Exxon Background (with various Exxon companies)
Operations research - all aspects (Esso Mathematics and Systems Inc.) - 1968/1972
Consulting and project development for operations research applications for Exxon affiliates. Development of linear programming systems for logistics systems. Systems construction for large simulation models - for marine terminal berth and tankage analysis, and world-wide oil tanker transportation systems.
Logistics operations (Exxon International Company, Inc.) - 1973/1983
Supply planning - Coordinated the development of periodic transportation and supply coverage plans for world-wide Exxon business operations. Transportation Scheduling - managed the operations of Exxon's Western Hemisphere oil tanker fleet - 50 tankers moving over 1000 MBD of crude oil and products. Logistics Analyst - Participated in development of plans for optimum oil tanker utilization.
Systems manager (Exxon Company, International) - 1984/94
OVERALL. Supervised end-user system support group from 1984/94 (17 persons) providing total computing environment for Supply and Transportation Department (180+ users). Managed all facets of end-user computing - systems planning and stewardship, systems operations, application development, training, installations and information management/security. Also coordinated use of systems by 18 world-wide affiliates' Supply and Transportation functions. Effort managed by two staff, in Europe and in the Asia Pacific area. Progress stewarded quarterly to affiliate Supply managers.
APPLICATIONS. Implemented integrated use of LAN-based microcomputer systems for complete support of trading/logistics business function. LAN operates with near 100% reliability with full business continuity plan in place. LAN has ties to corporate mainframe for communications and data transfers to mainframe applications and affiliate LANs. Applications include executive decision information, multi-user word processing, multi-user databases, shared multi-dimensional spreadsheet analysis and graphics. Functioning executive information system in use by full range of staff, including ECI board members. Over 40 production applications in all, managed with full attention being paid to ongoing support and controls (3 satisfactory audits). LAN applications and sharing of data extended internationally to affiliates of Exxon in Europe, Asia Pacific, South America and Canada.
BENEFITS. Mainframe computer costs reduced from $1.2MM/year in 1988 to virtually zero by end 1990. Total systems costs reduced by $2.1MM/year. LAN system provides effective capability to utilize workflow computing to increase business effectiveness and operate more efficiently. Overall operations staffing and organization productivity increase due to common data, common text and common analysis methods - all based on LAN systems, e.g., significant work-force savings (23+ staff) has already been realized. System fully supported by line, senior department and ECI management.
This covers three areas:
o Topic building
Systems utilized over 8000 Topics, most built by users. Some built from the database or text content "words and/or phrases". Modularity of Topics was the key in effective use as well as considering and using Topics as "reusable business knowledge".
o Real-time news system (1991+)
System supported 5 real-time new feeds (Platts Global Alert, Reuters, Dow Jones, ICIS LOR and Argus - all energy related news) with a simple executive-usable interface that grouped the incoming news into business relevant categories. News headlines in each category are chronologically ordered with the less relevant stories not being shown. The story viewer accesses single or batches of stories with print or read capability, and an E-mail connection for further distribution with user comments. System used regularly by over 40-50 staff, ranging from company president to clerks. Ad hoc retrieval of historic stories using existing Topics was also provided. The system was distributed internationally with centralized news feed and story management. Systems was integrated with trading system - initially Micrognosis video switch-based, subsequently Windows-based system from FIMI. Trading system supported various data analysis tools, including Future Source.
o Business relevant mail management system (1992+)
In this mail system, business users acquire and handle (read, print, annotate) business function operating text "mail" in business function "queues". The "queues" are based on the business functions carried out by users and mirror those words and phrases that a clerk would search for in order to route the mail manually. These queues act as electronic inboxes, providing routed copies of the user's mail for their processing.
Reassignment of the few items of mis-routed "mail" is easily done in a cooperative fashion by the users or a dedicated clerk. "Urgent" mail can be flagged for special attention, even automated notification after hours if the user has remote connection to the system. These queues can be reassigned based on business function changes, either manually or using a program and a clerk. Mail "Rerouting" with "post-it notes" is also automated, merely by reentering annotated text into the system, where it is again rerouted automatically by business function. In this system prime users directly manage their operating text, and subsidiary users have direct access to prime users' text.