CONTACTS 
0201 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
020101 - Mr. Robet C. Gordon; 202 761 8745
020102 - Construction and Design Branch, CEMP-EC
0202 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
020201 - Mr. James Lovo; Chief, CEMP-EC
020202 - Construction and Design Branch, CEMP-EC

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
USACE CESPN CSB Review
Wider Use Communication Metrics
Experience, Need Broader Base
SAD Tests New Methods
HQ Review CEMP
HQ Support Local Command Review
Environmental Management
Paperless Office, SDS
Desk Piled High with Paper, Unanswered Email

1812 -
1812 -    ..
1813 - Summary/Objective
1814 -
181401 - Follow up ref SDS 29 0000, ref SDS 28 0000.
181402 -
181403 - Jim has reviewed Bob's new draft and the comments from Tom Keesling,
181404 - ref DRP 14 5694, and from me. ref DIP 10 0000, per work on 981224 at
181405 - ref SDS 28 0000.  He decided to have the discussion today, that was
181406 - planned for tomorrow, and advised that Bob is with him on the speaker
181407 - phone, all per telecon with Bob and Jim yesterday. ref SDS 29 3281
181409 -  ..
181410 - Jim plans to submit Bob's revised draft forward with a recommendation
181411 - for further review.  He will include Tom's comments and the ideas in
181412 - the 2nd draft, ref DIP 9 0000, developed on 981218. ref SDS 24 0000
181413 -
181414 -     Submitted ref DIT 1 0000 with link to this record and to the
181415 -     letter received from District Counsel. ref SDS 30 0000
181417 -      ..
181418 -     [On 990126 Jim advised of having issued his report on 990106, but
181419 -     snafu delayed distribution to District. ref SDS 31 8503]
181421 -  ..
181422 - I thanked Jim and Bob for their efforts on this matter.
181424 -  ..
181425 - We did not discuss whether the report will be submitted via Internet,
181426 - so that links are accessible to demonstrate the capability explained
181427 - in the report.
181429 -  ..
181430 - I asked about identifying a vision or goal in CEMP's report relative
181431 - to USACE objectives and needs.
181433 -  ..
181434 - Jim seems to feel there is not enough experience yet to fully
181435 - implement the USACE strategic vision realizing efficiencies of
181436 - electronic records management from a "paperless office," ref DIP 9
181437 - 8399, and also at ... ref DIP 9 8366, as developed in analysis on
181438 - 981218. ref SDS 24 6299
181440 -  ..
181441 - He pointed out an example that USACE now issues bid documents in
181442 - electronic media, but bidders must pay to have them printed in order
181443 - to prepare estimates and submit bids.  He cited experience that
181444 - meetings at USACE still require printing Powerpoint presentation files
181445 - so that attendees, including Generals and other senior officials, have
181446 - something tangible to show what transpired at the meeting.  Jim feels
181447 - these examples show the "paperless office" is not sufficiently within
181448 - reach to cite as a strategic objective.
181449 -
181450 -     [On 990305 received from Tom Keesling draft standards for
181451 -     Paperless Contracting. ref SDS 33 9044]
181453 -  ..
181454 - I asked Jim if he has been able over the past few months to review
181455 - Communication Metrics without using paper?
181457 -  ..
181458 - Jim said that is true.
181460 -  ..
181461 - We recalled Jim's observation on 981218 that his desk is piled high
181462 - with documents, ref SDS 24 8280, but in this one case, he does not
181463 - need any paper.  All of the information he needs is available at the
181464 - click of a button.  Background, analysis, comments by others,
181465 - correlation with accepted practice, policy, views of experts, relevant
181466 - magazine articles and books, are all accessible without having to
181467 - rumage through papers on his desk, copy or ask anyone for paper.  He
181468 - can go instantly to the specific place in reference materials that
181469 - relates to his current question.
181471 -  ..
181472 - On 981119 Jim noted the self-evident benefits of solving information
181473 - overload using Communication Metrics. ref SDS 16 2272
181475 -  ..
181476 - Generals, commanders at all levels, and everyone can benefit from this
181477 - capability to deliver "intelligence" anytime, anywere in the world via
181478 - Internet.  That is a big advantage.
181480 -  ..
181481 - We considered that major breakthroughs do not come over night.  We
181482 - cannot instantly step from a world with mountains of paper into a
181483 - "paperless office." There is a continuum of steps that must be taken.
181484 - The first step is recognizing that a backhoe replaces hard work to
181485 - excavate earth.  Under the same rule managers need technology to
181486 - process mountains of information instead of working longer and harder.
181487 - see on 960419. ref SDS 2 4096
181488 -
181489 -    [On 990311 developed warrior concept. ref SDS 34 6000]
181491 -  ..
181492 - Communication Metrics offers a path to reach this strategic objective.
181494 -  ..
181495 - Our immediate job is to define and support a sensible next step.
181496 -
181497 -    [On 990304 reviewed this matter with Jim again. ref SDS 32 6399]
181498 -
181499 -    [On 990305 HQ draft standards for Paperless Contracting show Com
181500 -    Metrics supports HQ policy and vision. ref SDS 33 9044]
181502 -  ..
181503 - Jim indicated that Communication Metrics is a business practice that
181504 - extends beyond the scope of CEMP missions and functions.
181506 -  ..
181507 - He noted that it could be justified as a way to reduce the cost of
181508 - construction by reducing payout on claims.  Jim gave an example of a
181509 - calculation that supports using Communication Metrics for claims.
181510 - CESPN's report on 971007 shows similar analysis. ref DRP 2 6883  He
181511 - recognizes, however, that claims support is a derivitive of the
181512 - Communication Metrics business process, similar to analysis on 981218
181513 - for extending the power of the alphabet. ref SDS 24 1836  This point
181514 - was previously reviewed with Max Blodgett in the San Francisco
181515 - District on 960920. compare ref SDS 4 8854 and ref SDS 4 4261
181516 -
181517 -     [Also today, received letter from CESPN counsel on the efficacy of
181518 -     Communication Metrics for claims support. ref SDS 30 6392]
181520 -  ..
181521 - Jim observed that review of new management science is beyond his
181522 - duties and responsibilities, and so his job is to alert appropriate
181523 - people of this potential.
181525 -  ..
181526 - There was consideration of CEMP-E notifying CESPN of the need for
181527 - additional experience to verify sustainable cost savings, per meeting
181528 - with Max Blodgett on 980803. ref SDS 11 3887
181530 -  ..
181531 - Jim will draft a letter to the Division with a copy to the District on
181532 - this matter.
181533 -
181534 -     [On 990126 Jim advised of having submitted the letter to the
181535 -     Division and to the District, on 990106. ref SDS 31 8503]
181536 -
181537 -
181538 -
181539 -
1816 -