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My HP Remembrances for the years 1987 - 2008 (21 years)
by Jay Coleman


Foreword

Mr. Employee Communications-Jay Coleman

In the New Technology of the Digital Revolution and the Social Media Communications of the 21st Century, hardly anyone remembers the communications technology of the 1900s. But the history of the Hewlett Packard Co. starts in the 1940s, with linotype machines for typesetting and flat presses and rotary presses for large runs like newspapers. Lithography dramatically improved the efficiency and quality and made prep processes far more timely and economic.

So basically, Hewlett Packard's image was built with technical and promotional printing processes. We became known and appreciated for our comprehensive instruction manuals, which included not just the detailed operating procedures, but an extensive trouble shooting and repair section. Plus pages and pages of component lists, keyed to the foldout sheets of wiring diagrams which might unfold outward to 5 feet to allow the manual writers to properly lay down the wiring and circuitry. Customer calibration and repair labs LOVED HP for this detail, since they could usually perform not just the diagnosis of faults, but quickly order parts from HP or often substitute their own parts from their storerooms.

I always liked to proclaim that HP sold more than just instrument products. We sold measurement tutorials, and we taught the newest high tech procedures, usually written around one of our new blockbuster instrument concepts. These new measurement techniques were delivered with hundreds of Product Notes, which delineated those newest processes that weren't taught in any engineering college. Even the Trade Magazines of the time, such as McGraw-Hill's Electronics, Hayden's Electronic Design, or the Proceedings of the IEEE, and dozens of other specialized industry-specific communications endeavors weren't current. HP also contributed Applications Notes, hundreds of them, which were more generic tutorials on measurement processes, not related to any given instrument family.

The customer was informed of our new product introductions with the HP Journal, a comprehensive technical presentation of both the functional performance, and since the articles were written by the project's design engineers, the deep technical tutorial on the breakthroughs, of clever circuitry and creative measurement functions that often were the first of their kind. I think the Journal circulation was 200,000.

Then there was the biggest promotional publication of them all, the annual HP Catalog. This was the bible of the electronics industry, growing from several hundred pages in the 1950s to 782 pages in 1989. This didn't quite rival Sears Roebuck, but for every engineer, it belonged in his bookcase. And we worked hard to deliver one to every engineer. More than once I would be in a customer office, with our field engineer, trying to sell one of our new introductions. When a technical question came up involving a different HP product, the customer would turn around to their bookcase, and pull out the HP bible. In those last years of the printed catalog, the print run went to almost 200,000. Only a few printing companies in the country could handle that load. I recall that they specified a special extra white, but extra thin paper to cut weight without print-through. They were magnificent.

Steve Duer was the magician who directed the compilation of content from maybe 50 divisions, converted to common format, reviewed by the authors, and gave the command to roll the presses. All of this was done without the Internet or email. Trucks were waiting to deliver not just to the USA, but around the world, with space reserved on fast freighters, and some by air. I have forgotten the budget numbers now, but it was millions. And well worth it.

In the early 1990s, the paper edition was discontinued, replaced with a pdf version up into the early 2000s. By that time the Internet was in full swing, and more information and more current information was delivered into a customer's desktop computer for sales and technical training. I'm describing all of that print activity because it built the company.

But of course, I have left out perhaps the most critical function of company communications, and that is the employee environment, and their relations to the company mission and strategy. With today's social Internet such as Facebook and Instagram, as well as everywhere email and texting, it is hard to envision how these communications needs were done in the "Old Days."

The 1940-50s HP employee newsletter was a mundane tabloid named "Watts Current," to reflect our electricity roots. Bill Bigler presented the news by popping employee names in BOLD TYPE, and seemingly was able to include almost the whole employed roster every month. By 1963, with manufacturing divisions moving all across the US and Europe and Japan, and dozens of sales offices, a new professional editorial vehicle was needed. Corporate Communications head, Dave Kirby, initiated the new bi-monthly magazine, and appropriately called it Measure, appearing first in July 1963.

It was a winner, professional graphics, writing, editing, and presenting a nice mix of personnel news, corporate happenings, voices from the top executives, and a monthly message from Dave, himself, as well as other top managers. Stories came from across the HP world, and I found Jay's recounting of his publisher life (hired in 1987) stimulating and informative and interesting. But of course, in my whole life since college, I have loved the smell of printers ink. And the quaint tinkling of a Linotype machine setting hot lead type (from 1951).

As Jay moved on from the discontinuance of Measure in 2000, his expertise goes to good use in new businesses and industrial conditions, principally the emergence of the Internet. HP's internal email system, called HPDesk preceded the Internet by about 10 years, offering our thousands of employees the best of immediate contact, globally. We showed exceptional vision in integrating email and data for financial, order processing, manufacturing inventory management, and every element of Enterprise.

Jay's life work is rewarding, as any contributor to the enlightenment of other humans. There is no escaping the deadlines, content decisions, directing graphics and photo selections, and moreover, to do all that with upper managers ready to second-guess your editorial discretion. A few of these "misunderstandings" that Jay needed to handle are described, confirming that some dealings with CEO Carly were fraught with angst.

In 2000, HP published the last edition of Measure in May/June -- a massive, 74-page finale that traced HP's decade-by-decade history, products and culture. It was the end of a 43-year run that began when Dave Packard pitched the idea to Dave Kirby.

To implement the new Branding Vision of new CEO Carly, Jay's group designed and titled a new magazine, using Carly's new slogan, invent. The new publication won a Gold Quill (the highest recognition) award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). But sadly in the midst of the contentious HP-Compaq merger, invent died in July/August 2001 -- six issues after it began.

Jay stayed busy with other Corporate PR, including Annual Report project, then moved to the Imaging and Printing Group (IPG). This lasted until his buyout at the big recession of 2008.

As a divisional Marcom manager, I had very good relations with Jay. He was perceptive of the employees down in the manufacturing end of the business, the ONLY place profit is made. He would occasionally run my Letter to the Editor, maybe complaining of some bureaucratic rule. I think one of my letter titles was, "Who audits the auditors?" It had to do with complaints I heard from old field engineer friends who were saddled with piddling rules on submitting their expense accounts, which used up their time instead of being before customers.

This is a truly enjoyable lookback at HP culture.

John Minck



My HP Remembrances for the years 1987 - 2008 (21 years)
by Jay Coleman


Table of Contents:

  • THE EARLY YEARS
  • THE NEWSPAPER YEARS
  • HELLO HIGH TECH
  • HP & MEASURE MAGAZINE: MY DREAM JOB
  • A DAY IN THE LIFE OF HP
  • A COMPILATION OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
  • LIFE AFTER MEASURE/INVENT
  • MY IPG YEARS
  • GOODBYE (AFTER A FAST 21 YEARS)

  • Funny/interesting/disturbing stories from 21 years at HP

  • 1.  Special editions/sections of Measure
  • 2.  Other special editions/articles
  •      Dave Packard's death (March/April 1996)
  •      Bill Hewlett's death (January 12, 2001)
  •      Lew retires/Carly hired
  • 3.  Measure addresses issues of the day
  •      HP-specific topics/issues


Webmaster's note: Jay's memoir has many very interesting links that you will want to explore. Unfortunately, many browsers return to the begining of his pdf rather than to where the link was. That can be quite frustating having to scroll from the beginning of the file to near the end for each link you explore. I have copied all of the links below as most browsers will return to the link location from an html file like this one so you can continue exploring with ease.

You can read Roy's excellently written HP Remembrances at:
http://hpmemoryproject.org/timeline/roy_verley/roy_verley_memoir.htm

You can read about the logistics of the project in the January/February 1989 Measure at
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1989_01-02.pdf
Go to pages 2 & 46-48

A COMPILATION OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

- Will HP remain true to itself? (January/February 1993)
Noted author and long-time HP watcher, Milton Moskowitz, the creator of The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America, offers thoughts on the changing HP company.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1993_01-02.pdf
Go to page 8

- "I'm losing my job." (September/October 1994)
Employee Jim Haberkorn writes about the Boise manufacturing plant closing and how it affected him and others.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1994-09-10.pdf
Go to page 24

- Is HP built to last? (March/April 1995)
James Collins, Co-author of the popular business book Built to Last - Successful Habits of Visionary Companies talks about HP's strong & not-so-strong points.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1995_03-04.pdf
Go to page 3

- Is MBWA still alive? (July/August 1997)
Purists believe there is no substitute for MBWA -- management by wandering around. But there is only one you. There are only 24 hours in each day. Where do you find the time?
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1997-07-08.pdf
Go to page 4

- Culture? No, it's a matter of values (January/February 1999)
John Doyle, retired HP Vice President for Business Development, takes issue with consultants and lithe adoption of the latest management fad."
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1999-01-02.pdf
Go to page 26

1. Special editions/sections of Measure

HP 50th Anniversary

-- One Day: 24 Hours in the lives of HP people (January/February 1989)
Special, 52-page photo feature to kick off HP's 50th anniversary year.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1989_01-02.pdf
Go to pages 3 to 45

-- The Test of Time (March/April 1989)
16-page insert, decade-by-decade insert summarizing HP technology & culture.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1989-03-04.pdf
Go to pages 9 to 24

-- 50th anniversary Book of Lists (May/June 1989)
4-page insert, including Top 10 HP technical contributions, 10 Famous People Who Visited HP, 10 experiments or products that didn't quite make it (bowling alley foul line indicator, lettuce crop thinner, harmonica tuner, etc.).
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1989-05-06.pdf
Go to pages 8 to 12

-- 50th anniversary ambassadors (July/August 1989)
109 employee ambassadors from around the world were flown to Palo Alto to be part of the 50th anniversary celebration, including attending the dedication of the HP Garage as a California state historical landmark and the "birthplace of Silicon Valley."
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1989-07-08.pdf
Go to pages 16 to 19

-- What a Mickey Mouse way to start a company (September/October 1989)
Measure article examined HP's contribution to Walt Disney movie Fantasia.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1989-09-10.pdf
Go to pages 8 to 11

-- An amazing look at HP's future (November/December 1989)
Ten pages of predictions from HP executives & employees and celebrities (Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Oddessy; George P. Schultz, former U.S. Secretary of State; Dan Rather, CBS news broadcaster; Steve Martin, comedian, actor, author, playwright; Katharine Graham, Chairman of the Board, The Washington Post Company; etc.) on what the future will be like in 50 years.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1989-11-12.pdf
Go to pages 3 to 22

2. Other special editions/articles

Dave says goodbye (November/December 1993)
Co-founder Dave Packard retires after 54 years.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1993-11-12.pdf
Go to pages 3 to 6

Dave Packard's death (March/April 1996)

1. The Packard Touch
16-page insert of employee memories about the late co-founder.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1996-05-06.pdf
Go to insert following page 16

2. Letter from Lew Platt
CEO Lew Platt's moving letter to employees, including his favorite memories of Dave.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1996-05-06.pdf
Go to pages 27 to 28

3. From the editor
Measure Editor Jay Coleman recounts his memorable interview with Dave Packard.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1996-05-06.
Go to page 2

Bill Hewlett's death (January 12, 2001)
The final edition of Measure magazine was in May/June 2000. It was replaced by invent magazine, which published a special edition -- "The end of an era" -- to celebrate Mr. Hewlett's life and contributions. Sadly, copies of invent aren't digitized and available online.

Hewlett-Packard's Corporate Objectives: Still fit at 40 (January/February 1997)
8-page insert examining the Corporate Objectives on their 40th birthday.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1997-01-02.pdf
Go to insert following page 16

Breaking up is hard to do (May/June 1999)
16-page special insert that covers the split of computing & imaging company (HP) and measurement company ("NewCo, " later designated Agilent).
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1999-05-06.pdf
Go to pages 14 to 37

Lew retires/Carly hired

Keeping up with Carly (September/October 1999)
Carly Fiorina, HP's new president and CEO, sets a fast and energetic pace for the company to follow.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1999-09-10.pdf
Go to pages 4-5

Letter from Lew Platt
HP's retiring President and CEO Lew Platt reflects on his 33-year career.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1999-09-10.pdf
Go to pages 26-27

3. Measure addresses issues of the day

Child care (September/October 1988)
Coming to Grips with child care in the '80s

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1988_09-10.pdf
Go to pages 3-7

Environment (March/April 1990)
HP & the Environment M/A

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1990_03-04.pdf
Go to pages 13-20

Education (September/October 1990)
The ABC's of HP and Education

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1990_09-10.pdf
Go to pages 3-11

Drug Testing (January/February 1994)
The pros and cons of drug testing

Two employees debate the wisdom of HP's new 1/1/94 drug- testing policy.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1994_01-02.pdf
Go to pages 20-21

Work/life balance (March/April 1996)
Balancing work and kids: It's not child's play

http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1996-03-04.pdf
Go to pages 4-7

AIDS (July/August 1996)
One day at a time

An HP employee with AIDS discusses some unusual support groups that play a role in his life - and survival.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1996_07-08.pdf
Go to pages 22-23

HP-specific topics/issues

This is a collection of miscellaneous Measure articles that I liked for various reasons:

It's only money -- $24 million of it (March/April 1988)
HP employee Ron Bouvia wins a $24 million lottery and vows to continue working.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1988_03-04.pdf
Go to page 20

Bill's blooming hobby (July/August 1991)
Photo feature and brief article on Bill Hewlett's passion for wildlife photography.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1991_07-08.pdf
Go to pages 15-17

Dean Morton/John Young retire - Lew Platt new President & CEO (September/October 1992)
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1992_09-10.pdf
Go to pages 9-16

From the Editor (May/June 1995)
A somewhat amusing article written when Measure began using a capital W for HP Way.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1995_05-06.pdf
Go to pages 10-11

Ask Dr. Cyberspace (November/December 1995)
A new Measure feature devoted to Internet with advice on how to explore the universe of information...new sites, tips. Dr. C's Too 10 Picks. Eight easy steps to start surfing. It was an innovative idea by long-time HP Employee Communications Manager Brad Whitworth; however, there was the ironic idea of publicizing something as immediate as Internet content, inviting employee questions, then answering the questions two months later in the next Measure edition!
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1995_11-12.pdf
Go to page 24

A leap of fate (September/October 1996)
An HP clinical imaging specialist, who was about to demonstrate the HP Sonos echocardiography imaging machine, detects a mass in her abdomen. The mass was a malignant tumor that had to be removed, along with her right kidney, saving her life.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/publications/measure/pdf/1996_09-10.pdf
Go to pages 8-9

Keeping the faith (March/April 1997)
Using HP analytical equipment, Dr. Holmes Morton diagnosed and now successfully treats Amish children who suffer from a hereditary disease.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1997-03-04.pdf
Go to pages 4-8

Letter from Lew Platt (November/December 1997)
HP's chairman, president and CEO outlines the Business Fundamentals for fiscal year 1998 and discusses the crossroads at which HP stands. The real story was the photo for Business Week that featured a dozen Silicon Valley executives, including Larry Ellison (Oracle), Marc Andreesen (Netscape), Gordon Moore & Andy Grove (Intel), John Chambers (Cisco), Scott McNealey (Sun Microsystems, Steve Jobs (Apple) and Lew.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1997-11-12.pdf
Go to pages 16-17

The Best of the Best: GE (September/October 1998)
The house that Jack built
From light bulbs to loans, General Electric has reinvented itself countless times under the leadership of CEO Jack Welch.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1998-09-10.pdf
Go to pages 4-7

Best of the Best: Southwest Airlines (November/December 1998)
Still nuts after all these years
Don't let its wacky ways fool you. High-flying Southwest Airlines proves that business can be fun and profitable.
http://hparchive.com/measure_magazine/HP-Measure-1998-11-12.pdf
Go to pages 16-19


HP Memories

This memory of Jay Coleman's career at hp results from the work of the www.hpmemoryproject.org website of Marc Mislanghe, who with John Minck edited and published the original archive of Memoirs. After Marc's untimely death in 2014, Ken Kuhn has now assumed the custodianship with John, and together they will continue to expand the Memoirs section.

One of the main objectives in starting this website in 2011 was (and still is today) to get in touch with people who have worked at hp from the birth of the company up to today. We are interested in hearing your memories no matter what division or country you worked in, or whether you were in engineering, marketing, finance, administration, or worked in a factory. This is because all of you have contributed to the story of this unique and successful enterprise.

Your memories are treasure for this website. While product and technology are our main concern, other writings related to the company life are highly welcome, as far as they stay inside the hp Way guidelines.

Anybody Else? Please get in touch by emailing the webmaster on the Contact US link at http://www.hpmemoryproject.org


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