Conference heron::euro_swas_ai

329.0. "Notes from Ken Olson's recently quarterly luncheon" by ULYSSE::ROACH (TANSTAAFL !) Mon Apr 29 1991 14:42

 

                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:     26-Apr-1991 05:15pm CET
                                        From:     TURNER
                                                  TURNER@JMCNAC@FASDER@YIPPEE@MRGATE@HUGHI
                                        Dept:      
                                        Tel No:    

TO:  PAT ROACH@VBO


Subject: Notes from Ken Olson's recently quarterly luncheon

[forwarding deleted]

From:	NAME: JIM HIGGINS                   
	FUNC: NEW VENTURES                    
	TEL: 276-8109                         <HIGGINS.JIM AT A1 at BUFFER at OGO>
To:	See Below


Last week at Ken's quarterly luncheon, he made a few comments that should
be communicated.

. Digital is in three businesses: VAX (characterized presumably by proprietary
  systems), systems integration and the "commodity business".

. The commodity business includes those products where we compete on price -
  UNIX, PCs, terminals, workstations, storage, ...

. Digital should differentiate itself in the commodity  market by quality,
  reliability and service.

. Digital needs to act in an entrepreneurial way. We are in business to make
  money. We will invest where we can make a profit. (People who are running
  a business should carry their (short) P&L around in their head).

Ken spent some time explaining Digital's rationale for joining (driving) A.C.E..
Essentially, the market is demanding open systems - characterized by 
facilitating transportable (pegboard, shrink-wrapped) applications software. The 
key elements of these open systems are language, networks and human interface. 
These are the primary " standards" components espoused by A.C.E..

Last bon mots:

. "Digital can't afford to have the recession over too quickly."

. On the value of questioning consensus, "Anything that is common knowledge
  is probably wrong."  (a reasonable premise to be tested).

Jim





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