Company: IBM
Date: 2015-01-24
Overall rating: 1/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Senior

Still a great company, but fiefdom at the top
Pros: Outstanding people, most leaders and executives (Directors and VPs) are reasonable, want to help clients and partners, and WIN for the company.  "The world is your oyster" ---- one of the most global companies, the exposure and experience you gain is incredible and eye opening if you do it right.  Great career opportunities due to the diversity.  Amazing client focus - IBM will go all out to ensure clients are successful, period.  There is never a waiver on this point through all facets of leadership, in my opinion.  If they screw up, they will in some cases blow millions of dollars to make it right.
Cons: Leaders & executives are handcuffed - they are asked to execute with legs chopped off.  Top heavy - far too many senior executives.  E/R is far too low to stay competitive.  Expectation to grow SaaS and Cloud revenue without development expense to build products for the future.  Expected to generate high profits in SaaS & Cloud on current products when no other similar firms attain similar metrics.  Unable to track basic SaaS metrics for success, such as churn and renewal rates.  Sales plans are stacked beyond belief leading to overpaid sellers who contribute nothing to the sales cycle.  Significant technical attrition, inability to hire replacement talent.