d00m3d.

[solarbird]

MSFT is d0000000m3d. 16,000 employees on a product rev and buzzphrases like "integrated innovation?" It's 1975 at IBM all over again. Also, they're messing with the soda. Hope you like process bells on conference tables, folks - they're coming!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001973671_microsoft07.html

Comments

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

Seriously, when a company decides that the only way to increase the bottom line is to cut expenses (rather than increase revenues) you know it's time to get out. Even my cheap-ass company has free softdrinks, although I suspect it's only a matter of time before other companies use this as an excuse (Hey, if MSFT doesn't offer them, why should we?)

[solarbird]

I actually disagree with that. It's easy for a company to accrue a lot of ongoing expenses that were once valid but are no longer useful, and going through and cutting out stuff like that every few years is a very good idea. Think of it as spring cleaning.

It's when they start nickle-and-diming the employees that you have to start worrying.

[cafiorello.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. Keith's ex-employer cut the fancy coffee machine first, then outsourced all the geeks!

Scott Adams (I think) pointed out that when your company eliminates the feminine supplies in the restroom, you're doomed.

Spring cleaning, sure, but figure out how much extra in salary you would have to pay to get the productivity you get by providing...caffeine!
Cathy

[firni.livejournal.com]

I hear they have some seriously Dilbert-esque review goals going on these days, too. This results in the newest IE patch that doesn't plug all the holes. "I didn't fix all the problems, but I did it quickly, gimme stock!"

[solarbird]

Nothing except a full elimination of ActiveX could plug all the holes in IE. And even that wouldn't do it, really. But it'd sure help. Sorry about the plug-ins, though!

[chipmunck.livejournal.com]

The team I used to work for cut all testers who didn't code.

I am seeing moral go down in that company, people are used to those perks, and even if your spring cleaning and it's good, it looks funny when the boss got 50+Billion in the bank and they take away your towels, or soda rights.

That, from what I was told, was the reason so many college kids have come to MSFT to work. Free Soda.

I didn't realize how much of a luxury that was till I worked for the State and had to find a coffee machine to borrow from someone. And I payed for water.

Steffi

[banner.livejournal.com]

I just find the whole process thing to be rather hysterical. Process is often the last refuge of scoundrels. Especially as few people really understand how to do it, fewer still understand how to do it right. Considering MS's long history of half assed testing and Quality, I sincerely doubt they'll get it right. The only question is will it matter?

As for cutting out the perks? Well as I understand it MS was bascially using those perks as an incentive to make up for the long unpaid hours that were being worked. With the perks going, expect to see the unpaid hours to start going as well. Yes accountants don't understand that kind of thing, but that's why accountants don't run successful businesses.

I think MS's biggest problem isn't the perks, they should leave those in place. I think it's just they've got too many employees. About ten thousand too many. They're suffering bloat. If they want to become a big business like IBM, they have to make a lot of changes. OR they could stay the small business they always were. Personally I think they'll do better as the latter, but that's just me.

[jessicac.livejournal.com]

If I can hang on for two more years, MS will have paid for my associates degree... MS and I (and the tuition reimbursement program) just need to last two more years.

Or maybe I could cut all social ties and finish off the degree in one year and be done with it.

How fast is the boat sinking?

[solarbird]

How fast is the boat sinking?
Oh, they've got so much money it's not even funny. They'll be around for quite a while. They just don't matter anymore. Not in good ways. Really, they haven't mattered that much for a while; this is the ossification setting in. Nickel-and-dime-ing will continue apace, and Balmer, et al, will continue to say everyone's happy and onboard with it until it's too late to staunch the bleeding and they have a crisis. They can afford a couple of crisises, too, so you've got nothing to worry about anytime soon.

But the next Netscape that comes around won't be nearly so easy to handle - assuming there's no artifical restraint of development, e.g., through the murderously abusive software patent system I've been screaming on and off about for the last several years. (Did you know Microsoft recently patented the double-click when applied to small screens? No, really, it's a granted patent. Neat, huh?)

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

I sort of saw the writing on the wall at USWest when they discontinued the free coffee in the employee break rooms (they'd never had free soda). Having free coffee is very important when you have people working inthe building 24/7.

And there was one VP who was very proud of the fact that he was "the guy who'd gotten rid of free coffee." It was such a small expense compared to the amount of employee morale they lost...

[banner.livejournal.com]

I just remembered how at Tektronics one of these brite boy VPs got rid of free water! That's right, the workers had to chip in and buy their own water cooler (The tap water was not safe for drinking). What was funny was that the workers would NOT allow the bosses to drink from it, NOR customers or any guests of the company.

Eventually the company got the message, but it sure took them a while.