ARC Int'l Reviews

Pros

ARC is trying to change from being a processor IP company into an audio and video IP company. If you have experience in these areas or a willingness to learn, ARC can be a good place to work.

I worked a lot of hours at ARC, but it was by choice.

Cons

A big problem I saw was a lack of focus on a narrow enough market segment where a small company like ARC can prosper. The middle management (director level) ranks are inexperienced in general, without a lot of experience in other companies, managing people and projects, or getting things done. Finally, even though ARC is a small company, it splits engineering and management between the UK and US, and has engineering sites in Russia and India. I think this is too much geographic, managerial, and cultural fragmentation for a 150-person workforce.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus. Focus. Focus. Decide what ARC is not going to do and be very clear about it. Then drive hard for results with predetermined metrics.

Also, consider investing in training, especially for the middle and senior managers (most of whom are new to their job roles and responsibilities). Doing this would help people gain a common understanding of what they should be doing and a common business vocabulary to communicate effectively.

Pros

satisfying and interesting work and people

Cons

micromanagment is limiting to work goals

Advice to Senior Management

let employees do their job without interfearing unless needed

Pros

There used to be a very good engineering team in place, with good expertise and knowledge.

Cons

Now almost all of the core engineering team has gone, with the knowledge and experience, and it is all outsourced.

Advice to Senior Management

The value of your IP is all in the engineers who produce, maintain and develop it.

Pros

Good competitive technology and a lot of customers worldwide.

Cons

Management lacks understanding of employee needs and even business acumen.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire new people and change the way the current managers behave.