THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700
rodwelch@pacbell.net


S U M M A R Y


DIARY: August 26, 2003 05:07 PM Tuesday; Rod Welch

Gary reported problem with action system.

1...Summary/Objective
2...Action Item Report for Job Review
3...Action Item Reports Called with Two (2) Procedures
4...Subject Assignments to Control Fields Needed for Action Item Report
5...Action Report Assembles Incorrectly When Control Field Format Not Used
6...Action Item Report Converted into SDS Record and Rendered in HTML
7...Action May Occur on Accidental Posting of SDS Records
8...Spell Checking Avoids Presentation Problems
9...Analysis Background for Comprehensive Treatment Avoid Conflicts
10...Transformation 3-layer Architecture Spread Word Wide as the Waters
11...Steady-as-she-goes Transformation by Delivering Good Intelligence
.........Intranet ACE Distribute SDS Records with Links Active
.........Communication Metrics Expand to Meet Project Requirements
.........Project Deliverable CFISR Fits SDS Model for Intelligence
.........Tell Story of Cultural Change Attend Events Write Articles


..............
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CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Action Item Report Listing Records Out of Sequence
Action Items Management Correlate with Schedule CPM WBS Correlate Act
Procedures Action Item Assemble Report Convert to Scheduled Task for
Action Item Report Listing Records Out of Sequence Gary on FC
Action Item Scheduled Task for Review Meeting Convert to Diary and Re
Action Item Report Convert to Scheduled Task for Review Meeting Conve
Procedures Action Item Assemble Report Convert to Scheduled Task for
Notify 60 Action Items Shown Pending Need SDS Update and Action Item

3510 -
3510 -    ..
3511 - Summary/Objective
3512 -
351201 - Follow up ref SDS 19 2T5J, ref SDS 12 JJ7O.
351202 -
351203 - Gary plans action item review with his boss.  Today, we discussed
351204 - procedures for assembling a report, ref SDS 0 D49I, and converting to
351205 - HTML for presentation mode. ref SDS 0 XV30  Found and corrected a
351206 - problem that prevented the reported from displaying the correct
351207 - chronology. ref SDS 0 VV4P  There have been indications that some
351208 - follow up action may arise from prior mistakes when project
351209 - information was published on Internet.  Gary will let management at
351210 - Abacus know about this possibility. ref SDS 0 D163  With SDS records
351211 - gaining increased visibility for three (3) project meeting groups,
351212 - Gary plans to spell check to avoid presentation problems. ref SDS 0
351213 - VY3F
351214 -
351215 -
351216 -
351217 -
351218 -
351220 -  ..
3513 -
3514 -
3515 - Progress
3516 -
351601 - Action Item Report for Job Review
351602 -
351603 - Background....
351604 -
351605 -    On 030821 ran an action item report and found about 60 pending
351606 -    tasks in Gary's SDS records. ref SDS 19 2T6R
351608 -     ..
351609 -    On 030702 reviewed action item management. ref SDS 12 JJ7O
351610 -
351611 -       At that time on 030702 Gary was considering using other methods
351612 -       in Microsoft Word and Excel or a dedicated software program to
351613 -       manage action items. ref SDS 12 GY5V
351615 -  ..
351616 - Today, Gary advised of planning to do a report in SDS for reviewing
351617 - action items tomorrow with his boss, Steve.  He asked how to draw a
351618 - report on action items, and if the report can be converted into HTML?
351619 - This complements planning on 030702. ref SDS 12 JK75
351620 -
351621 -      [...below, Gary relates that nobody cares about action items.
351622 -      ref SDS 0 ZS6L
351624 -       ..
351625 -      [On 030828 Gary planning to meet with Paul Lowe on action item
351626 -      review. ref SDS 20 SF3Q
351628 -  ..
351629 - Initially, I indicated there is not an option for rendering action
351630 - item reports in HTML, because there is not a listing for this in the
351631 - menu after a report is assembled.
351633 -  ..
351634 - This is an error.
351636 -  ..
351637 - There is not an HTML option for the action item report because a
351638 - record can be assembled to conduct a review of action items, which is
351639 - Gary's objective, and this record can then be converted into HTML
351640 - using the standard function for converting SDS records, by clicking
351641 - above Quit=ESC.  An example using this method is the record on 000922
351642 - when a report was submitted to OHS/DKR on pending matters, which was
351643 - long and unattended, similar to concern on combat. ref SDS 4 0001
351644 -
351645 -       [...below, a test report was run on Gary's records. ref SDS 0
351646 -       XV30
351647 -
351649 -  ..
351650 - Action Item Reports Called with Two (2) Procedures
351651 -
351652 - Follow up ref SDS 9 QY33.
351653 -
351654 - This afternoon, we reviewed training on 030521 explaining two (2)
351655 - procedures, ref SDS 9 QY33, for calling an action report in SDS....
351656 -
351657 -    1.  Schedule
351658 -
351659 -        Manage menu
351660 -
351661 -           Action Items is 2nd from last option.
351663 -            ..
351664 -           This report lists all of the action items both personal and
351665 -           organizational for the past 6 months for the current user.
351666 -
351668 -         ..
351669 -    2.  Subjects.
351670 -
351671 -        A report can be assembled for action items on particular
351672 -        subjects using the subject report system, which can launched
351673 -        from either the Schedule or from an SDS record.
351675 -         ..
351676 -        Call an ordinary subject report.
351677 -
351678 -           Open the menu and click on "Subjects" to open the Subject
351679 -           Index (SI).
351680 -
351681 -           Navigate within the SI to a subject and execute commands to
351682 -           launch a report.
351683 -
351685 -         ..
351686 -        These steps create a screen with the subject specification
351687 -        selected in the SI.  Set the period for the report, and...
351689 -         ..
351690 -        Click on Action Items in the menu at the top, the 2nd choice,
351691 -        just below Enter.
351692 -
351693 -           This produces a report listing all of the action items for
351694 -           the specified period and specified subject, and specified
351695 -           user.
351696 -
351697 -
351698 -
3517 -

SUBJECTS
Subject Assigned in Control Field for Assembling Action Item Report
1st Step New Record Assign Subjects
Action Item Report Requires Subject Assigned for Assembling the Repor
Action Item Report Listing Records Out of Sequence

4006 -
400701 -  ..
400702 - Subject Assignments to Control Fields Needed for Action Item Report
400703 - Action Report Assembles Incorrectly When Control Field Format Not Used
400704 -
400705 - We used Gary's records and ran an action item report from the Schedule
400706 - using procedures set out above. ref SDS 0 VV5I
400708 -  ..
400709 - We both observed three (3) listings at the top of the report that are
400710 - out of sequence beginning on 080321, since they should be listed below
400711 - May, June, July and prior dates in August.
400713 -  ..
400714 - I will investigate and notify Gary of a solution in time for meeting
400715 - with
400717 -  ..
400718 - Review showed the following...
400719 -
400720 -    a.  The record on 030821 0600
400721 -
400722 -              ALCES Priorities Telecon
400723 -
400724 -        ...does not have any subjects assigned.
400726 -         ..
400727 -    b.  When a subject is assigned, the action item report assembles
400728 -        correctly.
400730 -         ..
400731 -        Maybe something can be done to avoid crashing action item
400732 -        reports when there isn't time to enter a subject.
400733 -
400734 -            [On 030828 developed new scheme for default null subject
400735 -            that is always entered when a blank record is created or a
400736 -            new record segment is created. ref SDS 21 9U6G
400738 -             ..
400739 -            [On 030917 problem assembling record for action item review
400740 -            because of changes that modify the format of the default
400741 -            SDS record. ref SDS 23 0001
400742 -
400743 -
400744 -
400745 -
400746 -
4008 -

SUBJECTS
Action Items in Subject Report, 06112
Purpose Action Item Review SDS Record for Meetings, 070301, 970505
Action Item Procedures Assemble Report Convert to Scheduled Task for
HTML Action Item Review Meeting Scheduled Task Convert to Diary and R

4606 -
460701 -  ..
460702 - Action Item Report Converted into SDS Record and Rendered in HTML
460703 -
460704 - After getting the Action Item to run correctly, an SDS record was
460705 - created to review status of action items, similar to the sample for
460706 - OHS/DKR in the record on 000922, per above. ref SDS 0 VV60  This
460707 - scheduled task can be converted into a diary report for conducting a
460708 - meeting, and this record can be converted into HTML.
460709 -
460710 -    Caution...
460712 -     ..
460713 -    Assembling an action item report is very fast, only takes a second
460714 -    or two, because of the SDS design.
460716 -     ..
460717 -    Creating the SDS record for action item review that enables
460718 -    converting into HTML takes maybe 10 seconds, because the large
460719 -    volume of processes that occur in this report.  Be prepared for a
460720 -    delay after calling the function to build an SDS record.  It will
460721 -    appear that the program is frozen because everything is occurring
460722 -    in RAM.
460724 -  ..
460725 - I almost made this conversion to demonstrate the feature, then
460726 - realized project records cannot be published.
460728 -  ..
460729 - Instead, will notify Gary via email and send an update of my SDS
460730 - records for review.
460731 -
460732 -
460733 -
460734 -
460735 -
460736 -
4608 -

SUBJECTS
Confidentiality Secrecy Privacy Search Engine Index Cache R  ar Visib
Boss Steve Notified Gary that Confidentiality Incident Remains a Conc

8104 -
810501 -  ..
810502 - Action May Occur on Accidental Posting of SDS Records
810503 -
810504 - Follow up ref SDS 14 0001.
810505 -
810506 - Gary said that his boss, Steve, stopped by Gary's desk today and asked
810507 - if Gary has heard anything further on the accidental publishing of
810508 - records to the Internet, reported on 030715? ref SDS 13 0001
810510 -  ..
810511 - Gary told Steve that nothing further has been mentioned to Gary on
810512 - this matter.
810514 -  ..
810515 - Steve seemed to indicate during the discussion that he has received
810516 - general and indefinite information suggesting that this a continuing
810517 - matter, and that Gary may wind up being asked to take a week off.
810519 -  ..
810520 - We discussed notifying Abacas so that if this occurs, Abacas
810521 - management is not surprised.
810522 -
810523 -
810524 -
810525 -
8106 -

SUBJECTS
Best Practices Spell Check Gary Plans to Begin Using Spell Check befo
Spelling Typing Errors Words Omitted Require Feedback Editing Correct
Spell Check Gary Plans to Begin Using Spell Check before Publishing S
Com Metrics Best Practices Spell Check Gary Plans to Begin Using Spel
Spell Check Gary Plans to Begin Using Spell Check before Publishing S
Best Practices Spell Check Gary Plans to Begin Using Spell Check befo
Spell Check Gary Plans to Begin Using Spell Check before Publishing S

8809 -
881001 -  ..
881002 - Spell Checking Avoids Presentation Problems
881003 -
881004 - Gary mentioned this afternoon planning to begin checking spelling
881005 - prior to distribution of SDS records.
881006 -
881007 - He indicated that SDS is now "officially" the project record for
881008 - three (3) meeting groups.  This needs to avoid presentation problems
881009 - that arise from spelling errors.
881010 -
881011 -
881012 -
881013 -
8811 -

SUBJECTS
Analysis Begins with Capture Record Report Concurrently Using Plan Pe
Analysis Intelligence Write Who What When Where Why Align to Original

9104 -
910501 -  ..
910502 - Analysis Background for Comprehensive Treatment Avoid Conflicts
910503 -
910504 - Discussed Gary's record on SDS Marketing on 030812, ref SDS 17 0001,
910505 - and reviewed in Rod's record on 030813. ref SDS 18 SH4I
910507 -  ..
910508 - The process of using SDS for "analysis" is described in the record on
910509 - 880815. ref SDS 1 RW5G  Analysis "facilitates" meetings by empowering
910510 - people to be prepared prior to meeting, and then providing a new
910511 - resource of "intelligence" for effective strategy and planning to get
910512 - right things done correctly on time and within budget regardelss of
910513 - what is actually said, by continually aligning communications with
910514 - objectives, requirements and commitments.
910516 -  ..
910517 - "Analysis" is cited by Drucker as the most important task managers are
910518 - responsible to perform because analysis is a predicate to performing
910519 - other tasks, reviewed on 931130. ref SDS 3 7911  This has comparable
910520 - weight to the role of "listening" for accurate understanding and
910521 - timely, comprehensive follow up in order to make communication
910522 - effective, which is also a predicate to action, explained in NWO.
910523 - ref OF 10 MY6H  Drucker maintains, also, on 931130 that people have
910524 - given up on improving communication, because the task is too complex.
910525 - ref SDS 3 3851
910527 -  ..
910528 - A key practice performing analysis is consideration of relevant prior
910529 - work, also, called experience, history and background, in order to
910530 - ensure...
910531 -
910532 -     1.  Comprehensive consideration of issues, i.e., has everything
910533 -         considered previously been included in the current review?
910535 -          ..
910536 -     2.  Understand context from prior related issues.
910538 -          ..
910539 -     3.  Align current understandings with prior work to avoid
910540 -         conflicts and overlooking subtle reasoning that is lost due to
910541 -         complexity over time.
910543 -  ..
910544 - If conflicts are overlooked and/or are not resolved, then any effort
910545 - will likely fail because critical factors were ignored due to limited
910546 - span of attention, leading to the rework cycle.
910548 -  ..
910549 - Inability to capture and then retrieve relevant history when needed
910550 - for analysis leads people to "give up" on analysis as well as giving
910551 - up on communication, noted by Drucker.  SDS makes the work fast and
910552 - easy to capture the record and then get the parts needed for analysis.
910553 - This capability provides a platform that restores the balance between
910554 - thinking in the moment, and using good practices to ensure effective
910555 - analysis and communication.
910556 -
910557 -
910558 -
910559 -
910560 -
9106 -

SUBJECTS
Spreading Word Wide as the Waters Posting 8 Steps on Wall
Deployment SDS Resource for Others to Use Conventional Methods
Pending Issues for SDS and Com Metrics on 030826
Pending SDS Action Item Review on Advancing Com Metrics
3-layer Architectue Analyst Prepare SDS Work Product Using 8 Steps fo
Steady-as-she-goes 3-layer Architecture Strategy Build Experience Bas

9708 -
970901 -  ..
970902 - Transformation 3-layer Architecture Spread Word Wide as the Waters
970903 - Steady-as-she-goes Transformation by Delivering Good Intelligence
970904 -
970905 - Follow up ref SDS 11 OA3M, ref SDS 10 9X62.
970906 -
970907 - Discussed action items for marketing SDS based on Gary's record on
970908 - 030812, ref SDS 17 0001, and follow up review on 030813. ref SDS 18
970909 - SH4I
970911 -  ..
970912 - SDS marketing action items are...
970913 -
970914 -     a.  3-layer architecture using eight (8) steps for Communication
970915 -         Metrics to provide SDS work product that empowers people to
970916 -         routinely experience working "intelligently" without learning
970917 -         new skills nor making a rapid change in personal practice.
970918 -         This requires an analyst with skills for Communication Metrics
970919 -         to routinely produce good "intelligence" that is useful to
970920 -         others in performing their work.  On 030524 a course of action
970921 -         was set under the banner "steady-as-she-goes" to signify that
970922 -         providing extended experience to people getting SDS work
970923 -         product over months and years, ref SDS 10 9X62, builds a
970924 -         foundation of faith in SDS that brings a cultural awakening
970925 -         essential for transformation from information to a culture of
970926 -         knowledge.
970928 -          ..
970929 -         Gary is working as hard as possible on this task, and doing an
970930 -         excellent job shown by progress on 030630 gaining approval of
970931 -         the customer for SDS work product. ref SDS 11 PA4V  On 030702
970932 -         initial approval was confirmed saying the record was better
970933 -         than expected. ref SDS 12 IX91
970934 -
970935 -            [On 030828 report that the customer requested documentation
970936 -            of a presentation on project schedule, and this resulted in
970937 -            commitment by Gary's boss, Steve, to put the SDS record on
970938 -            the intranet, shows some aspects required for a critical
970939 -            mass of enabling forces are assembling that result in
970940 -            growing a culture of knowledge. ref SDS 20 QU6K
970942 -             ..
970943 -            [On 323232 annual review of work during 2003 shows limited
970944 -            time has slowed progress on submitting follow up to foster
970945 -            a culture of advocates. ref SDS 24 TG9K
970946 -
970947 -
970948 -
970949 -
970950 -
9710 -

SUBJECTS
ACE Intranet for Delivering Intelligence Anytime Anywhere with Links

AL03 -
AL0401 -          ..
AL0402 -         Intranet ACE Distribute SDS Records with Links Active
AL0403 -
AL0404 -     b.  Expand experience using SDS work product so that people can
AL0405 -         access internal and external links that deliver anytime,
AL0406 -         anywhere intelligence on a company intranet.
AL0408 -          ..
AL0409 -         Gary is doing this by working with Darrel, reported on 030730.
AL0410 -         ref SDS 15 GE8N
AL0412 -          ..
AL0413 -         Gary is also making progress on this task by undertaking an
AL0414 -         action item review that reveals a greater share of SDS power
AL0415 -         for working intelligently using context management, per above.
AL0416 -         ref SDS 0 IJ5K
AL0417 -
AL0418 -
AL0419 -
AL0420 -
AL0421 -
AL05 -

SUBJECTS
Com Manager Role Expand to Meet Project Requirements for Intelligence

AM03 -
AM0401 -          ..
AM0402 -         Communication Metrics Expand to Meet Project Requirements
AM0403 -
AM0404 -     c.  Explore with company staff need for expanded efforts using SDS
AM0405 -         on the project, per action item on 030506. ref SDS 8 N33G
AM0407 -          ..
AM0408 -         This task has a wide range of performance specifics, and so
AM0409 -         takes both time and diplomacy to recognize when people are
AM0410 -         ready to consider improving the work, per analysis on 030813
AM0411 -         showing opportunities for improvement, ref SDS 18 IY3J, and
AM0412 -         also significant challenges. ref SDS 18 2G9U
AM0414 -          ..
AM0415 -         Without progress on this action to develop help for Gary, he
AM0416 -         will soon be overwhelmed.  He has reported there are several
AM0417 -         meetings he has not done, and has discussed doing fewer
AM0418 -         records.  This will create problems noted by Drucker on
AM0419 -         931130. ref SDS 3 3851  The quality of the work will suffer
AM0420 -         which will undermine point a. ref SDS 0 V27M
AM0421 -
AM0422 -
AM0423 -
AM0424 -
AM0425 -
AM05 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Support Intelligence Fits Model of CFISR Requirements for Command
Action Item Support for Schedules Budgets Assisting People with Actio
Action Items Nobody Cares About Good Management Gary Discouraged abou
Management Fails Projects Get Fouled Up Because Big Organizations Big

AT06 -
AT0701 -          ..
AT0702 -         Project Deliverable CFISR Fits SDS Model for Intelligence
AT0703 -
AT0704 -     d.  Explore with company and the Customer correlation between good
AT0705 -         management enabled by SDS for working intelligently to
AT0706 -         exercise command and control of the work, explained in POIMS,
AT0707 -         ref OF 6 1113, and illustrated by this record, with project
AT0708 -         deliverables under CFISR objectives.
AT0710 -          ..
AT0711 -         On 030506 discussed this action item to use SDS in order to
AT0712 -         "study what works." ref SDS 8 O55J
AT0714 -          ..
AT0715 -         Gary has an initiative underway with Nancy, reported on
AT0716 -         030804, ref SDS 16 N486, and requires discussion with Steve as
AT0717 -         a predicate. ref SDS 16 N456  Until this past week, there have
AT0718 -         been few opportunities for Gary to visit with Steve on this
AT0719 -         matter, but this week has presented several occassions for
AT0720 -         making progress on this.  Gary is giving priority to getting
AT0721 -         the SDS record published on the ACE intranet, per above.
AT0722 -         ref SDS 0 ZY5L  Not clear that these two issues should not be
AT0723 -         worked together.
AT0725 -          ..
AT0726 -         Today, we discussed that reviewing action items, which Gary
AT0727 -         plans for tomorrow, per above, ref SDS 0 IJ5K, is another form
AT0728 -         of this task, and provides a chance to discuss with Steve the
AT0729 -         initiative with Nancy.
AT0731 -          ..
AT0732 -         Gary related that nobody really cares about action items nor
AT0733 -         the project record.  He seemed discouaged about the prospect
AT0734 -         of getting Steve to attend a meeting to review progress on
AT0735 -         pending action items, reflecting the record on 020618 that
AT0736 -         efforts are stifled to use good management in big
AT0737 -         organizations. ref SDS 5 MQ4S
AT0739 -          ..
AT0740 -         We reviewed the prospects for meeting project objectives for
AT0741 -         getting things done correctly, on time and within budget if
AT0742 -         nobody cares about good management to meet commitments for
AT0743 -         action items.  Gary's discussion on 020813 about commitments
AT0744 -         seems conflicting with at attitude that does not care about
AT0745 -         action items. ref SDS 18 IY3J
AT0747 -              ..
AT0748 -             [On 020828 management cares about progress on action items
AT0749 -             when failure to take action causes personal risk.
AT0750 -             ref SDS 20 SE5R and ref SDS 20 SF3X
AT0752 -              ..
AT0753 -             [On 030830 Gary relates progress on changing the culture
AT0754 -             that improve attitudes about using SDS for good
AT0755 -             management. ref SDS 22 PPWS
AT0756 -
AT0757 -
AT0758 -
AT0759 -
AT0760 -
AT0761 -
AT0762 -
AT0763 -
AT0764 -
AT08 -

SUBJECTS
Tell Story of Expanding Role of SDS for Com Metrics

AU03 -
AU0401 -          ..
AU0402 -         Tell Story of Cultural Change Attend Events Write Articles
AU0403 -
AU0404 -     e.  Write articles and do professional events to tell the story of
AU0405 -         SDS reported by Gary on 030413, ref SDS 7 0001, and occurring
AU0406 -         under para a, above. ref SDS 0 BM8G
AU0408 -          ..
AU0409 -         Gary feels there isn't enough time at the moment, due to the
AU0410 -         burdens of steps a - d.
AU0411 -
AU0412 -            [On 030830 Gary reports progress on changing the culture at
AU0413 -            company to care about good management by enabling people to
AU0414 -            experience good management without making any effort;
AU0415 -            changing the culture of organizations to care about good
AU0416 -            management is an important subject due to attention by the
AU0417 -            popular media in recommendations for NASA to change the
AU0418 -            culture. ref SDS 22 PPWS
AU0420 -          ..
AU0421 -         If a professional event came along, the Boing people might be
AU0422 -         open to telling the story of applying CFISR to manage the
AU0423 -         project for developing CFISR to strengthen future combat
AU0424 -         capabilities.  Gary discussed this idea with Bruce during a
AU0425 -         meeting on 030121, as related on 030123. ref SDS 6 2E3O
AU0426 -
AU0427 -
AU0428 -
AU0429 -
AU0430 -
AU0431 -
AU0432 -
AU0433 -
AU0434 -
AU0435 -
AU05 -