RE: looking forward

["Berger, Stephen" <Stephen.Berger@siemenscom.com>]

Gregg,

I think you have a good point, but am concerned that the romance of future
technology could divert needed attention from more pedestrian concerns.  So
while I agree with planning for the future I am suggesting we need to first
make sure we really understand the present.  Until we have carefully
analyzed where we are why will we be confident we can project the future?
My expectation is that we will find a couple of surprises.  The system
integration issue has already been raised.  I would also not be surprised to
find that sales, service and support issues are one of the most important
areas to address.  Too tight a focus on product features could miss these
kinds of issues entirely.

Regards,

Stephen

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Gregg Vanderheiden [SMTP:po@trace.wisc.edu]
	Sent:	Monday, October 19, 1998 10:29 PM
	To:	Multiple recipients of list
	Subject:	looking forward


	Steve Berger wrote

	>The reason I think this information will be important is that we
should
	want
	>to assure that our work gives a lot of attention to the most
commonly
	>purchased types of equipment.


	GV:
	While I agree with this, we need to be careful to also look forward
and be
	sure that we address the next, and next next generation
technologies, since
	these guidelines/rules will be around a lot longer than the
increasingly
	short lived technologies we are using today.


	I also believe that we should look carefully at the systems
integrator.   It
	is a purchased service and may be the most critical component for
ensuring
	access of the packages or systems as they are experienced by the
federal
	employee.

	Gregg