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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

3746.0. "Management in HP" by HUMANE::MODERATOR () Mon Mar 20 1995 00:29

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    FOO changed job from Digital to HP. The following is the comment from 
    FOO:

    1. FOO had all the name cards, stationary, as well as all the paper 
       work done in the first day of office. Just like entering a 5-star 
       hotel on the first day. In Digital, very often a new hire would 
       sit in the office for several days/weeks for nothing.

    2. FOO, FOO's manager and the team as well as the General 
       Manager/Managing Director mix with the team very well. FOO heard 
       that everyone working in that region likes the Managing Director. 
       For example, they have group lunch together once in a while. 

    3. FOO recently just received a mail message from the General Manager 
       to congratulate their country over-achieved in February and in the 
       message also included a personal thank you and congratulation 
       note from Lew Platt. FOO thought Lew Platt was just the boss of 
       this GM but did not know he was actually the president/CEO of HP! 
       FOO was impressed by Lew's encouraging message as well as his 
       plan to take a long trip to visit the team to express his personal 
       congratulation. Lew Platt commits to his MBWA practice. 


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3746.1human touchANNECY::HOTCHKISSMon Mar 20 1995 06:524
    Well..I was asked to fill in the application form(by 'Human
    resources')-six months after I had started work with Digital.I asked
    what would happen if I didn't get the job...:-)
    No,this is not a joke
3746.2DPDMAI::EYSTERIt ain't a car without fins...Mon Mar 20 1995 15:308
    It's not as bad as it was, but it used to be that when we brought
    someone in, they sat for *at least* a week waiting on badge,
    workstation, account, etc.
    
    It's still bad,though.  Nowadays, the employees do their own
    orientation, down to and including how/where to get a telephone card.
    
    								Tex
3746.3Call it "OJT"...POBOX::CORSONHigher, and a bit more to the rightMon Mar 20 1995 15:376
    
    Hey, look at the bright side - what better way to learn organizational
    structure at Digital then to spend three weeks or so just getting
    yourself structured?
    
    	the Greyhawk
3746.4The buddy system...ODIXIE::MURDOCKeltico...Mon Mar 20 1995 16:127
    
    Re: .0
    
    Are you saying that FOO interviewed with HP without knowing the name
    of HP's pres....?!?!
    
    Was FOO hired by his brother...!?!?!   :-)
3746.5Swim or sink... :-)ODIXIE::MURDOCKeltico...Mon Mar 20 1995 16:1714
    
    Re: .2
    
    >> It's still bad,though.  Nowadays, the employees do their own   
    >> orientation, down to and including how/where to get a telephone card.
    
    It is only a test to see if you can "HANG" in the DEC culture. Try
    working in Sales outside of Mass... if you cannot find info for
    yourself, you are DOOMED...!!
    
    BTW, does anyone have a pointer to a presentation on our newest
    (CHINET) low end server..... --cross posted in *-- 
    
    see..    :-)  
3746.6It depends....SX4GTO::WANNOORMon Mar 20 1995 20:3036
    
    hold on a minute....
    
    FOO's experience is dependent on where he's hired. It is probably very
    true that all that sweet treatment happened in the "factory" ie the
    divisions, but may not out in the field. 
    
    However having worked for HP and having been recruited by Digital in
    1988, this has been my experience:
    
    	HP was EXCELLENT in its 3-4 weeks' orientation bootcamp (don't 
    	know if this is still true - HP does CUTBACK, y'know). The gist 
    	of it was, the new hire was treated like a VIP (one course was
    	on wine tasting!), that HP was SO DELIGHTED to have you onboard, 
        and that by the end of the bootcamp, the new hire felt that HP 
        was THE best and only company worth working for. Hey, I certainly 
        went home to Ohio feeling and believing that. 
    
    	In '88 I joined Digital in Columbus, Ohio. For bootcamp, I was sent
    	to Landover for a week of Digital Culture orientation, at a hotel
    	someplace, taught by an unhappy Deccie. Then technical orientation
    	took place at the Headmaster's House in %$&# W. Boylston, Ma in
    	the dead of winter (Feb)!!! 
    
    	Based on that it was HP: 1   Digital: 0
    
    	But note this, the first day I was in the Digital office, I got
    	my terminal, phone, cube etc. Getting the badge was painless and
    	the secretary was efficient and helpful. In '81 when I joined HP,
    	the basics was not taken care off as fast, but yes, everybody was
    	super friendly!
    
    	Here HP: 0, Digital: 1
    
    
    
3746.7TROOA::SOLEYFall down, go boomMon Mar 20 1995 21:166
    An aquaintance of mine, when he started working for a large well known
    software company was told that since part of his job in MIS was going
    to be running the phone system he might as well start by setting up his
    own phone, oh by the way we're moving out of this building a a few
    weeks and don't have any empty cubicles until after the move so you'll
    have to set up your office in a corner of the lunchroom. 
3746.8so, how was the food?HDLITE::SCHAFERMark Schafer, AXP-developer supportTue Mar 21 1995 12:177
    re: .6
    
    The Headmaster's House was in Boylston, not West Boylston, Mass.  I
    believe Digital paid for a new firehouse for that town when they were
    considering expansion at the site.
    
    Mark
3746.9I survived a move to a new jobSUBSYS::BERMANTue Mar 21 1995 15:588
    Not all experiences are unpleasant. I just moved to new org and
    within 24 hours, with the help of my group manager's secretary,
    got a mail account, office, phone number and pc registration
    within 24 hours. All I had to do on my own was pack up, fill
    out the shipping form, and get my NCS access card recoded. It
    went so smoothly, it was unbelievable!
    
    griz
3746.10Consider the alternativesSNAX::PIERPONTTue Mar 21 1995 16:0711
    Re: .8
    
    There is no new firehouse in Boylston. There is no new Digtal in
    Boylston. Sales Training Center and the Headmasters House were run for
    2 very different reasons. Look at the Bedford alternative....
    
    Howard
    At least you did not have to go to Woodstock CT [the real middle of no
    where] to the Data General training facility. The new owners are going
    to tear down most of he buildings because it's the only way to solve
    the asbestos problem. 8^) 
3746.11ASABET::YANNEKISTue Mar 21 1995 16:1712
    
>    At least you did not have to go to Woodstock CT [the real middle of no
>    where] to the Data General training facility. The new owners are going
>    to tear down most of he buildings because it's the only way to solve
>    the asbestos problem. 8^) 
    
    :^) ... well at least I was good about getting in a run or a bike ride
    when I was sent to Woodstock.  You didn't like sitting in a room with
    40 other people watching an old video as your nightly entertainment?
    
    Greg_DG_84_through_86
    
3746.12Who FOO who here?GLDOA::WERNERWed Mar 22 1995 11:2513
    And speaking of Woodstock...FOO later left HP and opened a bar. He
    called it FOOBar. As I see it so far, we've established that HP
    fertilizes close to the fence so that the grass will look greener there
    and that they have their admins well trained to send out congratulatory
    messages from important people's EMail accounts. It appeared also that
    the experience that Foo was relating took place in some coutry outside
    of the US, perhaps one of the quaint European countries where the tired
    old hacks of company/employee loyalty, a healthy work ethic and
    hands-on management are still being doggedly pursued...please, it's the
    mid 90's, get with the employees are expendable commodities, work IS
    life and manage by DVN program. 
    
    -OFWAMI-  
3746.13Only 'near' nowhere...WRKSYS::SEARSPaul Sears, PK3-1, 223-0559, Pole 8hWed Mar 22 1995 11:437
    re .10

    Having grown up in Woodstock, CT, i feel it's necessary to correct this
    comment. Woodstock is not "[the real middle of nowhere]", it is about 10
    miles East of nowhere.

    Back to the regularly scheduled ratholes...
3746.14where is it nowNCMAIL::RECUPARORWed Mar 22 1995 12:175
    What ever happen to the training facility in Boylston?  Do we still own
    it?  Wasn't that going to be the site for "DIgital University"?
    
    Rick
    
3746.15Nowhere, RIPCBUOA::BEAUDREAUWed Mar 22 1995 13:038
    
    
    My two weeks of DG FS training in Woodstock back in 81 was my shortest
    commute in 19 years.  Nowhere is actually 10 miles east in Rhode Island
    about two miles south of my cottage.
    
    gb
     
3746.16Ex-secty speaks outSWAM2::GOLDMAN_MAWalking Incubator, Use CautionWed Mar 22 1995 17:398
    I think, nowadays, that one's experience as a new hire or a transfer
    rather depends upon whether or not the new manager has access to
    secretarial support and whether that secretary has the time and
    experience to make your arrival smooth.  A good secretary can make all
    of that pretty painless, if she/he has enough notice of a new hire or
    transfer start date.  
    
    M.
3746.17Boylston site...closed & for saleXLIB::PARKERDigital's Partner NetworkWed Mar 22 1995 19:0913
re: .14

>    What ever happen to the training facility in Boylston?  Do we still own
>    it?  Wasn't that going to be the site for "DIgital University"?
    
The Training facility, as well as the conference center, is closed.
The town of Boylston is looking at buying the property from Digital.

Maybe DEC would be willing to sell at a bargain basement price. We 
Boylston-ites  don't usually keep several million just lying around.

jbp

3746.18Somewhere over the rainbow...ANGLIN::BJAMESI feel the need, the need for SPEEDWed Mar 29 1995 13:456
    RE: this entire string
    
    I have a question:  Are we hiring anywhere to even concern ourselves
    with setting up new offices for people?
    
    -Mav
3746.19ATLANT::SCHMIDTE&RT -- Embedded and RealTime EngineeringWed Mar 29 1995 13:598
Mav:

> I have a question:  Are we hiring anywhere to even concern ourselves
> with setting up new offices for people?
    
  According to our employment ads in "The Boston Globe", yes.

                                   Atlant
3746.20Want to switch orgs .18???POBOX::CORSONHigher, and a bit more to the rightWed Mar 29 1995 14:278
    
    	Yesterday's (28 March) Wall St. Journal had a large ad for network
    sales specialists in Sect. 2 for a number of US cities. The Jobs Book
    has had these positions posted as Sales Exec I listings since the
    24th of Feb. Probably not a lot of internal takers. Now that is
    interesting, n'est pas?
    
    		the Greyhawk
3746.21MKOTS3::TLAPOINTEWed Mar 29 1995 20:398
    	We're hiring in the IB4000 Sales Region...  A few long outstanding
    Sales Mgt openings.... and a number of reps...  
    
    	They've been posted for a while... but no takers to date...
    
    Regards,
    
    Tony
3746.22MAIL2::CRANEFri Mar 31 1995 15:045
    Ya...every time I apply they tell me I don`t have any qualifacations
    (sp). I`ve given up on looking internal for a job. I have my MBA and
    I`ve workrd in CAS/Contracts for 6 years, I`ve been with the company
    for 11 years, but I have no qualifactions for ANY job that I`ve applied
    for.
3746.23Semiconductor Practice is hiringGUIDUK::BRENNAN_CACathy Brennan, 548-8563Fri Mar 31 1995 23:314
    We've just hired three people since February. One's a new college hire,
    and he starts Monday.
    
    Cathy
3746.24DS Cim Engineering is hiringAWECIM::MCMAHONLiving in the owe-zoneMon Apr 03 1995 14:594
    We've got something like 13 openings in our group (Digital
    Semiconductor CIM Engineering) and we've got permission to hire
    externally on at least some of those. We're also doing some college
    hires. Check out the JOBS notesfile.