Some of you may have noticed the article about my book and this blog in the Sunday (July 9, 2006) San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper. I appreciated the article and thought the reporter did a fine job capturing valid and relevant points. In case you haven’t seen the article (which is titled “Dr. Beyster’s Book”), you’ll find it here:
- Dr. Beyster’s Book (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Click on the comments link to share your thoughts.
Knowing where SAIC people have gone and what companies they have created is of real interest to me. I am pleased with your response to last week’s posting, and I have created it as a separate project area on the blog (towards the upper right corner of the home page) so that it remains a priority. I’d like to know more details on what these companies have accomplished — if you have a moment, please provide a sentence or two describing the company. The graphic will be updated periodically to incorporate your input and I hope to use the data in the book.– Bob
Here are comments on some of your responses:
Roger Webb (Week 1): At 82, it’s hard to realize that at one time I wasn’t such a bad racquetball player. I depended on regular racquetball and running in those days to keep me alert and burn off excess energy so I wasn’t impossible to get along with. Thanks for your comments on the old SAIC.
Jeff Smith (Week 2): There will be a systems integration discussion in the book. Of course, part of that will have to do with the networks that we used to build the capabilities. I may borrow the expression “From lab rats to big time systems integrators.”
Don Peat (Week 4): The LINAC group at G.A. grew from nothing to a very busy radiation services organization. I still keep a plan view of the complex of tunnels and service ports. It ran 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It never could have happened without total dedication from a wide variety of users, engineers, and support people at G.A. Thanks for the memories.
Karen Roche (Week 6): Thank you for this excellent example of the difficulties the SAIC and Bellcore cultures had in working out a joint training program. Sounds like you were able to make that happen at least some of the time.
Steve Manning (Week 8): As you may recall, I was a big believer in combining and conducting both government and commercial business. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. In both cases, success required an experienced team to win and, often, in the commercial arena, we were subcritical.
Greg Smith (Week 10): I still strongly believe that sales and marketing should be combined, although both functions are necessary. At SAIC, they were combined in my day. At Bellcore, they were not. There were difficulties in having the two organizations work together. The Bellcore marketing and sales activities were organized more traditionally, and I think this interfered with the flow of customer communications.
Dave Strobel (Week 11): Considering all the communications I’m getting from employees of Space Electronics, the company seems to have the old spirit.
Rick Valencia (Week 11): The Entrepreneur of the Year program is very important in recognizing local San Diego entrepreneurial talent. It’s been my honor to be a part of this program for many years, and I’m happy that the SAIC example motivated you.
Tsahi Gozani (Week 11): I hope we can include in the book some discussion of nondestructive testing as practiced at SAIC, Ancore, and other spin-offs. As you know, having worked in that field, I really wanted to make a big success out of those businesses.
Bud Pyatt (Week 11): I think your topic on the relationship between SAIC and S-Cubed is a good one, and I would be happy to try to work with you to get something included in the book.
Stanley Friesenhan (Week 11): That’s a tall order. If you will help me, I will try to get some more included on the LINAC, which I don’t feel I’m doing justice to right now.
Bob Burnett (Week 11): Thanks for the kind remarks on SAIC and me. I enjoyed my association with you very much over the years. It’s hard for me to believe SAIC was larger than TRW, but some people don’t know when to stop building. TRW was a model for me for so many years. I miss going to the SAG meetings in Omaha. Al Buckles tries to keep me informed. The depth and breadth of topics covered by the SAG really was mind boggling.
Jim Cramer (Week 11): Opinions are very polarized on the subject. There are those who didn’t think employee ownership made much of a difference, and there are those who think it did. And there are some who would differ with you and me about what it is. You may want to look at my July 13, 2006 comments to Babette Davis about the value of employee ownership. See if you agree.
Jake Lefman (Week 11): If one person builds a billion-dollar company after reading this book, then it will have been worth the effort.
Lyle Dunbar (Week 11): Good to hear from you. For years, I used to get very disturbed when a key person left SAIC and started his own company. Then finally I learned more was to be gained by working with those defectors where we could. At least we knew in most cases they built competent organizations.