THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700
rodwelch@pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:54:18 -0800
03 00050 61 04021101
Mr. Garold L. Johnson
Modeling and Simulation
Boeing
5301 Bolsa Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647-2099
..
Subject:
SDS Planning for Coming Year
Stable Technology Avoids Constant Change
Dear Gary,
Your interesting
letter
on January 23 reviewing Doug Engelbart's Augment NLS
program led to review of an issue that is at the very foundation for building
a culture of knowledge.
..
There is an
action item
for your input when time permits (no hurry) on
strengthening the concept of SDS advancing beyond traditional literacy, which
has been stable for the past 2,000 years, yet with concomitant requirement for
tools that are equally stable. ..
On a related matter, please comment on the review of the
work last year using
SDS at Boeing during 2003,
reported in the record for last month on January 2,
2004, and including plans to apply a greater share of the
eight (8)
steps using SDS for performing Communication Metrics. ..
Would like any corrections or other perspective you feel can help
drive things forward. If the record looks okay, just let me
know.
..
I realize that events since 040102 have reduced or eliminated the
opportunity for continuing up the learning curve on Com Metrics
using the Boeing situation as a test bed to pilot test SDS.
There will be a lot of pressure on the job to use IT and this
will crowd out time for learning a new way of working.
..
In any case, within the next 2 weeks, would like to get your
thoughts on how you see our agreement going forward. What do
think can be accomplished, and if you want to give SDS a rest
until another chance comes along in a year or so when we can try
again, hopefully remaining below the radar long enough to build a
bigger base of buy-in that feels strong enough or lucky enough to
buck the system.
..
As we discussed the other day, would like to get evaluation of
SDS and Com Metrics based on the record at Boeing. This could
include letters from Nancy, Bruce, Paul, Dave, et al, along the
lines of the
USACE report
dated March 28, 1997,
which included in the Appendix a series of
letters from key managers with the Corps of Engineers,
who had
regular experience with SDS records on the job, and so were
familiar with the effect of Communication Metrics.
..
Going through such an exercise provides a benign platform for
people to think about foundational issues. Typically, you have
to write a draft for folks, go visit with them, and discuss edits
that accommodate their feelings.
..
Did you ever have a chance to read through
Wayne Wetzel's report
on July 25, 2001?
..
The other day, I looked through Wayne's report
and there seemed to be some issues and ideas
he relates that correlates to your experience, based
on the review in the record for
January 2nd last month.
..
We can discuss these issues to figure out the best course.