Carroll H. Dunn
study. This was intriguing. Also, with
years in the construction industry, I was
quite aware of some of the problems. This presented a challenge to see if I could be a
part of an organization that maybe could bring about some improvement in the
effectiveness or improving productivity, of the industry as a whole. They were not
looking at just what the individual workmen on the site could do in terms of
productivity improvement but at the total picture-better management, better planning,
better design, and better execution in every way.
As I thought more about it, it became more intriguing. When they came back about a
month later, after they had had a number of other interviews I was informed that they
would like very much for me to take the job, I placed two conditions before I would
make any favorable response. The first was that they arrange with Con Edison for me
to continue my association with the company until I reached the normal retirement age.
(This was because of current benefits from Con Edison employment and also because
it would result in material benefits after retirement.) These benefits would be lost if I
left Con Edison prior to the time I reached retirement age.
The second condition that I imposed was that it not be necessary for me to conduct the
activities of the project from New York. Therefore, when the time came that I severed
my active association with Con Edison, I was free to leave New York even though I
continued to direct the study.
They accepted both of these conditions and worked out an arrangement with Con
Edison that reimbursed Con Edison for my salary and a portion of my benefits. Con
Edison saw fit to continue our relationship and continued to provide certain medical
insurance and other benefits as part of their contribution to the study. On the 1st of
May 1980, I began full-time work on the study, having taken a leave of absence from
Con Edison.
At that time, there were about 50 people involved in the project. We now have more
than 250, representing over 126 different companies and organizations engaged in a
very detailed look into 23 specific subjects (having been reduced from the original 27
subjects), for which we will complete individual team reports on each subject about the
end of 198 1. This will be followed by a comprehensive report on the overall study. At
the same time, we will proceed with planning for the implementation phase that will
follow, starting approximately the 1st of July 1982. Having already spent about 15
months on the project, I will continue full-time work on it for the remainder of 1981
and at least until we finish the individual team reports.
Starting in 1982, I plan to spend something less than full time, probably down to about
half time by mid-year of
as we proceed with the completion of the comprehensive
report and the implementation plan and begin implementation. This will follow for
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