Conference 7.286::digital

2752.0. "Later Gators....." by FRSIDE::CRAPAROTTA (Joe, in Friendly NY.. SO WHAT!!) Fri Oct 29 1993 12:45

    Having been with Digital for 16 yrs, i've seen lots things done both
    good and bad as with any company.. I have never seen though, a MAN drive
    a company so far down as BP.. Here is a man who so graciously took a
    $150 k raise when morale and product is at an all time low !! Having
    been a 2 performer for my whole career here, I found it an personal
    insult when he got those $$ when I've hadn't had a raise in 2 1/2 years.
    I'd rate him a "4".. He posted ONE 1/4 with a profit, and he got that by 
    wacking heads.. A real genius we have heading the company.. More like an 
    AXE man in a 1k suit is more like it.. And more layoffs are coming again... 
    I guess he want's that 1/4 of profitablity again for another raise.. He 
    must want a Ferrai now...
    
    We're laying people in engineering and techs in the field.. Well what
    about all the FAT Management we have??? I really enjoyed seeing those
    great memo's from the White Tower... Some good stuff in there alright..
    It's a shame that as it passed through the FAT, it got so soiled, we
    couldn't make anything of it.. Here in the field I WISH we could say
    there was a morale problem.. I can't because there is NO morale to have
    a problem with. The FIELD ENGINEERS are at the breaking point!!! The
    DM's hands are tied and it really looks like they are just being setup
    for failure.. He visits customers to get some feedback from them, well
    what about going out with some techs or sitting with some engineers
    (sftwr & hdwr)..... I saw something recently that stated customers of
    IBM and Digital don't see the impact in service. Where they find that
    ONE customer.. I can show you 100 that say the opposite.. Dribble...
    I hear that Bill Gates stated that he knew IBM would be in trouble when 
    he saw the equipment they were using inhouse..  Boy, I hope he never 
    looks here!! I'm in PCI and have a PC316sx... And I had to scam to get
    that.. I have to support everything from Pathworks to Banyan to
    Novell and anything else that comes along.. FORGET about getting
    software, so It looks like I know what I'm doing when I'm charging a
    customer $125/hr... 
    
    Well since today is my LAST day here at Digital, and as I cross over to
    be a customer, I must say that I WILL NOT MISS IT!!!!! I will not miss
    getting frustrated and sick over the job. I WILL MISS the PEOPLE here. I 
    still feel that we/you have what it takes to be great again. We have
    great engineers and software......What's needed is a LEADER... I PRAY you 
    find it soon..
    
    
    Take Care....
    
    Joe
                                                                         

    Don't hold back Joe, tell us how you really feel. :-)
    
    		Alfred

    
    Joe,  the best of luck!
    I know where you're coming from.  Enjoyed your comments and mostly
    agree with them.  Sorry to see you go.....but I'm also sorry to see
    the handwriting on the wall.  We shall see.
    
    Best regards,
    
    Mike
    

    Al,
    
    I did hold back.. Think I was to easy?? ... :-)))

	... assuming you still hold some stock, of course?? :>)  .0 would make
an interesting addendum to the meeting minutes, especially coming from a
"customer"!

    Best of Luck Joe,  I guess I'll have to be nice to you when we 
    Meet as customer/vendor.  Will it be hard for me, YES!!
    But I guess as long as the meetings are less that 10 Minutes long, I
    should be able to hold my tongue. (At least until your direct reports 
    are out of range.
    
    It's been a Blast working with you And I wish you the Very best.
    (So long as it's not at my expense:^))
    
    Cheers,
    Marty

    
    I hate to see GREAT Field Engineers Like Joe Leave.  I have assisted
    him from the support center on a few occasions and find Joe to be an
    excelent Engineer and Employee.  It makes no sense that we should get
    rid of such professionals.  Joe, you will be missed by Deccies and
    Customers alike.  I have no doubts that you will be successful where
    ever you go or what you do.  I hope I get to work with you again
    sometime.
    
    Jim Morton

    
    A few years ago I was developing one of the first desktop maintenance
    courses for field engineers and Joe was one of my few valuable resources 
    for information. I had to beat the bushes for field engineers who were 
    knowledgeable in the pc space *and* would spend some time working with me.
    Joe was one of three that worked with me on his own time.  We had several
    conversations well after hours over the net.  He was a very helful
    resource at a time when we were all just coming up on personal
    computers.  There was nothing in it for him, he was just "doing the
    right thing" with Digital's interests in mind.  
    
    I'm truly sorry to see him go.
    
    Susan