The Case of the Vanishing Technology

The Case of the Vanishing Technology

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Are you vulnerable to this hazardous, expensive problem?

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The first hint of trouble...
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Here's a typical scenario.

About 18 months ago, I visited a successful high-tech
company. Sa1es were down.

But, management viewed the situation as temporary. Besides,
they were designing new products - they had "strong hopes"
for either getting more venture capital or being acquired
by a rich company.

Meanwhile, they had to "downsize" because of declining
sa1es.

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Then things got worse!
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Sadly, in less than 1 year, they terminated 68% of their
employees and friends.

Worse, they lost much more than "just" people! They
lost their technology plus the mon^ey spent to develop
their technology.

Why?

Because their technology walked out the door with each
employee terminated ... thus, without those particular
employees - and what only they knew - they were
disorganized, literally out-of-business and didn't even
know it! (They still had hundreds of employees!)

Typical of many companies, much too little of their
technology was organized and written down. Nobody could
pick up the ball when people left!

Without product documentation, without written
standards and procedures (and technical processes,
strategic plans, etc.) - without adequate documentation
they were faced with reinventing their own "wheel!"

(Sound familiar?)

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Did they survive?
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Were they able to reinvent their wheel, or sell the
disorganized company with its undocumented technology?

No.

Their building n0w stands empty, another needless casualty
of what I call, "Vanishing Technology."

They, like many, discovered that the hazards of inadequate
documentation are an even B I G G E R hazard when times
are tough!

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Why it happens over and over again...
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Actually, most business managers don't understand the
connection between product development and documentation -
and how to get the most out of them.

The fact is, you will produce better products, faster and
cheaper, if you understand the part that documentation plays
in product and business development - and how you can
integrate it into the process of building of your successful
position in the market place.

This is not a new idea. Yet, ideas are one thing;
action is another.

The plain truth is most people hate to write documentation.
For most people it's hard, tedious work that demands a lot
of time, discipline, and rigorous attention to detail.

That's why most people delay writing any type of
documentation as long as possible! Many, wait until the
last minute, then give the problem to a "writer" and
tiptoe silently away. (Good Luck!)

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Can you afford the risk?
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Are you risking the loss of your most valuable assets,
people, business processes, and intellectual property?

Here's what a manager told me about his own tragedy, which
plagues America's companies today:

"Due to our downsizing, our most valuable assets ...
our people ...our business processes ...our
intellectual property ...literally walk out the door.
Without those particular employees and what only THEY
knew - we're *****ed!!

"Worse ...sooner or later, they will work for our
competitors!" -- D.H., Manufacturing Manger

If you're the boss, it's on your shoulders! What do you do
n0w?

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How do you protect yourself from Vanishing Technology?
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You can protect yourself from Vanishing Technology by
applying the business development techniques I have named
"Profitable Venture Tactics" (PVT).

You can use PVT to enrich your business whether you're a
small startup or a huge corporation.

If you are downsizing, use PVT to help retain your best
people, your business processes, intellectual property,
and energize your remaining staff!

"You can't shrink your way to greatness."
-- Tom Peters

PVT can help you build your business to survive the hard
times! (But, it is best to act before your company becomes
a "sinking ship.")

If you're enduring uncontrolled growth, you can use PVT to
gain balance. PVT helps you accelerate product development.
You can inspire new action in project management...

...You can create new products for changing markets. You
can change low production into high per^formance. You can
streamline production for manufacturing problems.

PVT helps you turn dissatisfied customers and skeptical
executives into loyal fans.

And, Profitable Venture Tactics help you relieve the
pressure and worry - so you can sleep at night.

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Why Vanishing Technology happens repeatedly...
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I'm sure you recognize that the problem of Vanishing
Technology is not new. Imagine the frustration of watching
companies sink like leaky ships. You point to the leaks.
But, their crews say,

"We have no time to patch leaks. We're too busy sailing
for the gold."

When you suffer Vanishing Technology, your company is like
that sinking ship. And you know you cannot sail a leaky
ship...very far.

To develop a "seaworthy" business, you - or someone - must
write the right stuff to help you build your business like
a leak-proof hull.

Documenting your business is the work of "business
development."

Yet, when business booms people say...

"We don't have time to write ... too many projects ...
it is not a priority n0w... we'll get to it later...
yada... yada... yada..."

But, have you noticed when there's a business bust, people
have plenty of time to write CYA Memos and resumes? Bottom
line: Nobody writes the documents vital to your business!

That's why you see Vanishing Technology happen repeatedly.

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What can you do?
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To prevent Vanishing Technology, you must develop your
business to survive hard times.

This means you must curtail dependence on "key people" and
their tacit "tribal knowledge." (If your business needs
exceptional people, you cannot hope to produce consistent
results.)

This means you - or someone - must write down your key
business processes! This means you must work ON your
business as you work IN your business. As they say,
"Publish or perish!"

You must develop and document a result producing system - a
SYSTEM that amplifies ordinary skills and abilities into
extraordinary results.

Profitable Venture Tactics can help you create the right
documentation to integrate four steps to success:

1. Organizing,
2. Planning,
3. Developing, and
4. Operating your business.

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Summary
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Are you risking the loss of your most valuable assets ...
your people ...your business processes ...your intellectual
property? The plain truth is most people hate to write
documentation...And this leads directly to Vanishing
Technology.

When you suffer Vanishing Technology, your company leaks
like a sinking ship.

By applying the business development techniques I call
"Profitable Venture Tactics," you can protect yourself
from Vanishing Technology and build your business like a
leak-proof hull.

Documenting your business is the work of "business
development." This means you must work ON your business
as you work IN your business.

Don't let Vanishing Technology stunt the growth of your
business!

Best Regards,

Mike Hayden, Principal/Consultant

Your partner in streamlining business.

PS. If you're not on our P V T Roster, sign up (fr#e) at:
http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com

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(c) 2004 Mike Hayden, All rights reserved. You may use
material from the Profitable Venture Tactics eZine in
whole or in part, as long as you include complete
attribution, including live website links and email link.