I respectfully submit that some of the "facts" below are actually assumptions.

I don't think (though I'd be happy to be proven wrong) that there are personnel files publicly available showing HP Sr management opinions about how valuable Winston is (and I'm sure he is).

I didn't read "loose cannon" in John's statement.

I think we all have at least slight differences in opinion in what constitutes a "corporate player".  It can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon your point of view.

Saying that Winston "...did not inherit a thriving division" doesn't mean much to me if I don't know what you mean by "thriving".  Can non-thriving still be successful?  I think so.

...just a few thoughts to consider.

Howard

-----Original Message-----
From: rosenblatt, joseph [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 11:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] HP is listening... (Worldwide Customer Survey)


John Burke wrote about Winston Prather: He immediately left the mess he'd
created for others to clean up. I greatly respect John Burke. He is a man of
technical expertise, wisdom and ability to write clearly and succinctly. I
must however disagree with him on this point.
Fact: Winston Prather did not inherit a thriving division.
Fact: The seeds of CSY/3000/MPE's destruction were sown years before
Winston's ascent.
Fact: Winston Prather is an HP corporate player. One does not become the
General Manager of a division by being a loose cannon.
Fact: HP considered Winston to valuable to lose, so he was offered work in
another division.
Assumption: Winston did not wish to be unemployed and therefore accepted the
offer made by HP.
I invite anyone to dispute these facts.
Opinion: Based on these facts nothing insidious occurred. It is common
practice in corporate America to move people from one division to another,
especially from a division whose products are scheduled for EOL. People that
perform well are promoted.
Fact: Management sets the "perform well" standards not the customers,
whether we like it or not.
Opinion: The whole CSY/3000/MPE debacle is bigger than anyone person. It is
wrong to blame the person that presided over the pulling of the plug for the
demise of the patient. I don't know what purpose assigning blame serves but
I do know that blaming it all on Winston serves no purpose. This should not
be personal.
Prediction: (Please keep in mind that it has been many generations since
there were prophets in my family.) Winston Prather will be with HP for many
years to come. He will have ever increasing responsibilities. It would not
surprise me at all if he winds up in as CEO.
Last fact: John Burke is an honorable man to whom we all owe a great deal.
His passion for the platform we all love is not the least among his merits.
I too share that passion, I just see the picture slightly differently.
Work for Peace

The opinions expressed herein are my own and not necessarily those of my
employer.
Yosef Rosenblatt

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