Speaking of security, one of Compaq's first cost-cutting measures in the wake of Herr Pfeiffer's abrupt departure was elimination of the security guards that defended the former boss's office.
I heard something about this yesterday - apparently, over the last year (about the same time as the DEC acquisition was announced), CPQ had gone from the traditional high-tech open campus to one where security was increasingly intrusive. The roads leading into the campus had gates, guards, and electronic sensors installed and all employees were required to get an electronic key, similar to what is used on the freeways for automated toll payment, installed in their cars. Also fences were put up between some buildings with the gates chained shut. Also, access to the senior level of the headquarters building was strictly controlled by guards.
This created an atmosphere which many employees thought was oppressive. Even the new company cafeteria, which had been designed with an open access plan, had gates put up, and the gates were locked - the only route to the cafeteria was to get access to the campus buildings and then go inside to the dining area.
This is so different from the atmosphere at most other high tech companies that one wonders "what were those guys thinking"? If Bill Gates and Larry Ellison do not feel a need for such measures at their facilities (or more likely, understand the value of subtle cues in a high pressure environment) then why should Herr Pfeiffer need them?
This is yet another example of the bunker mentality that was developing at CPQ and Rosen did well to start making symbolic changes, like the dress code and more relaxed security.
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