Conference 7.286::digital

    Re:< Note 800.0 by STEREO::HOWARD "Isn't this FUN ??" >

    As I  have  stated  before,  don't  equate  Europe to all our revenue
    outside the US.
    
    My educated estimate of our revenue composition is roughly:
    
        US      45%
        Europe  43%
        GIA     12%
    
    And on top of that the  European  revenue  includes  Middle  East and
    Africa, so I am taking the liberty of rephrasing your question to:
    
    "Is  product  development  influenced more  by  INTERNATIONAL  market
    requirements?"
    
    Octavio

See DELNI::WOLRDWIDE, the conference for discussing the production of products
in the international environment.

/john

    Personally, I hope not.  I really find the 'Eurostyle' appliances
    and electronic goods look crummy.  
    
    (Don't you like really relevant arguments? ;^)  )
    

    Thanks for the xenophobia.
    
    - ANdy

    
    Since we are talking about cabs...
    
    Back in the days when I worked for a customer, and PDP-11s were
    king, DEC changed from the old 6' black cabs to a new "Corporate"
    cab for commercial (DEC DataSystem) systems. We duly got our second
    11/70 in the new cabs. It was I believe the first such to be delivered
    - certainly in our part of the world.
    
    Then we discovered that British doorways are apparently narrower
    than American ones because we couldn't get it through the door!
    
    As for xenophobia, the world championship for yucky design goes
    for anything automotive designed in the US since the model T Ford
    (only joking... a little - there have been perhaps two nice cars
    in that time).
    
    /. Ian .\

Right... car designs should take after the old Citroen (sp?) and Saabs!

8^)

Bob

        Andy's point about xenophobia is well put.  If you can't find
        something positive to say, or can't back up a criticism with more
        than "I don't like it", then perhaps it would be wise to keep the
        opinion to yourself.  
        
        Tom

    
    
    
    I am getting the feeling that people are trying to avoid actually 
    talking about this very relavent topic. This certainly speaks volumes 
    to me.
    
    It is my opinion that Digital *must* pay more attention to European
    and GIA (General International Area) requirements.  The figures quoted
    in a previous note are indeed a bit out of date since the figure for
    the amount of revenue outside the US has gone over %50 and is still 
    showing signs of healthy growth.
    
    It has been my experience that the US is reluctant to release Marketing
    control as well as Engineering control.  Perhaps this is an erroneous 
    perception but it *is* my perception.
    
    LaDonna
    
                                         

re Note 800.8 by UKCSSE::LMCDONALD
    
>    I am getting the feeling that people are trying to avoid actually 
>    talking about this very relavent topic. This certainly speaks volumes 
>    to me.

LaDonna,

The proper place to discuss this very relevant topic is in DELNI::WORLDWIDE.

Is it in _your_ notebook?

/john

    
    re .9 -
    
    Thanks to the pointer to Worldwide conference. 
    
    That's useful, & I will follow it up, BUT that Conference is probably
    read by those committed to taking a wider view.
    
    The difficulty is in creating more committment amongst those who,
    for perfectly clear historic reasons, neither consider nor seek
    significant devolution of control outside of the central caucus. 
    
    Does not maximise Digital's collective experience & competence. Needs
    addressing if we are to continue to grow our market share & profit-
    ability.
    
    There are many overseas countries where the local contribution
    to development & promotional activities is important if we are to
    succeed. Politics/ national ethos/ market demands mean we sometimes
    need to enhance the local flavour, & play down the strength of the 
    American connection. This in no way denies our roots, merely tailors
    our message & influence in the marketplace.
    
    If the base note helps spread awareness of the issue it has achieved
    a purpose, & I feel it was sensible for the topic to have been raised
    in this Conference.   
    
    Colin Osborne                                           
    

    
    
    Thank you, Colin.   That was precicely the point I was trying to 
    make.  Why waste one's breath preaching to the converted in WORLDWIDE
    when the awareness needs to be raised here?  
    
    
    LaDonna
    
    

re .8-.11:

I completely agree with LaDonna. It looks as though .9 is saying "this
conference is for discussion of Digital issues - anything to do with the rest
of the world should go in this specialized conference "WORLDWIDE".

Wake up, people! Digital is in the process of becoming more a European company
than an Amercian company, as of this year. With revenues about evenly split,
but increasing by 25+% per year in Europe and hardly at all in the USA, that
tendency can only become more pronounced.

So when is Corporate going to move to Geneva? Well, no, Geneva is much too
expensive, but some European equivalent of Maynard? You have to work over
here to see how demoralizing and difficult it is to talk through UK Marketing
and European Marketing to "Corporate" Marketing which is very often "US"
Marketing in practice. Admittedly, this has been getting a bit better lately.

--Tom

re: .10

I agree wholeheartedly with your response, but I'd like to add my two pence into
this discussion.

First of all the suggestion that engineering and marketing control be moved to
Europe is because Europe's revenues exceed that of the U.S.(this year) is 
far-fetched.  If we were to follow this line of reasoning than we'd have to
put wheels on corporate headquarters and move it quarterly to whichever area
recorded the greater sales volume.

Secondly the roots of this company are in Maynard. MA. U.S.A. and that's where
our headquarters are whether for good or bad.  If DEC originated in Geneva and
had it's corp. HQ were there I'd give it the respect of being a Swiss company 
that is worldwide in scope.

I think DEC has the best arrangements of all the companies in this industry for
internationalization, controls for local engineering specifications, etc.  
Having duplicate marketing organizations in the areas is another good idea, if 
there are problems in communicating with corporate marketing, than a process 
should be put in place to improve it.

Remember that Europe's good times won't last forever.  Customer's purchases of
information systems will eventually reach a saturation point, and remember also 
that recession is a worldwide phenomenom, not an American one.

Berating U.S. Deccies in this notesfile is no way to educate them to the
necessties of internationalization.  How can you expect someone whose 
responsibilities deal with the U.S.only to instantly become a internationally
conscious person?  Certainly not through shouting at us that Europe is 
out-selling the U.S.,etc., if anything that would make someone an instant
xenophobe.

I don't appreciate xenophobia on either side of the pond, it will bring us 
down as a company and we'll ALL be the worse for that.  Take it from one who 
considers himself internationally-minded.

David

>    significant devolution of control outside of the central caucus. 

	Is he swearing?  Is he swearing,
	With these words so overbearing?		(apologies to W.S.G.)

/john

        This conference has a role, and WORLDWIDE has a role.  There
        is some overlap in the two.  WORLDWIDE's brief description
        is "International Product Issues", and while these do have
        some relevance to "the way we work at Digital" (and vice versa),
        it probably makes sense to pursue "International Product Issues"
        in the conference devoted to that purpose.
        
        As to whether you'd be "preaching to the choir" or whether you
        need to "convert the heathen masses" who participate here, I leave
        that to your judgement.  There is certainly room for raising the
        level of awareness about international issues about the way we
        work at Digital, and that's an appropriate topic for this
        conference. 
        
        Tom

    
    
    	I am having a problem understanding why all this fuss about
    DIGITAL being a US or a Worldwide Corporation. Let us face it WE
    ARE an International Corporation and as such all of our endeavors
    are what goes toward making us number 2 in the Computer Industry
    World Wide.  
    
    	We here at the CSC Colorado Springs talk to the world and we
    never differentiate, in fact we never ask where the Customer is.
    I have had occasion in the last year to talk to Engineers all over
    the world regarding a problem, and never had anyone mention US vs
    Worldwide Organization.
    
    

    I spent many years in the U.S. Navy (via Annapolis) and inside a number
    of defense contractors.  In these environments, the distinction between 
    America and everyone else in the world was very real.
    
    When I started working for DIGITAL, I learned that we are an
    international company.  Consequently, I had to modify some of my
    attitudes.
    
    But, working with export controlled products and Customers that have U.S.
    sensitive information throws in a "monkey wrench".  For people in my
    position, this can be a very delicate situation.   People who give
    sensitive information (many DIGITAL employees have access to such
    information - some is restricted to U.S. citizens only) to non-U.S.
    citizens, can be sent to prison.  This is not an opinion, it's like
    taxes; it's a fact of life.