CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing Product Definition
Requirements Matrix
7 Habits Highly Effective People
Customer analysis, perceived value
Thinking Through Writing
Meeting Notes, confirm understandings
Remembering (linked records)
Correlation to accepted practice and
Communication Metrics
Conflict Discover Before Mistakes are Made

1312 -    ..
1313 - Summary/Objective
1314 -
131401 - Received handwritten comments from Ron Buck, responding to my
131402 - analysis at ref SDS 3 line 091101.
131403 -
131404 - Created ref DRT 1, which is a composite of ref DIP 1 with Ron's
131405 - comments interjected at his designated lines.
131406 -
131407 - Submitted this record for Ron's further comment, and request his
131408 - comments on the other documents attached to my initial memo.  Included
131409 - the composite file showing his comments on ref DIP 1.
131410 -
131411 -
131412 -
1315 -
1316 -
1317 - Review Summary
1318 -
131801 -  ..
131802 - General
131803 -
131804 - Ron cites key questions arising from my initial analysis of the "7
131805 - Habits..."  I am grateful for his time in helping me focus more
131806 - carefully on Covey's important work.
131807 -
131808 - All of his observations are entered in the margins of the primary
131809 - analysis, ref DIP 1, so it is unclear if the two support documents
131810 - (ref OF 1 and ref SDS 1), are similarly annotated.  An adequate effort
131811 - to understand his views requires consideration of his notes on those
131812 - documents.
131813 -
131814 - SDS may appear too mechanistic for many to find a clear correlation
131815 - with the social and interpersonal aura that permeates Covey's work.
131816 - Perhaps this reflects right vs. left brain predominance, but in any
131817 - event it seems a worthwhile endeavor to meld these perspectives.
131818 -
131819 -
1319 -
1320 -
1321 - Detailed Analysis
1322 -
132201 - Ron expresses concern that my initial treatment of "7 Habits..." shows
132202 - lack of shared perspectives, ref DRT 1 line 62.
132203 -
132204 -     Differences Opportunity for Discovery
132205 -
132206 -     Covey might insist that differences in perspective are opportuni-
132207 -     ties for discovery.  The first effort is to understand perspec-
132208 -     tives, what lies behind them, where are the points of true
132209 -     divergence, can partial correlations be developed into useful
132210 -     convergence?
132211 -
132212 -
132213 -
132214 - Ron finds no correlation between Covey's book and SDS/POIMS, ref DRT
132215 - 1 line 60.
132216 -
132217 -     Comment
132218 -
132219 -     I set out 7 fundamentals from Covey's book, ref DRT 1 line 150,
132220 -     using language of POIMS technology to show correlations.  Ron
132221 -     found 2 of the 7 were unsupported by his interpretation of the
132222 -     material.  That leaves 5 which perhaps more refined analysis could
132223 -     show some correlation.  This seems sufficient to try a little
132224 -     harder.
132225 -
132226 -
132227 -
132228 - Ron notes that SDS may be effective, but not in implementing Covey's
132229 - ideas, ref DRT 1 line 133.
132230 -
132231 -     Comment
132232 -
132233 -     It would be helpful to get a list summarizing Covey's ideas to
132234 -     see how my understanding should be adjusted.
132235 -
132236 -        Though by no means dispositive, there is striking correlation
132237 -        between the titles of Covey's 7 habits, and the intent of POIMS
132238 -        technology.
132239 -
132240 -           1.  Be Proactive
132241 -           2.  Begin with the end in mind
132242 -           3.  Put first things first
132243 -           4.  Think Win/Win
132244 -           5.  Seek first to Understand, then to be Understood
132245 -           6.  Synergize
132246 -           7.  Sharpen the Saw
132247 -
132248 -     Covey's:
132249 -
132250 -                      Commit, Learn, Do
132251 -
132252 -           ...cycle on p. 306 follows the power of the POIMS
132253 -           management cycle:
132254 -
132255 -                    Plan, Perform, Report
132256 -
132257 -
132258 -     See report from Jeff Ghilardi on how SDS implements Covey's ideas,
132259 -     ref SDS 4 line 51.
132260 -
132261 -
132262 - Ron sets out the practical challenge to demonstrate SDS meaningfully
132263 - assists in identifying roles, goals for each role, and can help apply
132264 - Covey's "Quadrant II organizing to prioritize and schedule your week?"
132265 - (see ref DRT 1 line 135)
132266 -
132267 -     Comment
132268 -
132269 -     This challenge is central to the POIMS definition of investing
132270 -     intellectual capital as a process of "Plan, Organize, Integrate,
132271 -     Measure," ref OF 1 line 35; and Scheduling is a key aspect of
132272 -     implementation, explained at ref OF 1 line 133, titled: "Convert
132273 -     Plans into Action."  Thus, while not imposing upon Mr. Covey's
132274 -     creative vocabulary (Quadrant, P, PC, etc.), it is difficult to
132275 -     conclude other than that some correlation exists.
132276 -
132277 -
132278 -
132279 - Ron asks for support of the contention that Covey is weak on imple-
132280 - mentation, ref DRT 1 line 135; he maintains that changing habits is as
132281 - easy as a "paradigm shift." ref DRT 1 line 320.
132282 -
132283 -     Comment
132284 -
132285 -     Mr. Covey states on page 46:
132286 -
132287 -       Habits are powerful forces in our lives.  Because they are
132288 -       consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily
132289 -       express our character and produce our effectiveness... or
132290 -       ineffectiveness.
132291 -
132292 -       I know they can be broken.  Habits can be learned and unlearned.
132293 -       But I also know it isn't a quick fix.  It involves a process and
132294 -       a tremendous commitment.
132295 -
132296 -     Things that are not quick, and involve a process and tremendous
132297 -     commitment are generally considered "difficult" to implement. SDS
132298 -     involves a process and requires significant commitment, but it is
132299 -     very quick.  Its ability to consistently apply sound practices
132300 -     cited by Covey and others, makes the effort to do so worthwhile.
132301 -
132302 -
132303 -
132304 - Ron asks for the source of my sense that Covey believes it is helpful
132305 - to have a strong World View to guide decision making, ref DRT 1 line
132306 - 213.
132307 -
132308 -     Comment
132309 -
132310 -     Covey states on page 319:
132311 -
132312 -        I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that
132313 -        God the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them,
132314 -        and also the source of our conscience.
132315 -
132316 -     It does not seem too great a reach to conclude that Covey holds
132317 -     decision making is guided by conscience which is enlightened by an
132318 -     understanding of natural laws, whatever they might be.  See as
132319 -     well, pages 32 - 35.  On page 35 he observes:
132320 -
132321 -        The more closely our maps or paradigms are aligned with these
132322 -        principles or natural laws, the more accurate and functional
132323 -        they will be.  Correct maps will infinitely impact our personal
132324 -        and interpersonal effectiveness far more than any amount of
132325 -        effort expended on changing our attitudes and behaviors.
132326 -
132327 -     Thus, efforts to develop good habits need to be founded in
132328 -     reality, i.e. the immutable laws of nature.  I suspect Covey would
132329 -     say that good character is conduct consistent with the natural
132330 -     laws.
132331 -
132332 -
132333 - Ron asks how the principle of formulating and applying an adequate
132334 - World View, can be applied to a commercial contract, ref DRT 1 line
132335 - 224.
132336 -
132337 -     Comment
132338 -
132339 -     The principles of inquiry and limits apply equally to these two
132340 -     examples.  We inquire to determine the natural laws, how people
132341 -     and nations behave; so too should we inquire about terms and con-
132342 -     ditions of a contract.  Neither inquiry is particularly simple,
132343 -     but is no less necessary.  Covey's warnings that failure to con-
132344 -     form our paradigms to natural law (limits) will cause discord,
132345 -     means failure to perform our contracts (agreed limits), also
132346 -     causes harm.  Stated so starkly these principles seem hardly worth
132347 -     mentioning, yet actual scenarios rarely are presented so clearly.
132348 -     This makes the talent of applying Covey's principles very valu-
132349 -     able.
132350 -
132351 -
132352 - Ron notes he does not see how paraphrasing and rehashing other
132353 - peoples' memos, contracts, comments, as a useful and sound practice
132354 - (sorry), see ref DRT 1 line 339.
132355 -
132356 -     Comment
132357 -
132358 -     I have found analysing in this SDS record, Ron's comments revealed
132359 -     gaps and errors in my understanding of important ideas.  Ron's
132360 -     views have forced deeper consideration and alerted me to seek
132361 -     information and clarification from available sources on points of
132362 -     departure.  While he disagreed with my treatment of Covey's work,
132363 -     his reading of my memo exposed a new perspective, and afforded him
132364 -     an opportunity to improve my understanding, which Covey likely
132365 -     would appreciate.
132366 -
132367 -     I have found that writing a diary of my thoughts, experiences,
132368 -     insights and learnings sharpens my understanding.  Mr. Covey has
132369 -     shared this experience.  I view these writings as intellectual
132370 -     capital, and the process of writing in an SDS record as investing
132371 -     in that resource, which thereafter is uniquely available when
132372 -     needed, as a "strategic resource."
132373 -
132374 -     I have further found my thinking and that of others evolves over
132375 -     time.  Therefore, it is helpful to be able to quickly, accurately
132376 -     and consistently obtain my views and those of others on particular
132377 -     subjects, in the same way it is helpful to apply mathematical
132378 -     formulas, design standards, or any other information preserved
132379 -     through publications.
132380 -
132381 -
132382 - Ron asks how improving the ability to think, remember and communicate
132383 - can improve interpersonal skills, since such skills arise from inter-
132384 - acting with people, not computers.  See ref DRT 1 line 354.
132385 -
132386 -     Comment
132387 -
132388 -     I am hopeful these are not mutually exclusive, and invite further
132389 -     consideration by Ron and others on this point.  In my experience
132390 -     computers are useful to create "understanding" of language that
132391 -     may arise in written or spoken composition.  Thus, "understand-
132392 -     ings" of writings and speech (by ourselves or others -- as in a
132393 -     conversation --) can typically be enhanced by an order of magni-
132394 -     tude if we test our understanding by attempting to write it out in
132395 -     our own words, as well as research available facts and reasoning
132396 -     such as memos, contracts, correspondence, etc.  It is also my
132397 -     experience that veracity, meaning and intent can be determined
132398 -     from direct interaction with people rather than a computer.  As an
132399 -     arbitrator, I am acutely aware of this.  Computers help us
132400 -     process, save, and quickly and accurately retrieve what we glean
132401 -     from interactions with people.  This is the nexus I see between
132402 -     people, knowledge and ideas that forms the primary boundary of
132403 -     POIMS.
132404 -
132405 -
1325 -