CONTACTS 
0201 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers         415 977 8501 fax 8483
020101 - San Francisco District
020102 - Mr. Max R. Blodgett, II, P.E., L.S.
020103 - Construction Operations Division
0202 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers         415 977 8501 fax 8483
020201 - San Francisco District
020202 - Mr. Thompson F. Keesling, Architect; Assistant Chief
020203 - Construction Operations Division
0203 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San F  415 331 0404 fax or 800...
020301 - Construction Services Branch, Sausalito, CA
020302 - Ms. Maxine Jacoby; Project Manager =Telephone
020303 - Construction Service Branch

SUBJECTS
COE Evaluation Communication Metrics
District Support
Reduced Paper handling
Orientation for DDE, Major Blenchinger
Institutionalize Communication Metrics
Humbolt Project
Scope Services Next Phase Comm Metrics
Not Enough Time to Prepare Procurement
MS Outlook, Email Action Items
Accuracy Feedback Listening SDS Metric

2012 -    ..
2013 - Summary/Objective
2014 -
201401 - Follow up ref SDS 25 0000, ref SDS 24 0000.
201402 -
201403 - Tom reviewed budget figures and asked Maxine for some refinements in
201404 - the spreadsheet.  He provided guidance for a procurement notice memo.
201405 - Max advised that DDE discussed this initiative yesterday with him.  He
201406 - asked to see the draft memo in the afternoon. ref SDS 0 2196  Tom will
201407 - finalize after Maxine completes work on the budget. ref SDS 0 0612
201408 - Max will review the initiative with his staff.  DDE confirmed
201409 - understandings from our meeting yesterday, as set out in the letter
201410 - sent to him. ref SDS 0 2288
201411 -
201412 -    [On 990226 called Tom. ref SDS 26 0000]
201413 -
201414 -    [On 990305 discussed with Tom. ref SDS 27 1716]
201415 -
201416 -    [On 990323 Max wants Leonard to issue memo. ref SDS 28 9054]
201417 -
201418 -
201419 -  ..
2015 -
2016 -
2017 - Discussion
2018 -
201801 -  ..
201802 - District Using Microsoft Outlook for Action Items
201803 - Developed Plan for Initialization Procurement Memo
201804 -
201805 - Tom had received, but had not read the letter to Major Blechinger...
201806 - ref DIP 12 5035, on our meeting yesterday. ref SDS 24 0000
201807 -
201808 - He explained the "system" used by the District which Major Blechinger
201809 - mentioned yesterday, ref SDS 24 5200, is notifying people of Action
201810 - Items by email using Microsoft Outlook.  Tom seemed to indicate that
201811 - the District calls the action items "Taskers." He said it works well
201812 - for those who attend meetings, and indicated that wider distribution
201813 - to alert those who will ultimately perform, could increase the chance
201814 - of timely action.
201815 - ..
201816 - We reviewed planning from yesterday to prepare a one page memo
201817 - from Max to the Commander about using Communication Metrics that will
201818 - be supported by a budget analysis of project revenues and overhead
201819 - expenses for S&A, and also S&I. ref SDS 25 6797
201820 -
201821 - S&I covers overhead at CSB, S&A includes District HQ time for Max,
201822 - Tom and others.  Since Tom is leaving in July, and Max has indicated
201823 - he will not get a replacement, it would seem that S&A budget may be
201824 - applicable.
201825 - ..
201826 - Tom suggested I prepare an initial draft.  He can review it,
201827 - then we can visit with Max in the afternoon for final edits.
201828 -
201829 - We discussed again whether there is a template or possibly Tom could
201830 - explain the general scope and direction of the memo for guidance on
201831 - preparing the initial draft.
201832 -
201833 - Tom said there is no standard format.  It should merely give notice
201834 - that CON OPS intends to use Communication Metrics based on a general
201835 - statement of needs, justification based on background with the method,
201836 - and approval by Max.  It will be supported by Maxine's spreadsheet
201837 - analysis of budgeting showing the cost of this new support effort is
201838 - within existing budget authority.
201839 -
201840 - Tom indicated Max must sign the memo, and it will then be reviewed at
201841 - a District Board meeting presided by the Commander.  The record of
201842 - that meeting will indicate approval or disapproval.
201843 -
201844 - After that occurs, then an actual procurement will have to be
201845 - prepared.  Tom said he does not have time to do this, but he can show
201846 - Maxine how to do it.
201847 -
201848 - Tom had received the cost analysis requested from Maxine yesterday.
201849 - ref SDS 25 3744
201850 -
201851 - He identified some additions and clarifications needed, and called CSB
201852 - for Maxine.  She was not in the office.
201853 -
201854 - Later Maxine, arrived at the District office.  As I was leaving, I saw
201855 - her in the hallway and so introduced myself.  We went in and talked to
201856 - Tom again.  He explained the changes needed in Maxine's spreadsheet in
201857 - order to evaluate budget availability for Communication Metrics.
201858 - ..
201859 - Maxine asked when Tom needs these revisions?
201860 -
201861 - Tom said yesterday. She asked if Monday would be okay?  Tom agreed.
201862 - Maxine said she will try to get them out today.  If this works, it
201863 - will help our presentation to Max in the afternoon.
201864 -
201865 -
201866 -  ..
201867 - Communication Snafus Complex and Pervasive; Feedback Essential
201868 - DDE Supports Com Metrics in District for Projects
201869 - Max Requests Memo to Initiate Procurement for Com Metrics
201870 -
201871 - I visited with Max briefly and explained planning with Tom to provide
201872 - a draft memo on this procurement for Max to review this afternoon.
201873 -
201874 - Max advised that late last night he read the letter to Major
201875 - Blechinger on our meeting yesterday. ref DIP 12 5035, which transmits
201876 - ref SDS 24 0000.
201877 - ..
201878 - He said the Major visited him yesterday afternoon, following up
201879 - on the suggestion in my meeting with the Major. ref SDS 24 0820
201880 -
201881 - Max drew from his discussion yesterday that the Major does not believe
201882 - Communication Metrics can help Max and the CSB manage projects, but
201883 - that, if Max wants to use it, the Major will support Max's decision,
201884 - as shown in the record on 990224. ref SDS 24 0820
201885 -
201886 - I asked if Max's discussion with the Major aligned with the record for
201887 - 990224? ref SDS 24 0000  Max said that it did, although the Major's
201888 - comments to him yesterday, seemed stronger than comes across in the
201889 - record he read last night.
201890 -
201891 - Max seemed to express doubts about proceeding with this initiative.
201892 -
201893 - I noted that if he feels Communication Metrics is not needed, then we
201894 - don't want to invest a lot of time on a procurement.  We did not
201895 - review the scope of services, nor the discussion on 990204 when Max
201896 - raised this matter. ref SDS 20 9360
201897 - ..
201898 - Max said he wants to see the procurement memo on Communication
201899 - Metrics this afternoon, per planning with Tom above. ref SDS 0 0276
201900 -
201901 -      [On 990323 Max reviewed procurement memo issue. ref SDS 28 4932]
201902 - ..
201903 - Later, while leaving the office, I saw the Major in the hallway
201904 - and so spoke to him briefly. I thanked him for visiting with Max as we
201905 - discussed yesterday. ref SDS 24 0820  I asked if he had read the
201906 - letter, ref DIP 12 5035, on our meeting yesterday?
201907 -
201908 - The Major had read the letter this morning, and said that it seemed
201909 - accurate and complete.
201910 -
201911 - I noted Max's observation a few moments ago, that the Major had
201912 - indicated Communication Metrics would not be useful for projects, but
201913 - that the Major would support Max's decision to use it. ref SDS 0 5400
201914 -
201915 - The Major seemed to relate having told Max that Communication Metrics
201916 - is not needed for staff meetings, because issuing action items using
201917 - Microsoft Outlook is effective; but, based on past experience on the
201918 - Oakland Harbor project, he feels Com Metrics could be useful for
201919 - projects, as we discussed yesterday. ref SDS 24 5200 and further at
201920 - ref SDS 24 0360
201921 -
201922 - I thanked him again for his consideration and mentioned planning this
201923 - morning with Tom to continue with this procurement, ref SDS 0 0416, as
201924 - set out in the letter to the Major. ref DIP 12 4500
201925 -
201926 -
201927 -
2020 -
2021 -
2022 - 1141
2023 -
202301 -  ..
202302 - Communication Metrics Procurement Memo
202303 -
202304 - As a result of the above understandings, ref SDS 0 2268, including
202305 - Max's request to see a memo, ref SDS 0 5111, prepared a draft memo
202306 - based on Tom's explanation of scope and form. ref OF 5.
202307 -
202308 -      [On 990323 Max reviewed procurement memo issue. ref SDS 28 4932]
202309 -
202310 - The draft notifies the Commander of plans to use Communication
202311 - Metrics. I addressed it only to DE because the current plan does not
202312 - require PPMD to secure approval for additional funding.
202313 -
202314 - This memo, ref OF 5, merely positions the District to use
202315 - Communication Metrics on needed tasks.
202316 -
202317 - Linked to meeting with Jim Stout on 961015. ref SDS 4 9000
202318 -
202319 -           ...record on 981027. ref SDS 10 7315
202320 -
202321 -           ...District report. ref DRP 1 6172
202322 -
202323 -           ...reduced paper handling. ref SDS 16 6925
202324 -
202325 -           ...HQUSACE report. ref DRP 17 2520
202326 -
202327 - We do not identify specific tasks, which have been identified in the
202328 - record, see 990204. ref SDS 21 3975
202329 -
202330 -
202331 -
2024 -
2025 -
2026 - 1307
2027 -
202701 -  ..
202702 - Max Advises District Does Not Require Communication Metrics Now
202703 -
202704 - I sent the draft via email to Tom and to Max, then printed copies and
202705 - delivered them to the District.
202706 -
202707 - Tom was in a meeting when I arrived.
202708 -
202709 - Maxine was working in the cubicle outside Tom's office.  She did not
202710 - have the spreadsheet figures completed yet, which we discussed this
202711 - morning. ref SDS 0 1683
202712 - ..
202713 - She asked about the purpose of the spreadsheet?
202714 -
202715 - I explained the effort to use Communication Metrics, and showed the
202716 - report Tom prepared on 970328. ref DRP 1 6172  Maxine asked if she
202717 - could keep the report for review, so I gave it to her.
202718 -
202719 -     [On 990507 Maxine will review report on the web. ref SDS 29 5001]
202720 -
202721 - Visited with Max and gave him a copy of the draft memo.
202722 -
202723 - Max said he needed a few minutes to complete a current task, before
202724 - reading the draft.
202725 -
202726 - I went next door and visited with Tom, who had completed his meeting.
202727 - ..
202728 - Tom read the draft memo and said it is fine for the purpose of
202729 - giving the District notice about CON OPS using Com Metrics.
202730 -
202731 - We need to develop a procurement that enables Max and Leonard to apply
202732 - this support as needed with Task Orders.
202733 -
202734 - He will discuss it with Max later today, or in the morning.
202735 -
202736 - Tom will finalize the memo after Maxine completes budget analysis.
202737 - ..
202738 - I then went back to Max's office and discussed planning.
202739 -
202740 - He had read the memo, ref OF 5, and initially indicated now is not a
202741 - good time to submit this memo because all of the District's projects
202742 - are on hold.
202743 -
202744 -      [On 990323 Max reviewed procurement memo issue. ref SDS 28 4932]
202745 -
202746 - He said that Leonard may have to lay off some people.
202747 -
202748 - We considered Max's request this morning for the memo, ref SDS 0 5111
202749 - and reviewed the goal to position the District to use Communication
202750 - Metrics, based on Max's explanation on 990204 that he wants a planning
202751 - effort on Humbolt, similar to what was done on the Richmond project.
202752 - ref SDS 20 6399  Max said that funding and/or final approval from HQ
202753 - on Humbolt still has not been granted.  He is concerned about starting
202754 - Communication Metrics at this time.
202755 -
202756 - We discussed the purpose of the memo today, is not to start using
202757 - Communication Metrics.  It gives notice of intent. It will take months
202758 - to accomplish such a procurement based on past experience., e.g.,
202759 - Oakland. ref SDS 10 3360  Therefore, in order to have help avalable
202760 - when it is needed, the effort needs to be started now.
202761 -
202762 - This starts with issuing a memo that notifies the District about the
202763 - initiative.
202764 -
202765 - Max cited another project that is on hold while obtaining a right of
202766 - way.  It is a concrete structure through a number of different
202767 - properties.  He feels this has risk of difficulties by each of the
202768 - various owners and noted it is like Oakland in being a good candidate
202769 - for Communication Metrics.
202770 -
202771 - I agreed this is a risk management matter that Com Metrics supports.
202772 - ..
202773 - Max advised he wants to discuss with Leonard, Marc and others on
202774 - his staff whether they want to use Communication Metrics.
202775 -
202776 - We did not review Leonard's preparation of the scope of services and
202777 - planning with Tom Keesling in order to secure this support.  We did
202778 - not review the memos issued by Leonard and Marc stating they want this
202779 - support, and did not review the purpose of Communication Metrics to
202780 - enable effective communications so that goals, needs and requirements
202781 - can be determined and followed up effectively.
202782 -
202783 - I asked him to let know if there is anything more I can do to help.
202784 -
202785 -      [On 990305 discussed with Tom. ref SDS 27 1716]
202786 -
202787 -      [On 990323 Max wants Leonard to issue memo. ref SDS 28 9054]
202788 -
202789 -
202790 -
202791 -
202792 -
2028 -