appendix cDEC, the First Knowledge Organization

A 1991 MEMO BY DEBRA ROGERS AMIDON

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

TO: Ken Olsen

DATE: 28 February 1991

FROM: Debra Rogers

SUBJECT: Origins of the “Knowledge-Based Firm”

ROUGH DRAFT

What Ken Olsen created in 1957 is historic in industrial management. He brought the research environment of an academic institution into a commercial enterprise. With the organizational insight from General Georges Doriot and the participation of his initial management team, he established a unique organization which we will describe as dynamic (i.e., the “D-Form”). This is not to diminish his technical contribution to the industry; but, rather, to define and position DIGITAL Equipment Corporation with the managerial leadership ...

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