Saturday, September 16, 2006
The other shoe dangles
The new CIO had her first Town Hall this week. We went offsite to a hotel (shades of the GWL acquisition) so everyone could hear the same thing at the same time. This was strictly a delaying tactic to squelch the rumour mill. She already had to publish an email to address the 20% reduction in staff rumour that was already out on the grapevine, but was news to me.
It isn't a rumour as it is her BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) . A reorg is also coming since we aren't well structured to partner with the business, but she announced only one small change at the meeting.
The email mentioned Gartner is in to propose outsourcing options. The way she was talking my role doesn't fit with her strategic direction. She says she can't compete with shops like CGI although from what I've seen of them, I'm not impressed.
There was a Q&A at the end of the session. Questions were solicited previously. Someone had the nerve (entitlement?) to ask about volunteer resignations/retirements with packages. What planet are these people on? Another asked about the ideas that had come out of the Transformation program as they had great value (in her opinion, not mine). By the way, the use of the Transformation word had been discouraged earlier in the presentation. Some people just can't take a hint.
D.
P.S. The AVP in charge of architecture was let go the same day by my big, big boss.
It isn't a rumour as it is her BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) . A reorg is also coming since we aren't well structured to partner with the business, but she announced only one small change at the meeting.
The email mentioned Gartner is in to propose outsourcing options. The way she was talking my role doesn't fit with her strategic direction. She says she can't compete with shops like CGI although from what I've seen of them, I'm not impressed.
There was a Q&A at the end of the session. Questions were solicited previously. Someone had the nerve (entitlement?) to ask about volunteer resignations/retirements with packages. What planet are these people on? Another asked about the ideas that had come out of the Transformation program as they had great value (in her opinion, not mine). By the way, the use of the Transformation word had been discouraged earlier in the presentation. Some people just can't take a hint.
D.
P.S. The AVP in charge of architecture was let go the same day by my big, big boss.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Dropping like flies 3
I came back from vacation and the desk over the screen from me was mysteriously empty. There had been an application architect there before I left. I thought that maybe she'd been relocated which seems to be a frequent occurrence around there. I asked the contractor beside me what happened and she said the woman had quit. She'd only been with the company a handful of months.
I also found out this week that the security operations manager and former CLA Domino team leader had submitted his resignation. I called him a dirty rat and a wimp when I went to see him about it. He doesn't have anything in particular lined up-he's just had enough. An enterprise architect also left to return to Europe.
The new CIO sent out a note late last week on the state of the union (here we go again). Included was a point about reducing headcount by 20% by outsourcing and attrition. I didn't think this target was realistic but if people keep leaving like this, she'll probably beat it. My boss is now only allowed to hire two contractors rather than two permanent people (instead of the original five).
When I first saw the CIO's note, I made a comment to the contractor beside me about dusting off my resume. Later, she said I seemed upset. I'm not upset but concerned about being there less than a year. She reminded me that it's not necessarily a LIFO situation which helped-it's a downsizing not an acquisition.
D.
I also found out this week that the security operations manager and former CLA Domino team leader had submitted his resignation. I called him a dirty rat and a wimp when I went to see him about it. He doesn't have anything in particular lined up-he's just had enough. An enterprise architect also left to return to Europe.
The new CIO sent out a note late last week on the state of the union (here we go again). Included was a point about reducing headcount by 20% by outsourcing and attrition. I didn't think this target was realistic but if people keep leaving like this, she'll probably beat it. My boss is now only allowed to hire two contractors rather than two permanent people (instead of the original five).
When I first saw the CIO's note, I made a comment to the contractor beside me about dusting off my resume. Later, she said I seemed upset. I'm not upset but concerned about being there less than a year. She reminded me that it's not necessarily a LIFO situation which helped-it's a downsizing not an acquisition.
D.
