THE WELCH COMPANY

440 Davis Court #1602

San Francisco, CA  94111-2496

415 781 5700




[Submitted via DTIC Web Page]


September 24, 1997                                    03 00050 97092404



Kurt Molholm
Administrator
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)

Subject:  DOD Review Communication Metrics

Dear Kurt,


Kirk Vaughn at AFIT suggested I contact DTIC to inquire about obtaining
evaluation for broader use of a management science and tools I have developed
called Communication Metrics.  It uses technology to develop "business
intelligence" that adds value to information.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
issued a report dated 970328 that found adding "metrics" to communication
provides organization and analysis that captures the connections between cause
and effect.  Decisions, teamwork, understanding and follow up are improved.




This is critical because of the increased flow of information and downsizing in
the military that requires fewer people to chase more information from
meetings, calls email and conventional documents.  AFIT published a paper on
"Uncertainty Analysis for Program Management." It found a direct correlation
between "information entropy" more commonly called "information overload," and
cost growth on DOD weapons procurement. Of course the same phenomenon occurs on
any large project, private as well as government related.  Communication
Metrics integrates time and information to avoid information entropy and
thereby arrests cost and schedule growth, as found by USACE.




Can you assist in getting the USACE report reviewed for wider application of
Communication Metrics in DOD? Thanks.




Sincerely,


THE WELCH COMPANY






Rod Welch