Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : VOLTAIRE'S PORCH-MODERATED -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (36595)	5/3/2001 3:57:53 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 65232

<<Also, the other side of the coin is whether you should be laying off people who already work for you, while at the same time bringing in new MBAs through the revolving door. Seems kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't, especially when you are under pressure to reduce costs.>> JC: Great to hear from you...I agree that a company should think LONG AND HARD about making commitments to new MBAs when they may be about to downsize the loyal workers that are already on board. I think too many large tech, telecom and manufacturing firms use job cuts too quickly to try to please Wall Street. At times I realize some firms may need to engineer some strategic job cuts (after shared sacrifice at all levels of the company has been tried). CSCO is a great example of a firm that is handling their downsizing quite well. Its amazing that MSFT has chosen not to do any downsizing -- that may because they use contract workers more, have over $30 Billion in cash in the bank and enjoy a natural monopoly in many of their markets <G>. IMHO, management in MANY of the Fortune 1000 companies are not very experienced with 'the softer issues' -- eg. how do you optimize human relations and build a healthy and sustainable culture that will last...? After all the top Growth Firms really want to try to attract, motivate and retain the best talent out there. Yet, many of these same companies have made some big mistakes (in the organizational design area) that I feel they'll regret in the years to come....Just my views. Things are going well out here in Chicago. Its also very warm in the MidWest -- I'm sure the Golden's are moving towards the shade...=) Best Regards, Scott