CONTACTS 
0201 - Miller Freeman, Inc.
020101 - Mr. Philip Chapnick; Publishing Director
020102 - Database and Client Server Products
0202 - DEC, Alpha Server Bus.
020201 - Ms. Pauline A. Nist; Vice President
0203 - Oracle, New Eng. Dev Center
020301 - Mr. Charles A. Rozwat; Vice President

SUBJECTS
DexCon, 951010
Attend seminars
Windows NT v. Mainframe

0605 -
0605 -    ..
0606 - Summary/Objective
0607 -
060701 - Follow up ref SDS 14 0000, ref SDS 15 0000.
060702 -
060703 - The event was not presented as indicated by the agenda, with the
060704 - result that objectives and introductions were omitted.  Presentations
060705 - and Q&A were shortened because of delays.  There were no closing
060706 - remarks, there was no prize drawing as shown in the program agenda,
060707 - ref OF 1 line 63. There were no printed summaries or slides of
060708 - presentations available to attendees.
060709 -
060710 -     [See follow up at ref SDS 20 0000.]
060711 -
060713 -  ..
060714 - Nothing was presented about how automation can improve management
060715 - productivity, what is being done to accomplish it, or how to help
060716 - executives at DEC, Microsoft, Oracle or anywhere else overcome their
060717 - fear of automated management, i.e.,
060718 -
060719 -
060720 -             Take the quantum leap into the 21st Century
060722 -  ..
060723 - DEC explained a recent alliance with Microsoft to offer NT on DEC's 64
060724 - Bit Alpha computers.  This is a significant change at DEC from selling
060725 - superior performing technology, to now competing for market share in
060726 - the lower priced workstation market dominated by Intel.  DEC's Alpha
060727 - computer configured with Unix and NT will now compete in this market
060728 - by offering a bridge between personal and mainframe automation.  DEC
060729 - expects to succeed because the Alpha offers superior performance and
060730 - Windows operating systems will continue to dominate the desktop
060731 - market.  DEC will compete for market share based on price, with less
060732 - emphasis on being first with the most advanced technology.
060733 -
060734 -     [See article in Forbes on NT progress 970526, ref SDS 26 line 63.]
060736 -  ..
060737 - DEC is changing from being a vertical provider of all major aspects of
060738 - automated products and services, to concentrate on core competencies
060739 - and partnering with others who can provide elements at less cost and
060740 - with greater innovation than DEC, so that the combination makes DEC
060741 - more competitive.
060743 -  ..
060744 - DEC plans to continue to lead in the Unix business, and will remain
060745 - in the VMS business until at least the year 2000.
060747 -  ..
060748 - Microsoft's representative explained its support for the Alliance with
060749 - DEC, but did not announce that an 64 Bit version of Windows NT is
060750 - being developed at Microsoft.
060752 -  ..
060753 - Oracle reports making a successful transition the past year after
060754 - purchasing the Rdb database program from DEC.  Oracle does not plan to
060755 - converge Rdb and Oracle 7 into a single program, but will converge the
060756 - functionality.
060757 -
060758 -
060759 -
060760 -
0608 -

SUBJECTS
Leadership & Change, 930119
Leadership is Talking
Innovation Solves Information/Time Problem
Leadership Broader Vision Overcomes Fear Change Helps People Help The
Leadership Respect for Skill Achievement, Bill Walsh, 951010
Skill Respect Achievement Positions People to Lead

1008 -
1009 - Leadership
101001 -  ..
101002 - Bill Walsh - Innovative Communications
101003 -
101004 - Bill Walsh spoke about noon time.
101005 -
101006 - He explained that new leadership needs to be validated by a
101007 - recognizable skill or reputation for success, that gains the respect
101008 - of those being led.
101010 -  ..
101011 - Thus, often leaders emerge from a specialty craft like, in his case, a
101012 - quarterback coach, or as an engineer, carpenter, accountant, salesman,
101013 - writer, architect.  These skills position the leader to demonstrate
101014 - specialized technical ability and over time develop communication
101015 - skill.
101017 -  ..
101018 - POIMS explains leaders are both doers and thinkers. ref OF 2 2049
101019 -
101020 -     Below, Walsh speaks about "shared meaning." ref SDS 0 4883
101022 -  ..
101023 - Ultimately, leadership is validated only by success.
101025 -  ..
101026 - This requires planning, resources, strong communications and luck.  A
101027 - key responsibility of leadership is to help others succeed.  He
101028 - emphasized the importance of finding innovative ways to communicate.
101029 -
101030 -     [On 951107 called Walsh to speak at Asilomar. ref SDS 21 0000.]
101031 -
101032 -
101033 -
101034 -
1011 -

SUBJECTS
Usefull Technology Can be Used A Lot
Information Management
Market Potential
Enterprise Workflow, Integrate

1706 -
1707 - Key Points of Interest
170801 -  ..
170802 - Here are the questions I had for the speakers based on the agenda,
170803 - ref OF 1 line 21.
170804 -
170805 -     •  What tools do the people at DEC use to earn money, per talks
170806 -        with IBM at ref SDS 6 line 365, and with Intel ref SDS 12 line
170807 -        367, ref SDS 12 line 477, and ref SDS 12 line 698. This was
170808 -        considered in DEC's Enterprise Workflow (EW) paper at ref SDS 5
170809 -        line 66.
170810 -
170811 -     •  How do tools at the seminar solve the problem of the
170812 -        Information Highway, per ref SDS 12 line 294, and recognized in
170813 -        the EW paper at ref SDS 5 line 358.
170814 -
170815 -     •  What tools support performing Traceability and Continual
170816 -        Learning called out in the ISO 10006 criteria, ref SDS 12 line
170817 -        165, and discussed in the EW paper at ref SDS 5 line 110 and
170818 -        ref SDS 5 line 179?
170819 -
170820 -
170821 -
170822 -
1709 -

SUBJECTS
Examples of Need for SDS

1803 -
1804 - Progress
180501 -  ..
180502 - The event was held in a small half-room with tables and chairs for
180503 - approximately 50 people.  When I arrived about 0855, there were 6 or 7
180504 - people there.  At 0900 when the event was scheduled to begin, there
180505 - were maybe 10 people.
180507 -  ..
180508 - I met Philip Chapnick who is Director of Publishing with Miller
180509 - Freeman, Inc., the event sponsor.  I mentioned that Merrill Malveni
180510 - with Digital's office in San Francisco did not know about this event,
180511 - and was unable to find out anything about it within DEC, ref SDS 15
180512 - line 57.  Philip said communications on this event were disorganized.
180514 -  ..
180515 - The introductory speaker was delayed in traffic, so the Welcome
180516 - segment in the agenda ref OF 1 line 19, was not done.  Introductions
180517 - and objectives of the conference were therefore omitted.
180519 -  ..
180520 - About 0930, Pauline Nist with DEC introduced herself, and began her
180521 - presentation.
180522 -
180523 -
180525 -  ..
180526 - Presentation Materials
180527 -
180528 - I asked Pauline if we can get a copy of the slides she used, so we can
180529 - concentrate on her explanation rather than try to capture all of the
180530 - important points in her slides?  She said she did not bring handouts,
180531 - but offered to submit the slides in hardcopy for distribution to
180532 - attendees after the event.  The other speakers agreed to do the same.
180534 -  ..
180535 - Philip Chapnick said Miller Freeman will submit these materials to
180536 - attendees when they are received from the speakers.
180537 -
180538 -     [On Oct 26, no materials had been received by Miller Freeman, per
180539 -     ref SDS 19 line 88.]
180540 -
180541 -
180542 -
180543 -
1806 -

SUBJECTS
Strategies
Operating System
Business Climate

2105 -
210601 -  ..
210602 - Pauline Nist - DEC
210603 -
210604 - Her main point today seemed to be to assure the market that DEC has a
210605 - strategic alliance with Microsoft to make NT run on Digital's Alpha
210606 - computer in combination with Unix, and thereby create an avenue for
210607 - Microsoft to the mainframe business environment, and a path for DEC to
210608 - the personal computer dominance of Microsoft operating systems.  This
210609 - is DEC's strategy to sell its Alpha computers to the growing movement
210610 - toward Windows as the operating system of desktop computers for
210611 - businesses.
210613 -  ..
210614 - She asked for a show of hands on the number of Digital customers
210615 - attending the event today.  There were only about 15 people, but none
210616 - were DEC customers.
210618 -  ..
210619 - Pauline reported that DEC was profitable last year.
210620 -
210622 -      ..
210623 -     Transitioning Service for Windows 95
210624 -
210625 -     DEC is offering or will be offering a service to transition firms
210626 -     from Windows xx to Windows 95.  So for example PG&E or Cheveron
210627 -     could hire DEC to install Windows 95 on all of its computers,
210628 -     convert the software and train users.
210629 -
210631 -      ..
210632 -     NT, Unix & VMS Integrated on Alpha
210633 -
210634 -     She indicated that DEC will continue strong support of Unix and
210635 -     VMS, which is a key asset DEC brings to the Microsoft alliance.
210636 -     She said Unix is the only 64 bit operating system (not sure if
210637 -     this is for PCs or for anything). She said DEC is developing or
210638 -     has created an integration between Windows NT and Unix, so a
210639 -     single machine can do both.  Pauline said DEC will support VMS
210640 -     through the year 2000.
210641 -
210643 -         ..
210644 -        Potential for NT's Enterprise Success
210645 -
210646 -        Pauline said open VMS was created by Dave Cutler who also was
210647 -        instrumental in developing Windows NT.  Therefore there are
210648 -        similarities in code and performance that make it easier to
210649 -        integrate these systems on the Alpha than might otherwise be
210650 -        the case.
210651 -
210652 -
210653 -
2107 -

SUBJECTS
Business Climate
DEC, Alpha
Unix, Windows NT, LANS
Strategies
Partnering

2807 -
280801 -      ..
280802 -     Alpha Capabilities
280803 -
280804 -     The Alpha seems to run from 100 Mhz to 300 Mhz and sells from $5K
280805 -     to $45K.
280806 -
280807 -     The 64 bit architecture addresses up to 14 GB rather than 4 GB on
280808 -     Intel's 32 bit systems.
280810 -      ..
280811 -     Supports PCI bus.
280813 -      ..
280814 -     Oracle and Sybase are creating applications for the Alpha.
280816 -      ..
280817 -     Unix is the only 64 bit operating system.
280819 -      ..
280820 -     NT will run on the Alpha; DEC will integrate Unix and NT on the
280821 -     Alpha.
280823 -      ..
280824 -     Testing shows the Alpha runs some database programs from 3 to 16
280825 -     times faster than Intel's 32 bit processor because it can read
280826 -     larger blocks of data into RAM where processing is significantly
280827 -     faster than processing data on disk.
280828 -
280829 -         There were no examples or testing results showing how this
280830 -         increased speed accomplishes specific business needs, though
280831 -         presumably some ATM type inventory situations such as banks,
280832 -         airline reservations, retail ordering, and the like, can
280833 -         benefit from this capability.  Reports of limited improvements
280834 -         from 32 bit systems relative to 16 bit systems, suggest 64 bit
280835 -         performance benefits for end users are a ways off, ref SDS 8
280836 -         line 109.
280838 -      ..
280839 -     DEC & Microsoft Synergy
280840 -
280841 -     Pauline said the alliance with Microsoft offers potential for
280842 -     strong synergy between DEC's traditional leadership in high
280843 -     performance business systems, and Microsoft's marketing success.
280844 -
280845 -             [See Fortune article on Microsoft NT 970526, ref SDS 26
280846 -             line 115.]
280848 -         ..
280849 -        Network Performance
280850 -
280851 -        Pauline cited DEC network hardware and systems as reaching 100
280852 -        MB per sec transfer rates and less than 5 micro seconds
280853 -        latency.
280854 -
280856 -         ..
280857 -        Enterprise Support
280858 -
280859 -        Pauline said DEC's experience and products provide effective
280860 -        automation to support an enterprise through high performance
280861 -        large computing systems.  She believes this advantage can be
280862 -        used in combination with the mass appeal Microsoft has created
280863 -        among individuals for its Windows products on personal
280864 -        computers.
280866 -         ..
280867 -        Pauline did not indicate why the desire to use Windows exists
280868 -        or whether it reflects a correct assessment of value, i.e.,
280869 -        cost/benefit, that can sustain commitment of the buyer. [See
280870 -        subsequent analysis from CNN report, ref SDS 18 line 69.]  A
280871 -        key expectation seems to be that somebody will produce software
280872 -        that makes personal computers valuable to people beyond mere
280873 -        entertainment value (discussed with Intel at ref SDS 12 line
280874 -        497.  Pauline did not indicate how her work has been or will be
280875 -        improved by using the new Alpha, Unix, NT troika that DEC will
280876 -        be selling, per analysis of CNN report at ref SDS 18 line 79.
280877 -
280878 -           [See Connectivity Software & Enterprise Workflow below.]
280879 -
280881 -      ..
280882 -     Pauline seemed to indicate that DEC's 64 bit Alpha computers
280883 -     provide the best path to future development of Windows NT, but
280884 -     when Steve Wilder (see below) was later asked about Microsoft's
280885 -     plans to make Windows NT a 64 bit program, he said he did not know
280886 -     of any such plans.
280888 -      ..
280889 -     Evidently DEC believes the 64 Bit Alpha computer runs Windows NT
280890 -     much better than Intel based processors, and this, in combination
280891 -     with competitive pricing and support, will draw the market share
280892 -     needed to sustain viability and earnings.
280894 -      ..
280895 -     Marketing Strategy - Volume
280896 -
280897 -     Pauline explained that the computer marketplace has traditionally
280898 -     been dominated by vertical integration where firms like DEC and
280899 -     IBM did hardware, operating systems and applications (she broke it
280900 -     down into about 10 or so categories).  Now, however, DEC plans to
280901 -     use...
280902 -                           ..
280903 -                          Partnering
280904 -
280905 -        ...with other specialized organizations, like Microsoft, to
280906 -        sell DEC products and services.
280907 -
280908 -             [See Fortune article on Microsoft NT 970526, ref SDS 26
280909 -             line 115.]
280911 -         ..
280912 -        They are seeking strategic alliances to enhance their
280913 -        competitive posture.  Pauline did not explain how a partner is
280914 -        better than a subcontractor.
280915 -
280917 -         ..
280918 -        Volume and Custom Solutions
280919 -
280920 -        DEC intends to compete in the market based on existing methods,
280921 -        rather than continue to rely on creating new technology to make
280922 -        new markets.  This means DEC will aim for market share through
280923 -        aggressive pricing, a traditional strength of Microsoft.
280924 -        Pauline said DEC will continue to offer custom solutions for
280925 -        particular market segments.
280926 -
280928 -         ..
280929 -        Microsoft Success & Weaknesses
280930 -
280931 -        I asked Pauline about strategic considerations of over-reliance
280932 -        on Microsoft, based on current market dominance and growth
280933 -        prospects?  She asked what I mean?
280934 -
280935 -        I noted that when an organization becomes dominate, especially
280936 -        in a short time, as with Microsoft, weakness occurs in its work
280937 -        practices, they over-commit relative to availability of quality
280938 -        management.  Rapid success breeds management by whim and
280939 -        bloated bureaucracy.  Frustration and disappointment cause
280940 -        talent to leave; "Yes men" remain.  People seek personal
280941 -        rewards of status that vitiate internal cohesion, and focus
280942 -        more on outside concerns such as neglected family life, writing
280943 -        books and TV appearances, rather than on maintaining the drive
280944 -        for high quality work. I cited the recent example of IBM, Boise
280945 -        Cascade in the 70's, Borland, ITX; even DEC has suffered these
280946 -        pitfalls.  Microsoft was insulated by early control of the
280947 -        personal computer operating system which enabled it to buy off
280948 -        the effects of these problems, but that may only exacerbate its
280949 -        exposure.  Customers are increasingly less forgiving of the
280950 -        disjunction between promised improvements and productivity
280951 -        gains that fall short. What is DEC's strategy to avoid hitching
280952 -        its stockholders and customers to these risks?
280954 -         ..
280955 -        Pauline said DEC's continued development of Unix addresses this
280956 -        point.  She feels market inertia will sustain Microsoft's
280957 -        leadership regardless of its performance because other vendors
280958 -        are writing software for NT.  Even if none of it improves
280959 -        productivity, market psychology (the desire to use computers
280960 -        per Tom Landauer's analysis at ref SDS 9 line 745) will drive
280961 -        sales.  DEC wants to position its stockholders to benefit from
280962 -        these dynamics.
280963 -
280965 -         ..
280966 -        Joint Engineering - Combined Staffing
280967 -
280968 -        Another attendee asked for evidence of Microsoft's intent to
280969 -        aggressively support the alliance with DEC?
280970 -
280971 -        Pauline seemed to cite co-location of a contingent of DEC's
280972 -        people in the Redmond area, and similarly a group of Microsoft
280973 -        people are now co-located near key DEC facilities in New
280974 -        England.
280975 -
280976 -
280977 -
280978 -
2810 -

SUBJECTS
Walsh, Bill -- 49ers
Consistent Use of Good Practice
Football Analogy Having Well Thought Out
Football Plays Designed for Options to

3206 -
320701 -             ..
320702 -            Renewal, Faith, Luck - Bill Walsh
320703 -            Consistent Success Takes Consistently Using Good Practices
320704 -
320705 -            Interestingly Bill Walsh who spoke at noon, ref SDS 0 1714,
320706 -            raised the challenge of maintaining focus and intensity in
320707 -            times of defeat and success.
320708 -
320709 -            He said competition requires talent, perseverance and luck
320710 -            in order to succeed.  He noted that "good" luck is enhanced
320711 -            by consistent use of good work practices for planning and
320712 -            preparation.
320714 -             ..
320715 -            Failure causes people to lose faith.
320716 -
320717 -               On 921205 Stephen Covey noted that faith helps people
320718 -               use good practices consistently when short-term results
320719 -               leads people to give up. ref SDS 2 4803
320721 -             ..
320722 -            Success breeds expectations of winning by just showing up.
320724 -             ..
320725 -            In both cases, people give up on adhering to good work
320726 -            practices, cooperation degrades. So, organizations have a
320727 -            constant need for renewal of people, practices and ideas.
320728 -
320729 -               [On 980307 Andy Grove's book "Only the Paranoid Survive"
320730 -               describes challenge overcoming inertia of success, to be
320731 -               alert to need for improvement. ref SDS 27 3740]
320733 -             ..
320734 -            Nothing can guarantee winning the Superbowl every year, but
320735 -            a lot can be done to be more consistently competitive by
320736 -            being consistently prepared with the result that luck
320737 -            (i.e., forces which occur at too low a level for humans to
320738 -            influence, e.g., weather) need only offer a minimal boost
320739 -            to reach the top more often.
320740 -
320741 -                On 950327 using SDS to "be prepared" was reviewed.
320742 -                ref SDS 7 8822
320744 -                 ..
320745 -                On 931130 Peter Drucker makes similar point per review
320746 -                of his book on the role of management to strive for
320747 -                consistent use of good practices as the best way to
320748 -                remain competitive. ref SDS 3 1504
320750 -                 ..
320751 -                [On 960721 explained SDS supports consistent use of
320752 -                good management practice. ref SDS 25 2768]
320754 -             ..
320755 -            An example is the Walsh offense that designs options for
320756 -            the quarterback, per analysis on 901008. ref SDS 1 6993
320758 -             ..
320759 -            Bill described this as narrowing the range in the waves of
320760 -            life between excellence and failure.
320761 -
320762 -                [On 951107 called Walsh to speak at Asilomar. ref SDS
320763 -                21 0000]
320764 -
320765 -                [On 951114 developed speaking scope. ref SDS 22 1276]
320766 -
320767 -
320768 -
3208 -

SUBJECTS
Business Climate
Strategies, Connectivity
Information Management
Vision

3906 -
390701 -      ..
390702 -     Connectivity Software
390703 -
390704 -     Pauline showed a slide of 10 or so items where DEC feels it can be
390705 -     competitive.  One was "connectivity software".  I did not have an
390706 -     opportunity to ask what this means, or get an example.  Someone
390707 -     else may have asked a question about it because Pauline said DEC
390708 -     has a new business unit that will concentrate on "connectivity
390709 -     software."
390710 -
390712 -         ..
390713 -        Vision
390714 -
390715 -        One of Pauline's slides showed DEC's "vision" that included:
390716 -
390717 -                 •  Share Information
390718 -                 •  Communicate
390719 -                 •  Information Management
390720 -
390721 -           ...my sense is that people are so bogged down in the details
390722 -           of hardware and in going to meetings, sending faxes, making
390723 -           cellular calls, that they have lost sight of the meaning of:
390725 -                                 ..
390726 -                                Communicate
390727 -
390728 -
390729 -               ...supported by Peter Drucker cited at ref SDS 12 line
390730 -               722, discussing usefulness of computers with Intel.
390731 -
390732 -
390733 -
3908 -

SUBJECTS
Shared Meaning
Football Coaches Communication Specialists

4104 -
410501 -                ..
410502 -               Shared Meaning - Bill Walsh
410503 -
410504 -               When Bill Walsh spoke on leadership, ref SDS 0 1714, I
410505 -               asked how he maintained shared meaning over time.
410506 -
410507 -               He said this is the key to successful football teams,
410508 -               which he accomplished by using specialized coaches to
410509 -               provide continual repetition in practice of the few
410510 -               things each player needs to remember.
410511 -
410512 -                    [On 951114 developed speaking scope for Walsh to
410513 -                    present these ideas to PMI's Asilomar Conference.
410514 -                    ref SDS 23 1276]
410516 -                ..
410517 -               I asked how well this worked in the business side of
410518 -               managing the team, or if he has encountered a similar
410519 -               method used outside the football arena?
410521 -                ..
410522 -               Bill said the management of the football team did not
410523 -               use the communication methods he used to prepare the
410524 -               players to succeed, because the team could not afford to
410525 -               have additional staff to track and follow up on daily
410526 -               management details, and to review these details with
410527 -               individual managers, as is done with the players, their
410528 -               assignments and build focused understanding based on in
410529 -               depth review of prior related experience, like game
410530 -               films.  Such a practice would have conflicted with the
410531 -               traditions of key people, especially the owners.
410532 -
410533 -
410534 -
410535 -
410536 -
410537 -
4106 -

SUBJECTS
Enterprise Workflow, Integrate
Operating System for People & Organizations
Communications Failing on Information
Paperless Office
Voice Data Entry

5007 -
500801 -         ..
500802 -        DEC & Information Highway
500803 -
500804 -        I asked Pauline about DEC's progress with the...
500805 -
500806 -
500807 -                        Enterprise Workflow
500808 -
500809 -
500810 -            ...program DEC reported on last year, ref SDS 5 0453, to
500811 -            provide automated integration of work practices and thereby
500812 -            improve management productivity?
500814 -         ..
500815 -        Pauline said she is unfamiliar with this effort.
500817 -         ..
500818 -        I mentioned the article in Byte Magazine on the desire of many
500819 -        executives and managers to use automation more effectively to
500820 -        improve their work practices, under the goal of a...
500822 -                           ..
500823 -                          Paperless Office
500825 -         ..
500826 -        For example a report on 950927 that Intel managers feel
500827 -        overwhelmed by information overload, ref SDS 12 5002, but have
500828 -        not been able to find a solution. ref SDS 12 7732
500830 -         ..
500831 -        I cited Tom Landauer's book "The Trouble with Computers,"
500832 -        showing automation has not improved management productivity
500833 -        because of poor usefulness due to focus on easier usability,
500834 -        ref SDS 9 1222 and ref SDS 9 0582.  DEC's Enterprise Workflow
500835 -        program seemed positioned to improve usefulness.  How are
500836 -        executives at DEC using the Alpha and Unix to make personal
500837 -        computers into a more effective...
500839 -                 ..
500840 -                Operating System for People and Organizations
500841 -
500842 -
500843 -           ...in light of the information highway that sends more
500844 -           information to people through phone calls, meetings, e-mail,
500845 -           correspondence and seminars like today?  How do DEC's tools
500846 -           create controllable action items linked back to their source
500847 -           so people can follow up effectively?  Is this part of
500848 -           Enterprise Workflow that improves productivity?
500849 -
500851 -         ..
500852 -        Pauline said this objective is part of the new Connectivity
500853 -        business unit.  DEC is actively seeking partners to support
500854 -        this effort.
500856 -         ..
500857 -        Chuck Rozwat or another speaker said DEC is planning to use the
500858 -        Connectivity business unit to develop a "Paperless Office"
500859 -        capability based on the Internet.  He said...
500860 -
500861 -                          Speech Recognition
500862 -
500863 -        ...is now available for a price, but nobody has been able to
500864 -        deploy it to improve productivity.  This supports the analysis
500865 -        on 950927 at Intel about the demand for applying technology to
500866 -        the practice of management, ref SDS 12 4408, i.e., "This is
500867 -        what I want!" per ref SDS 12 8943.  People want "automated
500868 -        management," but do not know what it means or how to accomplish
500869 -        the goal. ref SDS 9 1222
500870 -
500871 -            [See follow up discussion with Morris on this point at ref
500872 -            SDS 13 line 339, and ref SDS 17 line 432.]
500874 -             ..
500875 -            [See meeting with Intel, ref SDS 24 line 519.]
500876 -
500878 -  ..
500879 - Pauline said we can get additional information at...
500880 -
500881 -                       www.digital.com
500882 -
500883 -
500884 -
5009 -

SUBJECTS
Business Climate
Windows NT
NT v. Mainframes IBM Unix Sun Novell

5305 -
530601 -  ..
530602 - Greg Laird - DEC
530603 -
530604 - He offered a few details to support Pauline's presentation.
530605 -
530606 -    •  Microsoft has paid DEC to train DEC employees on Microsoft
530607 -       systems.
530609 -        ..
530610 -    •  They seem to have a common e-mail system.
530612 -        ..
530613 -    •  DEC is creating a software product called
530614 -
530615 -                          NT Clusters
530616 -
530617 -       ...which has either been licensed by Microsoft from DEC or to
530618 -       DEC from Microsoft.  This may the flagship product for applying
530619 -       NT on the Alpha computer.
530621 -        ..
530622 -       It will not be available until 1996 or 1997.
530623 -
530624 -    •  Greg said Microsoft and DEC have done a lot of cross-licensing
530625 -       of products, but no specifics were given.
530626 -
530627 -    •  Future NT CDs will install on both Intel and Alpha computers.
530628 -
530630 -  ..
530631 - Someone asked for a name of a contact at DEC we can call for more
530632 - information on DEC's plans, schedule, and/or to purchase a system, get
530633 - on a list, or offer ideas to help DEC and Microsoft shape its
530634 - development efforts.
530635 -
530636 -     Greg said he will investigate and advise attendees through the
530637 -     event sponsor.
530638 -
530639 -
530641 -  ..
530642 - Steve Wilder - Microsoft
530643 -
530644 - Steve did not bring a card.  I did not get information on what he does
530645 - or which business unit he supports at MS.
530646 -
530647 - Steve's presentation was abbreviated and cursory because of delays
530648 - starting the program.
530650 -      ..
530651 -     Microsoft's "Enterprise" Strategy is DEC
530652 -
530653 -     He said Microsoft is strongly committed to the DEC alliance to
530654 -     provide an essential bridge for Windows NT into mainframe
530655 -     computing.  This is Microsoft's primary commitment to Enterprise
530656 -     business support.  The idea is to give office desktop computer
530657 -     users access to large data bases.
530659 -              ..
530660 -             [See Fortune article on Microsoft NT 970617, ref SDS 26
530661 -             7401
530663 -      ..
530664 -     Someone asked about Microsoft's commitment to the Alpha platform;
530665 -     using the pejorative form asking if
530666 -
530667 -                  Microsoft is eating its own dog food?
530668 -
530669 -     ...which seemed to be a way to ask if Microsoft is using the tools
530670 -     it is selling to others, per analysis of meeting at Intel.
530671 -     ref SDS 12 YB65
530673 -      ..
530674 -     Steve said Microsoft is using NT on the Alpha.  He was unsure
530675 -     about details and could offer no specific examples.  He could not
530676 -     explain how he is using the Alpha to improve his work.  Steve said
530677 -     he will submit more information on this.
530678 -
530679 -
530680 -
530681 -
5307 -

SUBJECTS
Productivity Improved by Faster Processors
Productivity Not Improved by Faster
Operating System for People & Organizations
Usability Engineering
Usefulness is Not Marketing Criteria
Useful Management Technology Requires Regular Use

6108 -
610901 -      ..
610902 -     Productivity & Usefulness
610903 -
610904 -     Steve cited the correlation between faster processors and reduced
610905 -     cost, to support an observation that automation is improving
610906 -     productivity.  He offered no examples or demonstrations of how his
610907 -     work has been improved the past 10 years or even the past 6 weeks,
610908 -     as a result of using Microsoft products.
610909 -
610910 -         [A scenario of what Steve could have shown occurred at the IBM
610911 -         TechCon the next day, ref SDS 16 line 194.]
610913 -      ..
610914 -     I mentioned the report by Jim Manzi at Lotus Development in 1992,
610915 -     and more recently by Tom Landauer in his book "The Trouble with
610916 -     Computers" that better productivity has not grown as fast as the
610917 -     correlation between price and processing speed might indicate,
610918 -     ref SDS 6 line 263.  I asked Steve what Microsoft is doing to
610919 -     convert personal computers into an:
610921 -                   ..
610922 -                  Operating System for People and Organizations
610923 -
610924 -
610925 -         Steve said everything Microsoft does is intended to convert
610926 -         computer power into better personal productivity by providing
610927 -         greater access to information across platforms and through
610928 -         dynamic linking so people can use information from different
610929 -         applications.
610931 -          ..
610932 -         I asked how this has increased his productivity the past year
610933 -         or so?  For example, are his remarks for the event today set
610934 -         out in a Microsoft program he can show us is linked to event
610935 -         objectives and to sources provided by Microsoft's automated
610936 -         business systems?  Can we see this or get a copy?
610937 -
610938 -             [A similar issue arose the next day at an IBM event,
610939 -             ref SDS 13 line 160.]
610941 -          ..
610942 -         Steve said he did not have time to assemble hand out materials
610943 -         for the event today, but we can get a copy from the event
610944 -         sponsor.
610946 -          ..
610947 -         I asked how Microsoft's products will enable him to apply the
610948 -         results of the event today, and create controllable action
610949 -         items from important information he learns today (I did not
610950 -         mention the ISO 10006 criteria)?  Steve said he has to catch a
610951 -         plane for another event when he leaves.
610952 -
610953 -
610955 -      ..
610956 -     Too Busy - Cannot See the Forest
610957 -
610958 -     I asked if Microsoft has a specific unit similar to that formed to
610959 -     make NT work with DEC's Alpha computer, to develop, test and use
610960 -     automation that improves management productivity of people like
610961 -     him, Pauline and others at the event today?
610962 -
610963 -           He said Microsoft does not have this kind of unit that he is
610964 -           aware of.  After his remarks, I wanted to make further
610965 -           inquiry, but he was too busy with others and then had to
610966 -           rush off to another matter.
610967 -
610968 -
610969 -
610970 -
6110 -

SUBJECTS
Java, Internet

6303 -
630401 -  ..
630402 - Chuck - Oracle
630403 -
630404 - Rdb is a software database program that was developed and marketed by
630405 - DEC.  It was purchased by Oracle, perhaps a year ago.  This event was
630406 - to report progress integrating Rdb into Oracle's existing business,
630407 - specifically its Oracle 7 database product.
630409 -  ..
630410 - Rdb 7.0 supports VMS.
630412 -  ..
630413 - Rdb will continue to support DEC's existing VMS computers and the new
630414 - Alpha.  Oracle will soon release a version of Rdb for Unix and in
630415 - about a year, they will release a version of Rdb for Windows NT.
630416 -
630418 -  ..
630419 - I believe Chuck mentioned a technology at Sun called:
630421 -                         ..
630422 -                        JAVA
630423 -
630424 -     ...he did not elaborate on what it does or how it improves
630425 -     earnings.  [Later turned out this is used on the Internet to allow
630426 -     users to select applications to use on-line.]
630427 -
630429 -  ..
630430 - Following Chuck's presentation, I gave him a copy of the NWO... paper
630431 - to read on the trip back to New Hampshire.
630432 -
630433 -
630434 -
630435 -
6305 -