Conference 7.286::digital

    Although I feel this notesfile does serve a purpose, I do not feel that
    notesfiles such as newage music or rock climbing (no rat hole here, I
    don't like newage but do like rock climbing) help to contirbute to the
    bottom line.  Take a look in VTX at all the different notesfiles and
    think of the company resources tied up in supporting these files,
    such as disk space (no, you cannot copy that file from a to b, disk
    quota exceeded).
    
    It is noble that the company allows us the use of company resources
    for personal use.  But it does reach a point that it is not in the
    companies best interests to continue this practice. A disk block here
    and a disk block there.....

    I've had no less then 5 people mail me copies and have seen it in
    at least 2 or three notes conferences. In still an other conference 
    is a mail exchange between a local IM&T manager and Dan Infante where
    the manager makes a good case that Dan could not really mean what
    it appears the memo says (my words) and Dan Infante agrees that there
    are good business reasons to backup non-technical conferences.
    Check out Topic 1276 in the Colorado conference (especially reply .11).

Colorado			COMET::COLORADO				    1196

    There has also been quite a bit of discussion of the idea of shutting
    Notes conferences in the Employee Involvement conference as well.

DELTA Program			CAPNET::DELTA_IDEAS			    2842

    Check out topic 369 there. The Dan Infante memo is also discussed
    there at some length.

    Lastly there is a notes conference dedicated to discussion of employee
    interest notes conferences and the kind of issues the Dan Infante memo
    raises. It's at:

Employee Interest Noting	LESLIE::EMPLOYEE_INTEREST_NOTING	    3039

    			Alfred

>    Although I feel this notesfile does serve a purpose, I do not feel that
>    notesfiles such as newage music or rock climbing (no rat hole here, I
>    don't like newage but do like rock climbing) help to contirbute to the
>    bottom line.  

    Few employee benefits contribute to the bottom line. Shall we cut
    them out as well? I mean really health care is expensive just think
    how much Digital could save if we didn't have a health plan. Notes is
    a benefit plain and simple. And its dirt cheap for what it gives us.
    In directly I believe these conferences *do* contribute BTW. They do
    so by keeping employees happier and by helping them to establish good
    relationships around the company that help them do their job better 
    and feel better about their company.

>Take a look in VTX at all the different notesfiles and
>    think of the company resources tied up in supporting these files,
>    such as disk space (no, you cannot copy that file from a to b, disk
>    quota exceeded).

    Do you know of a system where this has happened? I don't. Any system
    manager who lets it happen is not doing his/her job *and* is in
    violation of company policy BTW. Disk space for employee interest
    conferences is spare by definition. If the file gets in the way of
    work it's gone. This is how such files have been treated in the 7+
    years I've been using Notes.

    			Alfred

    Your suggestion on the VP's sounds good. but why so few?
    
    However, I do agree that non-business related notes files could and
    probably should go.  I say this as an addicted user.

    Employee interest VAX Notes Conferences, for the most part, exist on
    idle or standby systems.  Any system or disk space needed for business
    activity can be and indeed often is reallocated for that purpose.
    
    Employee interest VAX Notes Conferences are a voluntary employee
    activity and an important contributor to the morale of those employees
    who participate in them.  If you feel that your productivity is
    diminished by participation in them, then feel free not to.
    
    There's far more discussion of this in LESLIE::EMPLOYEE_INTEREST_NOTING

    Re:  1323.1     BAGELS::CARROLL                 
    >  it does reach a point that it is not in the companies best 
    > interests to continue this practice. A disk block here
    > and a disk block there.....
    
    Well, if that's how you truly feel, then how can you justify replying
    here?  I mean, a reply here, a reply there..... oh, what difference
    does one little reply make, anyway?
    
    FWIW, your nodename::username populates many an employee-interest notes
    file.  Any excuse for the sudden change of heart?
    \Gary

    RE:  .3 Amen Alfred.  To me, Digital personal-interest notesfiles
    are a way of bonding with the company.  I don't know who to call 
    for a home repair...I check out notes.  I want another cat...I read notes.
    I want to make a friend in another country...I read notes.  (I feel no
    need here to discuss my many technical/job-related uses of notes.)  
    
    Notes relieves some of my daily personal stresses so that I can better do 
    my job.  It also helps me form relationships with the Digital
    community.
    
    Notes helps sell systems.  It is a prime example of networked
    computing.  It is one of the ways I explain our company strengths to 
    non-technical people.
    
    Most importantly, I truly believe notes contributes to the low
    turnover rate we now enjoy.  It typifies the culture discussed in 
    this forum.
    
             

    There are cases where the DIGITAL noter community (thru
    personal_interest conferences) actually did contribute directly
    to the "bottom-line".
    I recall a note and suite of replies in the "model railroad
    conference", where a Texan salesrep (model railroader) contacted other
    DEC model-railroaders "up north" to arrange a "layout tour" for his VIP
    customer, a model railroader himself of course. The tour was great
    (dixit the VIP), and he signed up for a 9000 !
    
    He might have bought the 9000 anyway, but who knows ?!
    I am quite sure that there exists a lot more of those examples 
    Getting to know other folks thru shared interest sure helps to
    build up your personal network which is essential for doing
    your job. A "networked" company without "networked people"
    is totally meaningless.
    
    Just sacking such conferences would be a tremendous mistake.
    It's up to the noters community (not only the moderators) to
    keep things within reasonable limits, much the same way as
    chats around the coffe machines, in smoking rooms etc etc...
    
    /fred

    I would estimate that employee non-business use of copy machines
    and office supplies is more of a $ 'loss' to the company than disk
    space occupied by employee-interest notesfiles.

    Lee

I Believe that notes whether Recreational or not add an extra flavor
to this company.  The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks!  Now Maybe


if we built some fast reliable high density disk and tape drives, that
are affordable i.e. PC Range 5-15 hundred instead of 5 to 15 thousand,
well we wouldn't have to worry about the cost to keep it online and SAFE!

- Mike