CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Communication 90% Manager's Time
Feedback Accuracy Listening SDS Metric
Meaning Changes Drifts in Circles without
Aligning Communications to Maintain Shared
Align Communications, Testing Metrics
Managing Toward Accountability and Performance, Communication Robert

6008 -
6008 -    ..
6009 - Summary/Objective
6010 -
601001 - Follow up ref SDS 55 0000, ref SDS 50 0000.
601002 -
601003 - Entered Chapter 12 of the book...
601004 -
601005 -
601006 -        Managing Toward Accountability For Performance
601007 -
601008 -
601009 - The title reflects the fact that accountability is a core part of
601010 - management.
601011 -
601012 -      [On 971202 management accountability is "stressed" as a selling
601013 -      point. ref SDS 69 2446
601015 -  ..
601016 - The essence of accountability is documentation using traceability to
601017 - original sources, reviewed on 950721. ref SDS 29 1740
601018 -
601020 -  ..
601021 - Chapter 12        Managerial Communication
601022 - ref OF 5 0001
601023 -
601024 - Created second file with parts of
601025 -
601026 - Chapter 2         Goals, Strategic Variable        ref OF 6 0002
601027 - Chapter 4         Managerial Controlling           ref OF 6 0004
601028 - Chapter 7         Cognitive Variables              ref OF 6 0007
601029 -
601030 -     These files contain only relevant parts of the chapters.
601032 -  ..
601033 - Chapter 13 on Conflict and Stress are in a later record, ref SDS 59
601034 - line 79.
601035 -
601037 -  ..
601038 - Accountability Engine of Civilization, Requires Timely Notice
601039 - Communication Biggest Impact on Management Performance
601040 -
601041 - Management inherently entails accountability from exercising power to
601042 - delegate and direct the work by expending resources essential for
601043 - taking action through organization. ref OF 7 2L6I  The power to act
601044 - requires a balancing binary force of accountability.
601045 -
601046 -        [On 030627 SDS forward link feature automated to make managing
601047 -        accountability through an audit trail showing traceablity to
601048 -        original sources faster and easier. ref SDS 89 CP7L
601050 -  ..
601051 - Another source, "Business Systems," 1966 published by Systems and
601052 - Procedures Association, Library of Congress Number 66-14446, says on
601053 - page 1-13....
601054 -
601055 -      Organization enables the flow of power to divide responsibility
601056 -      for which each manager is accountable.
601058 -  ..
601059 - Civilization brings continual improvement from incentives by balancing
601060 - binary forces of positive and negative consequences....
601061 -
601062 -       1.  credits for doing a good job, and
601063 -       2.  debits (accountability) for mistakes
601065 -  ..
601066 - The essence of accountability is documentation to verify accuracy.  On
601067 - 950721 management standards support accountability by requiring an
601068 - audit trail showing alignment using traceability to original sources,
601069 - ref SDS 29 1740, that strengthen intelligence to avoid mistakes, as
601070 - explained in POIMS. ref OF 11 0504
601071 -
601072 -      [On 971125 SDS added feature to increase automatically creating
601073 -      audit trail showing traceability to original sources. ref SDS 67
601074 -      R65V
601076 -       ..
601077 -      [On 971202 management accountability is "stressed" as a selling
601078 -      point, but in practice people strive to avoid accountability.
601079 -      ref SDS 69 2446
601081 -       ..
601082 -      [On 991021 enterprise tries to avoid accountability by destroying
601083 -      intellectual captial essential for improving the work to avoid
601084 -      mistakes. ref SDS 86 2695
601086 -       ..
601087 -      [On 030708 discuss using better accountability for a 20 second
601088 -      elevator pitch to sell SDS. ref SDS 90 OI5J
601090 -       ..
601091 -      [On 051130 article in AIA Architect requires documentation for
601092 -      good management to work accurately, communications aligned with
601093 -      original sources, ref SDS 91 G46F, but notes that during the past
601094 -      quarter century, documentation has grown significantly; projects
601095 -      that required only a few file boxes in the 1980s result in many
601096 -      times that amount today. ref SDS 91 Z16L
601098 -  ..
601099 - Double entry bookkeeping is a technology for exercising accountability
601100 - of management performance, which is implemented by SDS, explained in
601101 - POIMS.
601102 -
601103 -      [On 980101 Drucker says accounting as best management technology.
601104 -      ref SDS 71 0627
601106 -       ..
601107 -      [On 990710 network bookkeeping applies binary structure of debits
601108 -      and credits for e-commerce. ref SDS 84 LF5I
601110 -       ..
601111 -      [On 990804 network bookkeeping explain. ref SDS 85 YU70
601113 -  ..
601114 - Drucker reviewed on 931130 explains accountability is a core aspect of
601115 - management embodied by theory X and theory z binary concepts of
601116 - empowerment for creativity and control for results. ref SDS 16 9677
601117 -
601118 -      [On 000227 organizational memory enables attribution that drives
601119 -      binary forces of credit and accountability. ref SDS 88 0987
601121 -  ..
601122 - The author points out that communication is a basic process pervading
601123 - all aspects of managing: decision making, planning, organizing,
601124 - ref OF 5 7377, reflecting original concept of Communication Metrics
601125 - developed on 950327 that provides a bridge between the driving force
601126 - of enterprise and the essence of management, accountability.
601127 - ref SDS 20 7777
601128 -
601130 -  ..
601131 - POIMS defines "management" as planning to overcome limited span of
601132 - attention. ref OF 1 9878
601133 -
601134 -     [On 971202 Ed East at HQUSACE submitted ISO brochure for the
601135 -     Louisville District that stresses "accountability." ref SDS 69
601136 -     1560]
601138 -      ..
601139 -     [On 980405 adding "metrics" to communication creates better
601140 -     accountability advocated by this book, but managers actually fear
601141 -     accountability of difficulties more than they seek accountability
601142 -     (called "credit") for better performance. ref SDS 75 5065, also
601143 -     discussion with Morris on same day. ref SDS 76 3969]
601145 -      ..
601146 -     [On 981103 example with Kwan Henmi. ref SDS 81 1504]
601148 -  ..
601149 - Communication is critical to managerial performance; "management's
601150 - number one problem." ref OF 5 0105.   However, the chapter on
601151 - controls, does not list communication, ref OF 6 6205
601153 -      ..
601154 -     Notice Provides Accountability in Communication
601155 -
601156 -     Despite citing communication as a primary task, for some reason
601157 -     "accountability" is not directly discussed in the chapter on
601158 -     communication, even though accountability is the primary objective
601159 -     of the book, as seen from the title.  In chapter 2 the author says
601160 -     management is accountable for aligning actions with objectives
601161 -     (desired results). ref OF 6 6389  Since communication drives
601162 -     actions, it seems reasonable to conclude that "accountability"
601163 -     requires aligning communication with objectives, requirements and
601164 -     commitments, called out in POIMS. ref OF 1 2049 and ref OF 1 VX7N
601165 -     The law has long recognized this duty of communication, more
601166 -     commonly called "notice" that requires timely feedback that
601167 -     enables timely action to accomplish requirements and avoid
601168 -     mistakes that cause delay and extra cost. see below for more on
601169 -     feedback. ref SDS 0 4373
601171 -      ..
601172 -     Examples showing application of notice are on....
601173 -
601174 -         880928, feedback saves time, money, ref SDS 1 3528
601175 -         881003, SDS accomplishes notice, ref SDS 2 R35N
601176 -         890809. supports internal management, ref SDS 5 8492
601177 -         891201, saves $40M, ref SDS 6 3890
601178 -         911216, accountability in communication, ref SDS 11 LX9J
601179 -         940105, partnering avoids accountability, ref SDS 17 T56I,
601180 -         940111, feedback supported by notice, ref SDS 18 4400
601181 -         940611, failure of notice cost $500M. ref SDS 23 8239
601182 -         951103, avoid conflicting understandings. ref SDS 32 YI6F
601183 -         960125, notice encourages accuracy. ref SDS 35 UV3L
601185 -         ..
601186 -        [On 980405 accountability is feared. ref SDS 75 5065
601188 -  ..
601189 - In a cross-cultural study of managers, 74 percent cited communication
601190 - blocks as the single greatest barrier to corporate excellence, .....
601191 - ref OF 5 0105.
601193 -      ..
601194 -     Author's analysis and research reflects the record showing that
601195 -     communication is the primary management activity and most
601196 -     important process impacting productivity and success of the
601197 -     organization.
601198 -
601199 -      1.  Manager reports 90% of time devoted to communication, see
601200 -          890513. ref SDS 3 6690
601202 -           ..
601203 -      2.  Morris' management practice entails meetings, discussions and
601204 -          phone calls that take up about 80% of his time, ref SDS 5
601205 -          8812.
601207 -           ..
601208 -      3.  Dave Vannier at Intel says meetings take up most of his time.
601209 -          ref SDS 68 3849
601210 -          ..
601211 -      4.  AP reports study that 70% of manager's time wasted in
601212 -          unproductive meetings. ref SDS 36 5222
601214 -           ..
601215 -      5.  President Lotus Development says computers have not improved
601216 -          management productivity because communication is primary
601217 -          factor in management productivity, ref SDS 12 3777.
601219 -           ..
601220 -      6.  A professional paper on Project Management says Communication
601221 -          plays a primary role in the execution of project management,
601222 -          ref SDS 19 3553.
601224 -           ..
601225 -      7.  Article on risk management says communication, which includes
601226 -          understanding and problem handling, is main factor of project
601227 -          success, ref SDS 33 4433.
601228 -          ..
601229 -      8.  Article on Covey and PMBOK says communication is 90% of
601230 -          management, ref SDS 42 6677.  Article on Project Office says
601231 -          it is 70% to 90%. ref SDS 79 2476
601232 -          ..
601233 -      9.  Landauer's paper on meaning drift, ref SDS 43 3734.
601235 -           ..
601236 -     10.  Article on Project Management Office says communication is
601237 -          the single most important overall function ref SDS 49 8888.
601239 -           ..
601240 -     11.  Article on 970525 presents case study of failed communication
601241 -          caused loss of $10s of millions of dollars, ref SDS 50 7777.
601243 -           ..
601244 -     12.  Article by U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology reports
601245 -          study that information entropy cause of project failure,
601246 -          reported on 970707. ref SDS 55 0108
601248 -           ..
601249 -     13.  CEO PG&E reports "communication" crucial to survival, see
601250 -          970908. ref SDS 60 5555
601251 -
601253 -  ..
601254 - Author defines...
601255 -
601256 -                        communication
601257 -
601258 -     ...as
601259 -
601260 - ...information flow that transfers meaning and understanding from an
601261 - information source to an information receiver, ref OF 5 0141.
601262 -
601263 -         What though do "meaning" and "understanding" mean?
601264 -
601265 -            On 960321 "meaning" largely comes from sequence of words
601266 -            and actions, i.e., cause and effect. ref SDS 39 2882
601268 -          ..
601269 -         The Corps of Engineers' report on Communication Metrics
601270 -         explains a relationship between time and information that
601271 -         produces patterns of connections that establish cause and
601272 -         effect, due the frequency of chronology, ref DRP 2 0119.
601273 -
601275 -      ..
601276 -     Feedback needed to verify meaning, ref OF 5 0363.
601277 -
601279 -  ..
601280 - Span of Control Increases Complexity of Communications
601281 -
601282 - In chapter 17 on designing organizations there is an explanation that
601283 - increasing span of management control, also "flattening" organization
601284 - structure, ref OF 7 0202, increases complexity of communications
601285 - geometrically, ref OF 7 0073, ref OF 7 0085.
601287 -  ..
601288 - On 960723 Stanford developed VDT software that calculates complexity
601289 - of communication under different staffing levels. ref SDS 46 2502
601291 -  ..
601292 - Span of management is a major factor impacted by limited span of
601293 - attention (discussed below, ref SDS 0 4476) because information that
601294 - exceeds span of attention causes mistakes that lead to rework costs
601295 - and missed opportunities under crisis management theory.
601297 -  ..
601298 - POIMS defines "management" as a planning function to overcome limited
601299 - span of attention. ref OF 1 4005
601301 -  ..
601302 - Increasing span of attention should therefore increase span of control
601303 - for managers.  This should in turn reduce cost by requiring fewer
601304 - managers, causing fewer mistakes and fewer missed opportunities.
601305 -
601306 -      [Analysis 971011 on cost savings from Communication Metrics, as
601307 -      reducing the number of managers, ref SDS 66 8866.]
601308 -
601310 -  ..
601311 - Communication Difficult Because Meaning, Understanding Change
601312 -
601313 - Author recognizes words and events have different meanings based on
601314 - context of denotation, connotation, and associations, and since the
601315 - "...meaning of a word or thing can have these several facets, it is no
601316 - wonder that communication is so difficult," ref OF 5 0144.
601318 -  ..
601319 - See explanation below. ref SDS 0 4491
601320 -
601321 -      Information Highway examples ref SDS 0 2878
601323 -  ..
601324 - Limited span of attention impacts setting goals in Chapter 2,
601325 - ref OF 6 0053, and on "perceptual selectivity," in chapter 7, see at
601326 - ref OF 6 0585, but the author does not cite this as a critical factor
601327 - of "communication" which relates to the fragility of knowledge due to
601328 - the relationship between time and information, per Landauer's
601329 - explanation of meaning drift, ref SDS 43 3734, and Jeromy Campbell's
601330 - explanation of catagorization, ref SDS 7 5555, and the cost of making
601331 - inductions, ref SDS 7 4456, because the mind fills in missing
601332 - information, ref SDS 7 6689.
601334 -  ..
601335 - Mistakes filling in information to overcome mental blind spots is the
601336 - cause of "Murphy's Law," reviewed on 940609. ref SDS 21 0020
601338 -  ..
601339 - POIMS defines "management" as a planning function to overcome limited
601340 - span of attention. ref OF 1 4005
601342 -  ..
601343 - On 960523 Dave Vannier cited limited "bandwidth" at Intel, which is
601344 - vernacular expression for limited span of attention being overwhelmed
601345 - by informtion overload, as grounds for not reviewing Communication
601346 - Metrics to improve management at Intel. ref SDS 44 4933  Another
601347 - popular expression is to say "I don't have time to think" cited at a
601348 - professional event on 970910. ref SDS 61 3479
601349 -
601350 -     Application to construction management was developed in discussion
601351 -     with Pat Welch on 900516. ref SDS 8 2903
601353 -  ..
601354 - Span of attention similar to "local contiguity" in Cognitive Science
601355 - used by Landauer, ref SDS 40 5589, and at ref SDS 43 8811.
601356 -
601357 -     [On 990303 paper explains limited span of attention that limits
601358 -     ability of people to process information. ref SDS 83 6120]
601360 -  ..
601361 - "Feel Good Management" caused by limited span of attention was cited
601362 - by Morris Jones on 911123. ref SDS 10 1331.
601364 -  ..
601365 - "Murphy's Law" is a common sense way of describing the effects of
601366 - limited span of attention from information overload, presented during
601367 - a professional event on 940612. ref SDS 24 0924
601368 -
601369 -
601370 -     Hard work using communication skills for problem handling and
601371 -     expediting is hoped to solve limited span of attention, as related
601372 -     during the meeting on 950426 with executive training firm,
601373 -     ref SDS 27 2394, but this fails because mental biology is
601374 -     overwhelmed by information overload, causing mistakes, anger,
601375 -     frustration, loss, conflict, crisis and calamity.
601377 -  ..
601378 - Author cites in chapter 17 that span of management impacts complexity
601379 - of communication, which is another description of span of attention.
601380 -
601381 -      Limited span of attention causes information entropy, ref SDS 55
601382 -      0108, that causes "rework" ref SDS 14 4633, under "Feel Good"
601383 -      management practice. ref SDS 10 1331
601385 -       ..
601386 -      Impact of time on converting information into knowledge is
601387 -      supported by research reported at ref SDS 57 8899.
601389 -       ..
601390 -      Impact on construction management was developed in exchange with
601391 -      Pat Welch in 1990. ref SDS 8 2903
601393 -       ..
601394 -      It is the cause of failed leadership due to lack of time for
601395 -      analysis voiced by Kissinger, ref SDS 22 4486, ref SDS 22 6480,
601396 -      MacNamera, ref SDS 26 5872, Johanna Neuman, ref SDS 38 1696.
601398 -       ..
601399 -      [Executives who do not have enough time to think, reflects that
601400 -      the number of things to think about exceeds span of attention.
601401 -      ref SDS 61 3479]
601403 -       ..
601404 -      [Communication Metrics expands span of attention and saves costs
601405 -      by reducing rework, ref SDS 63 4472 and ref SDS 64 2464, see also
601406 -      government report received on 971008. ref SDS 65 1273]
601408 -       ..
601409 -      [On 980101 Drucker cited information flow impacting productivity,
601410 -      ref SDS 71 4042.]
601412 -       ..
601413 -      [On 980917 Ross does not have time to think. ref SDS 80 5313]
601414 -
601415 -
601417 -  ..
601418 - Words have different meanings for different people at different times
601419 - and places, ref OF 5 0407, also cited above. ref SDS 0 7721
601420 -
601421 - "Communication" draws "meaning" from information, ref OF 5 0221.
601422 -
601423 - Context provided by Communication Metrics is critical for maintaining
601424 - shared meaning over time, explained on 960227. ref SDS 37 9402
601425 -
601426 -     This reflects Landauer's paper on LSA and knowledge acquisition
601427 -     indicating that "context" yields meaning, reviewed on 960321,
601428 -     ref SDS 39 2882, and that meaning changes, explained on 960518,
601429 -     ref SDS 43 3734, truth is a moving target, ref SDS 43 4488.
601431 -      ..
601432 -     [On 990303 paper explains people "recode" information to help
601433 -     remember, causing meaning drift. ref SDS 83 2838]
601434 -     ..
601435 -     Author relates "meaning" differences to semantics,
601436 -     ref OF 5 0410. Landauer says it is caused by induction from
601437 -     context and volume, ref SDS 43 8811.
601439 -      ..
601440 -     The "difficulty" of communication reflects the paper by U.S. Air
601441 -     Force Institute of Technology reporting on study that information
601442 -     entropy is the primary cause of project failure, ref SDS 55 0108.
601444 -      ..
601445 -     Therefore, it seems to follow that effective risk management
601446 -     requires effective metrics for communication.
601447 -
601449 -  ..
601450 - Feedback Essential Metric for Effective Communication
601451 -
601452 - Feedback verifies meaning and reduces distortion due to differences,
601453 - ref OF 5 0363, in the way people apply common information, which the
601454 - author correlates with an "Arc of Distortion" that results from
601455 - reliance on one-way communication. ref OF 5 3990
601457 -  ..
601458 - Feedback expands limited span of attention explained at ref OF 6 0053
601459 - and ref OF 6 0585.  This is a control criteria to align daily
601460 - communication and work with goals, which is called for in chapter 4,
601461 - see at ref OF 6 6389.
601463 -  ..
601464 - The author's observation that feedback is essential to effective
601465 - communication, seems to support discussion with District Engineer for
601466 - San Francisco Corps of Engineers, ref SDS 54 1415.
601467 -     ..
601468 -     Notice provisions in contracts apply feedback principles,
601469 -     per discussion above. ref SDS 0 L24N
601471 -      ..
601472 -     Reflects PMBOK, ISO standards, ref SDS 29 1940, and professional
601473 -     articles. ref SDS 49 0004
601475 -      ..
601476 -     It supports Cal Tech book on project management. ref SDS 18 4400
601478 -      ..
601479 -     [On 980405 feedback is feared as causing accountability, which
601480 -     conflicts with the premis of the book "Managing Toward
601481 -     Accountability. ref SDS 75 5065]
601483 -      ..
601484 -     [On 981120 architect did not want feedback. ref SDS 82 4687]
601485 -
601486 - "Communication gap" (disconnect) exists in organizations, ref OF 5
601487 - line 638, caused by people not talking and listening, ref OF 5 line
601488 - 641, calls for better listening, ref OF 5 line 669.
601489 -         ..
601490 -         An example of communication gap is the inspection report
601491 -         that was thought to have been ordered on Broadwater Dam.
601492 -         ref SDS 9 3333
601494 -      ..
601495 -     Why after explaining words have different meanings, and that
601496 -     people have a limited span of attention, is the author unable to
601497 -     see that "communication gaps" are due to over-reliance on talking
601498 -     and listening that leads to "guess and gossip," which can be
601499 -     solved by verification using a control (feedback) system that
601500 -     aligns communication using traceability to original sources?
601502 -  ..
601503 - Communication gaps from dynamic exchange and human biology to speak,
601504 - understand and listen, is explained at ref OF 5 line 651.  Limited
601505 - span of attention is at ref OF 6 line 53, ref OF 6 line 585.
601506 - ..
601507 - Humans retain only 50% of orally communicated message,
601508 - ref OF 5 line 658. Author does not relate this to "limited span of
601509 - attention."
601510 -
601512 -  ..
601513 - Listening Key to Effective Communication Requires Feedback
601514 - Feedback Enables Effective Listening that Strengthens Communication
601515 -
601516 - Listening is evident when a person responds by words or sounds, facial
601517 - expression, or some form of physical activity that gives the speaker
601518 - feedback, ref OF 5 AI8J
601519 -
601520 -      Feedback "control system" proposed in chapter 4, ref OF 6 6389,
601521 -      is enabled by Communication Metrics sending a letter showing
601522 -      understandings and actions being taken, and how what was said
601523 -      aligns with what has been said previously, and what is in the
601524 -      contract and all the other stuff?
601526 -  ..
601527 - Author proposes listening with empathy, ref OF 5 HN9G, per Covey's "7
601528 - Habits..." book, reviewed on 921205. ref SDS 13 5903
601529 -
601530 -      Author does not explain that "talk is cheap" from analysis of
601531 -      Covey's ideas on 921205. ref SDS 13 1558
601532 -
601533 -      Listening from the other person's point of view by restating to
601534 -      speakers satisfaction, etc., ref OF 5 5W9N, supports constructive
601535 -      confrontation used at Intel cited on 970116, that causes meetings
601536 -      to go on forever, ref SDS 48 1111, and results in failed
601537 -      communication, reported on 970603. ref SDS 52 5803
601538 -
601540 -  ..
601541 - Communication Different from Data and Information
601542 -
601543 - Author says information and data do not provide understanding and
601544 - meaning, and so are different from communication, ref OF 5 line 159.
601546 -  ..
601547 - Managers rely on data and information for communication, ref OF 5 line
601548 - 161, but it is the meaning of the information to the managers that is
601549 - the essence of communication, ref OF 5 line 221.
601551 -  ..
601552 - "Information" is considered "data" that is in some way relevant to
601553 - specific work, ref OF 5 line 165.
601555 -  ..
601556 - Information is the "raw material" of communication, ref OF 5 line 172.
601557 -     ..
601558 -     Author's analysis reflects record showing distinction
601559 -     between "knowledge," and information and data, per Landauer's
601560 -     paper on LSA, ref SDS 41 line 218 and the Corps of Engineers'
601561 -     report, ref DRP 2 line 119. However, the author of this book seems
601562 -     to overlook the role of time, ref DRP 2 line 119.
601563 -
601564 -
601565 -
6016 -

SUBJECTS
Information Highway Overload New Environment Needs Communication Mana

6203 -
620401 -  ..
620402 - Information Overload Impairs Communication, New World Order
620403 -
620404 - Managers receive a lot of information from computers.  Most of it is
620405 - irrelevant data.  Often information is never even read, ref OF 5 8055,
620406 - due to limited span of attention cited above. ref SDS 0 7721
620407 -
620408 - Article on information entropy reviewed on 970707. ref SDS 55 0108
620410 -  ..
620411 - On 950428 studies showed information overload reduce management
620412 - productivity. ref SDS 28 3921
620413 -
620414 -     [On 960627 "data pollution" cited. ref SDS 45 5002]
620415 -
620416 -     On 970603 managers at Intel get 70 email a day. ref SDS 52 9009
620417 -        ..
620418 -     On 970624 examples at USACE. ref SDS 53 8445
620420 -      ..
620421 -     [On 990303 1955 paper explains limited span of attention that
620422 -     limits ability of people to process information. ref SDS 83 6120]
620424 -      ..
620425 -     On 960627 Intel expects technology will make information overload
620426 -     burden on managers worse. ref SDS 45 2912
620427 -
620429 -  ..
620430 - Data explosion from computer, fax, copy machines impact human
620431 - attention and impulse that up to now has been inconceivable, ref OF 5
620432 - line 226 - citing two sources, ref OF 5 line 244.
620433 -
620434 - Peter Drucker cites "information explosion" in his book "Management"
620435 - Tasks, Respon..." reviewed o 931130. ref SDS 16 2855
620437 -  ..
620438 - Information overload causes failure, mistakes, delay, withdrawal,
620439 - search for help, ref OF 5 line 253, ref OF 5 line 264.
620440 -
620441 -       [On 980307 Andy Grove cites new realities of business
620442 -       environment. ref SDS 74 3151]
620443 -
620444 -      Limited span of attention, ref SDS 0 7721, described in chapter
620445 -      2, ref OF 6 line 53, and in chapter 7, ref OF 6 line 585, appears
620446 -      to be the cause of information overload, because the mind cannot
620447 -      recognize the connections fast enough to convert information into
620448 -      useful knowledge
620449 -
620451 -  ..
620452 - POIMS defines "management" as planning to overcome limited span of
620453 - attention. ref OF 1 4005
620454 -
620455 - "Noise" is the result of information overload that blocks the mind's
620456 - ability to understand and follow up. ref OF 5 line 439.
620457 -
620458 -      [On 980412 CBS 60 Minutes reported on too much information
620459 -      problem. ref SDS 77 8956]
620461 -       ..
620462 -      [On 980613 article says everyone feels "information overload" see
620463 -      ref SDS 78 3499]
620465 -       ..
620466 -      [On 990303 1955 paper explains limited span of attention that
620467 -      limits ability of people to process information. ref SDS 83 6120]
620468 -      ..
620469 -      The book "Lights, Camera, War" explains faster information
620470 -      impairs leadership, ref SDS 38 9405.
620472 -       ..
620473 -      Article on faster information compounding error at ref SDS 30
620474 -      6037,
620476 -       ..
620477 -      Ray Levitt's VDT program measures information flow, ref SDS 47
620478 -      0200, but cannot measure impact on productivity, ref SDS 56 8320.
620480 -       ..
620481 -      Cal Tech seminar measures communication but does not improve it,
620482 -      ref SDS 51 0114.
620484 -       ..
620485 -      Henry Kissinger's concern about "Alice in Wonderland" decisions
620486 -      based on impulse caused by reliance on pictures, ref SDS 22 4238.
620488 -  ..
620489 -
620490 -      Dave Vannier described work conditions as "data pollution" at
620491 -      Intel, ref SDS 45 8488, and explained how managers learn to find
620492 -      relevant information, ref SDS 45 5002.
620493 -
620494 -      Analysis of MIS, Enterprise Workflow and other efforts to provide
620495 -      comprehensive automated management is at ref SDS 20 3980.
620497 -       ..
620498 -      Not reading information because it is too difficult to get
620499 -      relevant information in order to understand meaning, reflects
620500 -      reports of people getting too much email, per telecon with Jim
620501 -      Jones at USACE HQ, ref SDS 58 9109, and reports that people do
620502 -      not read email, ref SDS 34 3289.
620503 -      ..
620504 -      Morris Jones disputed that information flows faster today
620505 -      on the Information Highway, ref SDS 31 1759.
620507 -       ..
620508 -      [IBM proposed "business intelligence" on 980226. ref SDS 72 1247
620509 -      and ref SDS 72 4011.]
620510 -
620512 -  ..
620513 - Communication Processes
620514 -
620515 - Author describes...
620516 -
620517 -      One-way communications, for example organization wide notices
620518 -      issued in email, posted on bulletin boards, etc., ref OF 5 line
620519 -      291, ref OF 5 line 310.
620521 -       ..
620522 -      This method does not permit feedback, ref OF 5 line 315.
620524 -       ..
620525 -      Two-way communications, entails feedback to verify whether the
620526 -      meaning of information has been transmitted. ref OF 5 line 363.
620527 -
620528 -          The author explains this is dynamic exhange.  It is not at
620529 -          all apparent that dynamic exchange, for example in meetings,
620530 -          provides effective verification.
620531 -
620532 - ..
620533 - Communication Networks, Organization Impacts at ref OF 5 line
620534 - 464.
620535 -
620536 -     Downward communication characteristically inaccurate, indequate,
620537 -     ref OF 5 line 492.
620538 -
620539 -
620540 -
620541 -
620542 -
6206 -

SUBJECTS
Calculate Risk Management Exposure NPV
Cost/Benefit of Better Communications
Calculate Cost Benefit Level of Effort
Communication Manager Cost Benefit

6606 -
660701 -  ..
660702 - Cost/Benefit of Better Communication Hard to Calculate
660703 -
660704 - The author does not attempt to explain how to calculate cost/benefits
660705 - of improving communication, nor for following any recommendation
660706 - offered in the book on communication.
660707 - ..
660708 - The author does say that calculating cost/benefit for overhead
660709 - is very difficult, ref OF 6 8555, entails inexact data and a great
660710 - deal of personal judgement. ref OF 6 8555
660711 -
660712 -     [On 991217 civilization is the cost benefit study of improving
660713 -     communication. ref SDS 87 0320
660715 -  ..
660716 - The purpose of "management" is to get things done efficiently.  This
660717 - creates a threshold faith that better management necessarily results
660718 - in reduced cost.  Therefore a "cost study" seems redundant.  Second,
660719 - "management" is primarily a planning and communication process that
660720 - impacts the production of everything, but is far removed from the
660721 - direct production of a physical product that can be measured for
660722 - quanitity and cost.  This makes it difficult to perform a traditional
660723 - cost saving calculation.  How, for example, can the productivity of a
660724 - meeting be caluclated?  By the number of attendees, by the length of
660725 - the meeting?  By the number of questions?  By the number of answers?
660726 - Do long meetings indicate high productivity?  Normally not. Answering
660727 - a lot of questions may not be productive if the questions are not
660728 - material or are incorrect, or if the answers are correct, but are
660729 - passed along to others incorrectly, or not in time.
660730 - ..
660731 - So the usual calculation parameters do not fit the tasks
660732 - performed by managers.  We need something more creative.
660733 -
660734 -     [On 970926 received letter from Jim Jones, USACE CEMP-E, that
660735 -     cites inherent difficulty of calculating cost savings from better
660736 -     communication. ref SDS 62 2698]
660737 -
660738 -     [On 971001 developed cost savings based on better communication
660739 -     that reduces attendees at meetings. ref SDS 63 1634, and on
660740 -     avoiding "rework." see. ref SDS 63 4472]
660742 -      ..
660743 -     [On 971008 received cost savings report for better communication.
660744 -     ref SDS 65 0000]
660746 -      ..
660747 -     [On 971229 analyzed cost savings from better communication based
660748 -     on management training film. ref SDS 70 3481]
660750 -      ..
660751 -     [On 980630 article in Project Management Journal cites difficulty
660752 -     of precisely calculating cost benefits of knowledge based tools to
660753 -     improve management. ref SDS 79 0606]
660754 -
660755 -
660756 -
6608 -