Comments on: Microsoft laid-off employees spoke up! Layoff Satisfaction Survey Result http://www.GeekMBA360.com/microsoft-laid-off-employees-spoke-up-layoff-satisfaction-survey-result Career Advice At The Intersection Of Business And Technology Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:51:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ted Howard http://www.GeekMBA360.com/microsoft-laid-off-employees-spoke-up-layoff-satisfaction-survey-result/comment-page-1#comment-11581 Ted Howard Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:19:15 +0000 http://www.GeekMBA360.com/?p=551#comment-11581 I worked at Microsoft for something like four years. I worked in an Office-related innovation group, on video games, and on Xbox LIVE. It took me less than a year to realize that the company is incredibly diverse and that I likely would not enjoy working for any of the main profit centers. The notes in this post regarding bureaucracy, ineffective management, and the slow rate of development apply to none of the groups for which I worked. From everything I heard and saw, however, these negative comments very likely apply to big enterprise-oriented profit centers like Office, Windows, and Servers. These groups are classic Innovator's Dilemma status quo type places. One thing I've found to be true all over Microsoft, though, is that you can do whatever you want. You can start a new program in your spare time (aka 20% time at Google). You can start running working groups on something you are passionate about. You can change your own light bulb (duh!) and get your admin to buy the bulb if you're nice. Failure is ok, though success is better. The two rules are to do your current job well and to be smart about what you choose to do. I also think the upper echelon is way overcompensated based on what they do and the results they have achieved. I worked at Microsoft for something like four years. I worked in an Office-related innovation group, on video games, and on Xbox LIVE. It took me less than a year to realize that the company is incredibly diverse and that I likely would not enjoy working for any of the main profit centers.

The notes in this post regarding bureaucracy, ineffective management, and the slow rate of development apply to none of the groups for which I worked. From everything I heard and saw, however, these negative comments very likely apply to big enterprise-oriented profit centers like Office, Windows, and Servers. These groups are classic Innovator’s Dilemma status quo type places.

One thing I’ve found to be true all over Microsoft, though, is that you can do whatever you want. You can start a new program in your spare time (aka 20% time at Google). You can start running working groups on something you are passionate about. You can change your own light bulb (duh!) and get your admin to buy the bulb if you’re nice. Failure is ok, though success is better. The two rules are to do your current job well and to be smart about what you choose to do.

I also think the upper echelon is way overcompensated based on what they do and the results they have achieved.

]]> By: Mark http://www.GeekMBA360.com/microsoft-laid-off-employees-spoke-up-layoff-satisfaction-survey-result/comment-page-1#comment-10997 Mark Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:07:51 +0000 http://www.GeekMBA360.com/?p=551#comment-10997 Great post. You left out how foreigners have kept their jobs, but Americans are getting laid off. This is a disgrace. Great post. You left out how foreigners have kept their jobs, but Americans are getting laid off. This is a disgrace.

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