🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <20DEC199213375260@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu>, kaplan@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu (Steve... friends don't let friends do DOS.) writes:
> As many of you know, DECUS is going through the same economic trauma that
> DEC (and the rest of us? - yes) are.  So, it came of no surprise to me to
> hear that 6 of the DECUS staff were to loose their jobs when they returned
> to Shrewsbury on the Monday after the recent fall 1992 Las Vegas Symposium.

          <<< TOPAZ::$255$DUA108:[NOTES$LIBRARY]BOARD_PUBLIC.NOTE;1 >>>
                  -< Welcome to the Board_Public conference >-
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Note 56.1     DECUS BoD Response & Discussion on Staff Separations        1 of 3
EISNER::KILLEEN "Jeff Killeen NLC Chair"             48 lines  18-DEC-1992 19:15
                           -< Thoughts from Marg... >-
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From:   ("CCMKNOX@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu"@PMDF@EISNER)                     
Date:   18-DEC-1992 16:47:49.37
To:     killeen@decus.org
Subj:   RE: Notefile BOARD_PUBLIC Note 56.0

Jeff

Would you post up that message I sent you...

From:   ("CCMKNOX@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu"@PMDF@EISNER)                     
Date:   17-DEC-1992 22:31:15.69
To:     KILLEEN@EISNER.DECUS.ORG
Subj:   Re: Notefile BOARD_PUBLIC Note 56.0

Digital is clearly undergoing a restructuring that includes both
re-engineering and downsizing. As we saw at symposium, some of the engineers
and industry support people from Digital were putting their home phone numbers
on their business cards when asked a customer question because they too are
affected by the layoffs. 

In a general way I suspect we all understand the need for what Digital is
doing -- after all it is trying to make itself competitive and productive for
the future. Or as Palmer has been quoted as saying, he is trying to save
85,000 jobs and that is the focus( versus a focus of downsizing). But on an
individual plane, be it people or product, it is painful, very very painful to
watch. And when individuals whom we have worked with or relied upon are
affected, it is even more painful. 

A month ago, Ted Grenham (DECUS exec director) let myself and then the Board
and Management Council know that our staff would be affected in this round.
All of the staff managers met and after what must have been a wrenching couple
days, unanimously agreed on the course of re-engineering the staff and which
positions would have to go to meet the head count. As I am sure most of us are
aware, no corporation is at liberty to discuss personnel actions about any
individual -- it is just not legal. So the how and why particular people were
selected or not selected remains in the personnel department files and are not
ours to discuss or gossip about. 

We have been assured by Ted that ALL DECUS businesses will continue to be
fully supported. Re-engineering and consolidation for more effectiveness is
what they are doing. 

So, I can only repeat that I personally hate to see the personal pain, but
frankly, I do not know what else Digital can do -- it MUST get competitive,
fighting trim, and productive as well as learn how to deliver messages to its
potential customer base (i.e. marketing), all in addition to having product. 

Marg (Knox)
-- 
Jeff Killeen - DECUS U.S. Chapter NLC Chair | Email:killeen@eisner.decus.org

DECUS is for folks who are responsible for delivering computing technology.
The NLC is the national council for DECUS's Local User Groups - come join us!

>In article <1992Dec20.231201.4721@spcvxb.spc.edu>, killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen) writes...
>>In article <20DEC199213375260@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu>, kaplan@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu (Steve... friends don't let friends do DOS.) writes:
>>> As many of you know, DECUS is going through the same economic trauma that
>>> DEC (and the rest of us? - yes) are.  So, it came of no surprise to me to
>>> hear that 6 of the DECUS staff were to loose their jobs when they returned
>>> to Shrewsbury on the Monday after the recent fall 1992 Las Vegas Symposium.
>>Jeff
>>Would you post up that message I sent you...

Thanks Jeff and Marg.

>Digital is clearly undergoing a restructuring that includes both
>re-engineering and downsizing. As we saw at symposium, some of the engineers
>and industry support people from Digital were putting their home phone numbers
>on their business cards when asked a customer question because they too are
>affected by the layoffs. 

Yep - just like the rest of the world.

>In a general way I suspect we all understand the need for what Digital is
>doing -- after all it is trying to make itself competitive and productive for
>the future. Or as Palmer has been quoted as saying, he is trying to save
>85,000 jobs and that is the focus( versus a focus of downsizing). But on an
>individual plane, be it people or product, it is painful, very very painful to
>watch. And when individuals whom we have worked with or relied upon are
>affected, it is even more painful. 

Not to mention - relied upon.

>A month ago, Ted Grenham (DECUS exec director) let myself and then the Board
>and Management Council know that our staff would be affected in this round.
>All of the staff managers met and after what must have been a wrenching couple
>days, unanimously agreed on the course of re-engineering the staff and which
>positions would have to go to meet the head count. As I am sure most of us are
>aware, no corporation is at liberty to discuss personnel actions about any
>individual -- it is just not legal. So the how and why particular people were
>selected or not selected remains in the personnel department files and are not
>ours to discuss or gossip about. 

Glad you mentioned this.  While I have tried to promote the idea that there
is such a thing as DECUS all of these years, the truth of the matter is
that there is not - DECUS = DEC.  I'd argue that the membership should have
had a say in it - but, as you put it so well - we (mere members and
volunteers) have nothing to say about it.  A price we all pay for not
having the guts to incorporate DECUS as a stand alone entity?  Yes.

>We have been assured by Ted that ALL DECUS businesses will continue to be
>fully supported. Re-engineering and consolidation for more effectiveness is
>what they are doing. 

Sure, now if all of the Symposia commitee does not quit....

>So, I can only repeat that I personally hate to see the personal pain, but
>frankly, I do not know what else Digital can do -- it MUST get competitive,
>fighting trim, and productive as well as learn how to deliver messages to its
>potential customer base (i.e. marketing), all in addition to having product. 
>Marg (Knox)

Certainly, however - to see THE TWO key Symposia people disappear is a clue
that there is much more to it than that, me thinks.

>Jeff Killeen - DECUS U.S. Chapter NLC Chair | Email:killeen@eisner.decus.org
>DECUS is for folks who are responsible for delivering computing technology.
>The NLC is the national council for DECUS's Local User Groups - come join us!

Jeff, DECUS is for those who don't mind being under DEC's skirts. 
Incorporate DECUS as a seperate, independent entity now!

RayK 8)