Company: IBM
Date: 2014-06-14
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Senior

Some big pros, some big cons.. a giant heading towards another armageddon?
Pros: IBM is still a huge brand that opens doors, and there are many interesting opportunities at IBM. Company has invested in many new technologies, so there are opportunities to work with these and learn. Opportunity to work with some great people, and interesting clients, on interesting problems, around the world. Software and technology are the key focus areas. In many areas teleworking is an option. And you can build your career by moving across technologies, functional areas, countries and industries - all within the company.
Cons: In some ways IBM has lost its way as the pace of change has speeded up and the gigantic global process-driven monolith struggles to adapt. The company is not values driven. It is command and control (and double check afterwards) and risk averse. Admin is a nightmare, with process management in the Philippines. Spreadsheet jockeys are running the show, and if your horse isn't performing in the short term, switch horses fast. In smaller markets, long term doesn't seem to matter.

Not sure about CEO Gini. Previous CEO (Palmisano) basically seemed to milk the software business model and did not sufficiently build or innovate from this business model, in my opinion. As a result, Gini seems to have few options other than cost cutting to meet unrealistic share market expectations for ongoing growth in profitability.