Mr. R. Max Wideman

2216 West 21st Avenue

Vancouver, BC  V6L 1J5

Canada



[Received via Internet]


July 12, 1997



Mr. Rod Welch
The Welch Company
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA  94111 2496

Subject:  Calculate Value Added of Overhead Staff


>Ref:  a. Welch letter to Dr. Tom Landauer Jul 9, 1997
>      b. Wideman letter to Welch Jul 4, 1997
>      c. Communication Metrics report Mar 28, 1997
>         U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
>

Dear Rod,


I was interested to read the material you sent me, particularly that you had
applied your 'art' to a construction project.  Generally, that's where the big
money is!  I suspect, however, the real need is in the IT world (as your
earlier correspondence showed.)




So, I'd like to raise a separate issue (if you don't mind  me asking.) What is
the real goal of your mission?




Is it to probe the depths of the (let's call it) 'PM communiation function', or
is it to create an environment for promoting the Welch Company?  I realize that
both are important but it is a question of priorities.




For example, Decision Sciences put out a regular newsletter extoling the
virtues of their software for Risk Analysis.  I am sure their work is very
good, but I am not convinced that they have contributed a lot to the theory of
risk management.






In your case, I think you have identified a whole new environment to
explore, i.e. 'Project Management Communications Management' and the reduction
of rework and conflict arising from inadequate communication.  I am not sure I
understand why you have tied it to PM Risk Management though. Is that a
marketing ploy?




It seems that management are suckers for complexity.  If it is complex (and
especially if they don't understand it) then it *must* be worth buying. Yet it
take a real genius to simplify the complex to something understandable.  And
then that's not saleable because "anyone can do it."




Just musing...






M.






PS.  Your whole text did come through just fine.  However, if you'd care to put
hardcopy in the mail for my reference and records I'd appreciate it.




R. Max Wideman
Vancouver, Canada
max_wideman@sfu.ca
Voice & FAX: 604-736-7025