CONTACTS 
0201 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers         415 977 8501 fax 8483
020101 - San Francisco District
020102 - Mr. Thompson F. Keesling, Architect; Assistant Chief
020103 - Construction Operations Division
0202 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers         415 977 8501 fax 8483
020201 - San Francisco District
020202 - Ms. Merry Goodenough, ESQ; Office of Counsel
020203 - Office of the Commander

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
Wider Use Communication Metrics
District Support
Denial Managers Making Mistakes Reject
Reduced Paper handling
District Support
Subject Index, District Counsel
Format Converted from Email to Letterhead
Scope - Communication Metrics
Email, Not Formal Memo, Like Talking, Fools

2012 -    ..
2013 - Summary/Objective
2014 -
201401 - Follow up ref SDS 55 0000, ref SDS 53 0000.
201402 -
201403 - Showed how the Subject Index is developed and applied to organize
201404 - information that is relevant to requirements and objectives.
201405 -
201406 - Merry indicated she supports use of Communication Metrics in the
201407 - District.
201408 -
201409 - In the afternoon set meeting with DDE for 990204 1000. ref SDS 0 6669
201410 -
201411 - Submitted ref DIT 1 0000 with link to this record confirming our
201412 - meeting today, and the schedule for meeting on Thursday.
201413 -
201414 -     [On 990204 briefed DDE on meeting with Merry. ref SDS 57 8250]
201415 -
201416 -     [On 990303 received letter from Merry. ref SDS 59 9499]
201417 -
201418 -
201419 -  ..
2015 -
2016 -
2017 - Progress
2018 -
201801 -  ..
201802 - Communciation Metrics Uses Subject Indexes, Similar to WBS Methods
201803 -
201804 - Follow up ref SDS 55 6084.
201805 -
201806 - We met in Tom's office per planning on 990122, ref SDS 49 3696, and
201807 - used the agenda from 990111. ref SDS 48 0242
201808 -
201809 - Merry asked if a WBS is used to organize information that ensures a
201810 - relevant record, per her letter on 990104? ref DRP 15 1230  Steps for
201811 - ensuring a relevant record are explained in the diary for 990105...
201812 - ref SDS 46 8399
201813 -
201814 - We looked at the discussion with Max Blodgett on 960105 about using
201815 - Subject Indexes based on WBS, CPM Schedules, contracts, regulations
201816 - and other natural control criteria. ref SDS 6 8552
201817 - ..
201818 - The Subject Index for the Oakland Harbor project was examined
201819 - during the meeting today.  It showed a hierarchy of primary subjects
201820 - and succeeding levels of detail that permit an unlimited organic
201821 - structure for identifying relevant information.  The complexity of
201822 - human communication makes it unweildly to work with the Subject Index
201823 - in printed format.  The SDS program makes it practical to use this
201824 - method though for daily management support, as was done on Oakland.
201825 -
201826 - Merry asked if there is a meeting of key people to contribute and sign
201827 - off on the Subject Index, since this is a critical factor?
201828 -
201829 - On Oakland there was not a single big meeting because it is difficult
201830 - to get a lot of people together on a timely basis.  The Communication
201831 - Manager interviewed key people, then created the initial index, which
201832 - was approved in follow up meetings.  Today, we looked briefly at the
201833 - work on 960921 that shows what was considered for the initial Subject
201834 - Index on the Oakland project. ref SDS 10 3521
201835 - ..
201836 - Tom cited the review meeting on 961015 where he suggested
201837 - additional subjects. ref SDS 12 5305  He explained how regulatory and
201838 - policy isssues can arise either in published materials or in meetings
201839 - that require new subjects.  So, the Subject Index is not a static
201840 - structure.  It grows almost daily, but it is important to get input
201841 - initially and have periodic review.  The same day on 961015, Jim
201842 - Stout, District Counsel for USACE, discussed using the Subject Index
201843 - to align work with requirements and commitments. ref SDS 13 8830
201844 - Prior to meeting with Tom, Max Blodgett reviewed the Subject Index on
201845 - 961011. ref SDS 11 7399
201846 -
201847 -
201848 -  ..
201849 - Communication Metrics Uses a Range of "Metrics" to Ensure Accuracy
201850 -
201851 - We reviewed briefly the process for ensuring an accurate and useful
201852 - record, rather than a "concensus" account that lacks substance, which
201853 - Merry asked about in her letter on 990104. ref SDS 46 5304
201854 -
201855 - Merry commented that I was not taking any notes, and joked that she
201856 - would have to write up this meeting carefully to grade the record on
201857 - accuracy.
201858 -
201859 -     [On 990304 Merry found this record is accurate. ref SDS 59 9499]
201860 -
201861 - Objections by the Port of Oakland on 961126 exemplify useful "metrics"
201862 - for daily business communications. ref SDS 15 8845
201863 - ..
201864 - The record on 961206 illustrates meeting note review. ref SDS 16
201865 -
201866 -
201867 -  ..
201868 - SDS Records Segmented by Control Fields for Subjects
201869 -
201870 - Merry asked if the line numbers in SDS records provide a structure
201871 - related to the Subject Index?
201872 -
201873 - Subjects are listed in a "Control Field" which is not evident in work
201874 - product delivered via Internet nor in printed reports.
201875 -
201876 - Control Fields can assign multiple subjects to associate information
201877 - into logical blocks that can later be assembled into chronologies
201878 - based on alternate subject content.  That was how the RWQCB report was
201879 - prepared which Merry requested on 970417. ref SDS 18 8033
201880 -
201881 - SDS line numbers are intriguing, as noted by retired District Counsel
201882 - Jim Stout on 961015. ref SDS 13 7950, but they are not related to
201883 - subjects.  Line numbers establish the location of information, similar
201884 - to citations in legal briefs.  Like pleading paper, entering
201885 - information into SDS records is flexible and entirely at the
201886 - discretion of the writer.  There is no learning curve required to
201887 - master SDS line numbers.  The program does all the management
201888 - automatically.
201889 - ..
201890 - For information, the SDS record format is explained in the diary
201891 - on 940901. ref SDS 5 9009
201892 -
201893 - Merry asked if the RWQCB subject for the Oakland Harbor project could
201894 - be identified under alternate descriptions?
201895 -
201896 - This is a common and essential practice using the SDS Subject Index,
201897 - as set out in USACE's report on 971007, ref DRP 2 5443.  It requires
201898 - focused attention by a Communication Manager to maintain definitional
201899 - and scope distinctions, under analysis on 960322. ref SDS 7 7749
201900 -
201901 -
201902 -
201903 -
201904 -
2020 -
2021 -

SUBJECTS
Gov Format Practices
Email, Like Talking, Fools Gold,
Feedback Accuracy Metrics Listening
Email Causes Mistakes
Noise Too Noisy Cannot Understand Content,
Email Degrades Writing, Communication,
Email Different from Memos
PDF Pictures Not Efficient for Com Metrics KM Takes Too Much Time
Email Informal Communication Link Align Objectives Requirements Commi
Legal Email Microsoft Litigation Established Email Accuracy Alignment
Email Informal Communication Accuracy Alignment Critical Chatting in
Communication Biggest Risk Email Stream of Conscious Communication Li
Goodenough, Merry, Esq, USACE Email Informal Communication Different
Lovo, Jim USACE Regards Email Regarded as Less Formal than a Memo so

4717 -
471701 -  ..
471702 - Building Effective Knowledge Space Requires Structure
471703 -
471704 - Merry noted that her memo on 981022 was formatted for display on a web
471705 - browser to facilitate communication via Internet. ref DRP 4 0000
471706 -
471707 - She explained the formatting gives an incorrect impression that a
471708 - formal document was issued rather than an email.
471709 -
471710 - This is an important point.
471711 -
471712 - Merry's email was placed in a USACE standard memo format in order to
471713 - illustrate the process. ref SDS 29 5580  It should have been submitted
471714 - to her for approval, as was done in the case of Tom White's memo on
471715 - 981104..... ref SDS 30 4090  To avoid compounding this matter, Merry
471716 - can review her memo on 990104 and advise of any needed corrections.
471717 - ref DRP 15
471718 -
471719 -     [On 990303 Merry submitted no corrections. ref SDS 59 9499
471720 - ..
471721 - Merry asked if email can be displayed exactly as it is written?
471722 -
471723 - The state of technology does not quite support this objective.
471724 -
471725 - In order to obtain the benefit of tying related information together
471726 - with specific linking "hooks," it is necessary to add HTML code and
471727 - some minimal formatting so that conversion for display on web browsers
471728 - can be accomplished quickly at minimal cost.  Merry saw examples of
471729 - these "hooks" when we looked at a few SDS records.  It is much faster
471730 - to throw in a letterhead, "Subject" and an addressee in order to use
471731 - standardized HTML code, than it is to create custom HTML coding to
471732 - accomodate the lack of these common correspondence elements which are
471733 - omitted when email is downloaded.
471734 -
471735 - This process, however, can still identify an email as such.  An
471736 - example is Bob Gordon's email, ref DRP 18 on 990126. ref SDS 51 3402
471737 - Notice that the date format shows this was an email.
471738 -
471739 -     [On 990510 Jim Lovo at HQUSACE raised this issue. ref SDS 60 8064
471740 -
471741 -
471742 -
471743 -
471744 -
471745 -
4718 -

SUBJECTS
Pictures Converted into Knowledge by SDS
Pictures Talking False Knowledge
Pictures Not Text

5106 -
510601 -  ..
510602 - Pictures Support Effective Communications
510603 -
510604 - Merry asked if pictures can be integrated into Communication Metrics?
510605 -
510606 - She related a very effective evidentiary presentation that used a
510607 - picture showing adverse environmental impacts of dredging activity,
510608 - possibly extending beyond project boundaries.
510609 -
510610 - SDS does not manage pictures, although it is possible to incorporate
510611 - them for display on web browsers, as Merry cites, by using specialized
510612 - technology.
510613 -
510614 -      [On 990209 reviewed a web page editor called Trellix that might
510615 -      accomplish Merry's objective. ref SDS 58 7904]
510616 - ..
510617 - Communication Metrics supports analysis of what is seen, heard,
510618 - considered.  So we report having seen a picture, and explain where it
510619 - is located, why and who prepared it, and consider meaning and
510620 - implications, in the same way that a legal opinion typically does not
510621 - include pictures.  This may change as technology improves, so that in
510622 - the future pictures are used more broadly.  Alternatively, it may turn
510623 - out that omitting pictures from analysis is useful to avoid excessive
510624 - emotionalism in decisions.
510625 -
510626 - For more on pictures see the record on 940609. ref SDS 3 4238
510627 -
510628 -
5107 -

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
Wider Use Communication Metrics
District Support
USACE Cost Savings
USACE District Counsel

580701 -  ..
580702 - Merry Supports Communication Metrics for the District
580703 -
580704 - Tom explained plans to discuss with DDE, Major Blenchinger, and then
580705 - with the District Engineer trying Communication Metrics in the San
580706 - Francisco District again, from discussions on 980520. ref SDS 26 0829
580707 -
580708 -     [On 990204 met with Major Blenchinger. ref SDS 57 0000]
580709 -
580710 - Approval may be advanced by support from responsible people in the
580711 - District, similar to Jim Stout's recommendation to the Contracting
580712 - Officer on 961015. ref SDS 13 9000
580713 - ..
580714 - Merry indicated she would offer a favorable recommendation on
580715 - this initiative.
580716 -
580717 - She cited the -50 foot dredging project for the Port of Oakland as a
580718 - potential application of Communication Metrics.
580719 -
580720 -     [On 990204 met with DDE. ref SDS 57 3975]
580721 -
580722 -
580723 -
5808 -
5809 -
5810 - 1349
5811 -
581101 -  ..
581102 - Scheduled Meeting with DDE on 990204
581103 -
581104 - This afternoon, received ref DRT 1 0000 from Tom that sets meeting
581105 - with Major Blenchinger for Thursday, 990204 at 1300.
581106 -
581107 - We have an hour.
581108 -
581109 - Submitted ref DIT 1 7399 confirming the meeting and asking about
581110 - scheduling a conference room, per planning on 990122. ref SDS 49 3696
581111 -
581112 -     [On 990204 meeting changed to 990205 at 1300. ref SDS 56 7399]
581113 -
581114 -     [On 990204 meeting was held with DDE. ref SDS 57 0000]
581115 -
581116 -
581117 -
581118 -
581119 -
581120 -
581121 -
581122 -
581123 -
581124 -
581125 -
581126 -
581127 -
581128 -
581129 -
581130 -
581131 -
581132 -
581133 -
5812 -