25 000, which should keep you working for about a quarter.

  Got a proposal?  Like Ed McMahon says when he's pitching 
  magazines: "C'mon -- send it in!"

                                   Atlant
155.2What's the RAD committee?CIPHER::PRESCOTTWed Jul 23 1986 18:0910
The RAD committee sounds intriguing -- I hadn't heard of it 
before.  Is it just for engineers, or can anybody go to them with 
an idea?  Has anyone had experience?  And, finally, are there any 
products/services/functions which exist now that were born as 
proposals to the committee?

(Maybe this is in another note somewhere and I missed it; if so, 
sorry........)


155.3IntrapeneuringCSTVAX::MCLUREVaxnote your way to ubiquityWed Jul 23 1986 21:2914
	I can't help you with RAD, but I might point out that there is a
    real interesting book on this subject now in print called "Intrapeneuring"
    by Gifford Pinchot III which defines the new corporate term (taken from
    Intra - Corporate - Entrapeneuring), and goes on to predict an upcoming
    revolution within the industries which curerently stifle this sort of
    thing, as well as giving case-studies of how various people in large
    Corporations (DEC unfortunately not included) have used these techniques
    in carving out their own innovations.

	It's a good deal for around $8.95 in paperback at most commercial
    bookstores.  I'd like to hear about some DEC casestudies of this sort.
    I'm sure their are plenty.

							-DAV0
155.4IntrapreneuringCSTVAX::MCLUREVaxnote your way to ubiquityThu Jul 24 1986 04:247
re: -1,

	Sorry, there's a hidden "R" in both of these terms which I
    left out due to VDT brain damage: intrapReneuring (derived from
    intra - corporate - entrepReneuring).

						-Dav0
155.5RAD proposalsREGINA::LEICHTERJJerry LeichterWed Aug 20 1986 13:31371
From:	RDVAX::RAD "Mildred Barrett/RAD Administration 225-5503  14-Aug-1986 1601" 14-AUG-1986 17:06
To:	@MCCINT,@87RAD,@RADMIN,RAD         
Subj:	RAD Funding Available


     Funding available for Advanced Development Projects
     ---------------------------------------------------

The Corporate Research and Advanced Development Committee (RAD) 
has funds available to support innovative advanced development 
projects in any area of technology of interest to Digital. Areas 
of technology the committee has supported in the past include 
software, hardware, computer systems, and manufacturing. 

If you have an idea, please contact your manager or Mildred 
Barrett, RAD Administrator, at DTN 225-5503 (RDVAX::BARRETT). To 
catch the current RAD funding cycle, proposals should reach the 
committee by September 18, 1986. However, in special cases the 
committee is prepared to consider proposals at any time.


		LIST OF CURRENTLY FUNDED RAD PROJECTS
		==== == ========= ====== === ========


Funding Cycle			Project			    Project Manager
======= =====			=======			    ======= =======

FY87A-FY87B	"Multi-Chip Thermal Packaging Development"     S. Friedman

FY87A-FY87B	"The Effects of Using a File-Access Protocol
		for the Host to Storage Element Interface"     Joe Falcone

FY87A-FY87B	"The DEC Massively Parallel Processor" (MPP)   Bob Grondalski

FY87A-FY87B	"Probability Analysis Revision to DECSIM"      John Williams

FY86B-FY87A	"Feasibility Study for Novel Optical Head 
		Design"						Neville Lee

FY86B-FY87A	"Development of Analytical Computer Models
		for Multiple-Output Current-Mode Control
		Power Supplies"					Bill Taylor

FY86B-FY87A	"High Performance Stacked Model"		Stan Czerepak

FY86B-FY87A	"VAX Fortran Vectorization"			Leslie Klein

FY86B-FY87A	"Multiprocessor ADA"			      Joel Clinkenbeard

FY86B-FY87A	"Microcharacterization of Thin-Film Media
		Using Stem"					Gary Rauch



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| D | I | G | I | T | A | L |     I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O
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To:  Distribution                      Date:     14 August 1986 
				       From:     Mildred Barrett 
				       Dept:     RAD Administration
                                       Ext:      225-5503
                                       Loc:      HL02-3/N11
                                       ENet:     RDVAX::BARRETT 



Subject:   RAD REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS                                 


The Research and Advanced Development (RAD) Committee is issuing this 
Request for Proposals for the ultimate purpose of funding research or 
advanced development activities of any individual or group within DEC.  It 
contains information on the objectives of the RAD Committee, guidelines for 
preparation of proposals, and instructions for their submission;  we 
encourage you to circulate it to all interested parties.

                            ESSENTIALS

1.  Each proposal must have a sponsor on the RAD Committee.  The sponsor 
    will insure that the interests and policies of the Committee are known 
    to the proposer and will help to shepherd the proposal along.  Before 
    you spend a lot of time developing a proposal, contact a member of the 
    RAD Committee and get a sponsor.  A list of members and their areas of 
    interest is given later.

2.  All proposals must be received in the hands of your sponsor NO LATER 
    THAN 18 SEPTEMBER 1986.  No extensions will be granted.

                             COMMITTEE ACTIONS

The Committee will act on your proposal in one of the following ways: 

    A.   Accept the proposal as is and later decide whether or 
         not to fund it.
    
    B.   Ask for an oral presentation of the proposal to the 
         Committee.
    
    C.   Ask for a resubmission of the proposal.  The Committee 
         will request a specific modification of the proposal 
         and/or suggest that the funding arrangements be changed.
    
    D.   Reject the proposal outright.  Your sponsor will explain 
         the reasoning.  (For example, the proposal could fall 
         outside the range of the Committee's charter or be 
         financially impossible.)
    

The Committee will make final selections by 19 December 1986.  We allocate 
funds twice a year, however the proposed projects can be of up to a year in 
duration.  We will specifically fund only the first year of a multi-year 
project.

IMPORTANT POINTS

The RAD decision process results in the consideration of a specific project 
at a specific funding amount;  however, the proposal and requested amount 
may ultimately differ from the original submission.  We ultimately either 
reject the proposal or fund it at the full final requested amount.
In the past, the Committee has favored small projects.  We will also 
entertain a small number of large, strategically-focused proposals.  These 
should be either an intensive examination of an important problem or a set 
of smaller, interdependent projects.  

The Committee will judge larger projects on their strategic value.  Larger 
proposals will require more forethought and preparation than we have 
required in the past.  Please work with your sponsor before investing a lot 
of time and effort on a large-value, strategic proposal.     

COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

The goal of the RAD Committee is to foster effective research and advanced 
development within the Corporation.  We view research and advanced 
development ultimately as the individual responsibility of each development 
manager.  Thus, the RAD Committee cannot be viewed as a legitimate funding 
source for "normal" ongoing research and advanced development.  The 
Committee funds incrementally beyond the research and advanced development 
that we expect to find in every development or technology strategy.  The 
kind of projects that we favor funding are the following:

Radical departures:  experimental efforts that do not fit into development 
plans because significant risk exists that the direction will not be 
fruitful.

Intergroup areas:  efforts for which the responsibility falls between 
organizational boundaries.

Orphans:  efforts that don't have an obvious organizational home.

Surprises:  insights that arise out of phase with the existing budgeting 
cycle and yet deserve quick attention.

Seed money:  we realize that it takes some time to install effective 
research and advanced development awareness in a development group, and we 
are quite willing to help seed work in groups who have a good idea but who 
can't get enough money to get started.  However, we expect our seeds to 
grow and to see a healthy, self-funded effort in the following years.

PROPOSALS

The RAD Committee receives a large number of proposals, so conciseness and 
clarity is very important.  We are supplying you with a one-page proposal 
cover sheet that summarizes all required information.  In addition, we 
suggest a 2-3 page proposal.  (Supporting documents, if necessary, should 
be provided in the form of appendices.)  The proposal should address the 
following questions in a minimum amount of space:

    1.   What is being proposed?
    
    2.   What persons will do the work, or will the doers be hired 
         later?
    
    3.   What are the deliverables?
    
    4.   How much time and money are required?
    
    5.   How will the results of the proposed project be utilized 
         and lead to successful Digital products?
    
SPONSORS

All proposals must have a sponsor on the Committee.  Before a proposal is 
prepared, the proposer should enlist one.  A list of RAD members and their 
fields of interest follows.  If the proposed project does not fall within 
any of the listed areas, the project leader may contact any RAD member for 
guidance.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IF FUNDED

The RAD Committee views funded proposals as contracts;  we expect those who 
we fund to spend the money as they have proposed, or to come back to the 
Committee to discuss the problems and the alternatives that may be taken.  
Performance of previous RAD-funded projects is a significant consideration 
when proposals are examined.

The Committee expects the responsible engineering management to exercise 
reasonable project control, and assure the Committee that the funds are 
effectively utilized.  As the project progresses, the sponsor of the 
project serves as liaison to the Committee.



                           
	RAD COMMITTEE MEMBERS - AVAILABLE TO ACT AS SPONSORS
	=====================   ============================


NAME/MAILSTOP        ENET                DTN          TECHNOLOGY AREAS
-------------        ----                ---          ----------------

Dan Dobberpuhl       ROCK::DOBBERPUHL    225-4469     VLSI Technology, 
HLO1-1/S11                                            Circuits, Arch, Systems

Judy Hall	     ULTRA::HALL        226-6330      Operating Systems,
LTN2-2/C08                                            Applications Software,
                                                      Security, CPU Arch.

Rob Hannemann        KELVIN::HANNEMANN   289-1560     Physical Technology:  
APO 2/F2                                              Interconnect, Packaging, 
                                                      Cooling, Signal         
                                                      Integrity, Reliability


Alan Kotok           CACHE::KOTOK        237-2603     Computer Architecture,
SHR1-3/E29                                            Very High Speed         
                                                      Circuitry

Nancy Kronenberg     STAR::KRO           229-6741     Operating Systems, CPU 
LTN1-2/B17                                            Architecture and 
                                                      Clusters

Tony Lauck           BERGIL::LAUCK       226-7644     Networks, Comm.  
LKG1-2/A19                                            Hardware, Comm.         
                                                      Software, Dis.          
                                                      Processing
                                                      Operating Systems

Jesse Lipcon         THUNDR::LIPCON      223-3207     Small Systems, Human 
MLO5-5/E71                                            Factors, Terminals,     
                                                      Circuit Design

Steve Lipner         ULTRA::LIPNER       226-6088     Operating Systems,      
LTN 2-2/C05                                           Security, Local Area 
                                                      Systems, Software,
                                                      Formal Specification and
                                                      Verification             
       

Don Nelsen           ROLL::NELSEN         225-4453    Semiconductor 
HL01-1/P06                                            Technology, Device      
                                                      Modeling, Circuit 
                                                      Design, Analog Design, 
                                                      CAD

Jim Ravan            NOVA::RAVAN         381-2364     Database Systems,
ZKO2-2/N59					      Languages, Tools,
                                                      Expert Systems, AI
                                                      (Languages
    						      and Applications),
    						      Parallel Processing
    						      Software and Hardware

Bob Rottmayer        HERMES::ROTTMAYER   225-5577     Storage (disks, tapes,  
HLO2-1/C07                                            main memory), Materials, 
                                                      and Materials Processing

John Shebell         COIN::SHEBELL       276-9595     Customer Services, RAMP 
OGO1-2/F13                                            Eng. Group

Dick Sites	     NULL::DSITES        225-4791     CPU Arch, Systems, 
HL02-3/J03					      Buses, Microcode 

Bob Stewart          TALLIS::STEWART     229-6268     CPU Architecture, Logic 
LTN1-2/B17                                            Design, Analog Design,  
                                                      Bipolar Circuits

Mildred Barrett      RDVAX::BARRETT      225-5503     RAD Administrator
HL02-3/N11        


		     RAD CORRESPONDING MEMBERS		
                     ==========================


NAME/MAILSTOP        ENET                DTN          TECHNOLOGY AREAS
-------------        ----                ---          ----------------

Butler Lampson       CIRCUS::LAMPSON     215-923-6388 Architecture,           
UCT/UCT                                               distributed systems,    
                                                      programming languages,  
                                                      office systems

Richard  Lary	     MARIAH::LARY        552-2241
CXO1-2/N27

Carol Peters         CIRCUS::PETERS      415-853-2224 Distributed Personal UCT
                                                      Computing, CAD, Logic   
                                                      Design, Graphics,
                                                      Testability, Diagnosis


Mike Riggle          NEWTON::RIGGLE      522-2300     Storage Technology,  
CXO1-2/Q22                                            primarily magnetic      
                                                      based, architecture,
                                                      storage subsystems


Tom Stockebrand      ABLE::TOM           552-2551     Displays, Terminals,  
ABO/A1                                                Electomechanical I/O, 
                                                      Vacuum Tunnels



       RAD PROPOSAL COVER SHEET -  FY87B ALLOCATION GUIDE
       ==================================================

  THIS FULLY COMPLETED PROPOSAL MUST BE SUBMITTED BY:  18 SEPTEMBER 1986 

    
    ________________________________________________________________
    |                                                               |
    | Project Name: _______________________________________________ |
    |           (a brief descriptive title of the proposed project) |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    | Project Manager: ____________________________________________ |
    |  Mail Stop: _____________ DTN Ext: _______________ CC: ______ |
    |       ENET: _____________                                     |    
    |                                                               |
    | RAD Sponsor: ___________________________________  ___________ |
    |             (you must work with a member of the RAD Committee)|
    |                                                               |
    | Funding Requested: FY87B   Q3 ....  Q4  ....                  |
    |                    FY88A   Q1 ....  Q2  ....                  |
    |                    TOTAL: $........                           |
    |                    (in K$ -- Funding for at most one year)    |
    |                                                               |
    | Financial Analyst:  _________________________________________ | 
    |                     (the FA for your group)                   |
    |                                                               |
    |  Mail Stop: ______________ DTN Ext: ______________            |
    |                                                               |
    |  ENet:  ______________                                        |
    |                                                               |
    | Project Description: ________________________________________ |
    |   (summarize key project objectives and deliverables )        |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |                                                               |
    |---------------------------------------------------------------|
    
    
                  TO BE COMPLETED BY RAD ADMIN
    
    
     RAD Proposal ID Number __________  Proposal Category:
     Discrete Project Number _________  R & E Form __________
     Funding by Quarter: FY87B   Q3______ Q4_______ 
                         FY88A   Q1______ Q2_______                       
     TOTAL: $
     Matching Funds: _______ K$ or _____ (%) source: ________