Pros

The technology is good, people are open and friendly. Their service organization stands out as one of the most level headed management teams I have seen. Sales and Marketing are a joke. Engineering has a lot of good people just mismanaged due to the absence of a real product roadmap. Manufacturing is still in the early 1900's.

Cons

C-Level management is detached from employee base. Communication is poor to non-existent. Highly hierarchical culture where VP Level and above employees behave like they can get away with murder and almost always do. Extremely top heavy, when I left (Fall 2008) there was 1 executive (director level and above) for every 4 employees at the manager level and below. Lack of fundamental processes (Product LIfeCycle Management, for example) make things that would normally be fairly straightforward elsewhere in a valley, exercises in futility. Many many layers of highly ineffective controls perpetuate an illusion of "things are OK." The company operates without a strategic plan and it acts like an unguided missile.

Advice to Senior Management

Recognize that the people who took the company public cannot manage it as a public company and will inevitably fail. The company needs to bring in professional managers and replace the people currently at the C-Level (CFO already gone, good start) and VP Level. Mid level management is actually OK, just too many of them.

Pros

The compensation and benefits are good for this industry. Bonuses are low, maybe because sometimes stock grants and options are given to better performing employees. The atmosphere is relaxed, yet professional. The quality of people is exceptional and people are friendly. Mid level management is very good. Employees are passionate about our product.

Cons

Corporate communication can sometimes be poor. Verbal communication is at a minimum. People like to communicate via email too often. Accuray performs in a very competitive marketplace. Small company finding it's way in a large market. Perspective customers have a lot of barriers to get past (CON, construction, contract contingencies). Poor stock performance makes employees question upper managements ability to lead the company.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall communication must improve with employees.