Alion Reviews

Pros

Alion is involved in a variety of technical consulting opportunities, mostly in the defense industries. It grew rapidly by acquisition, and has a large set of services for the Navy and other government agencies. As with most consulting companies, the management is hierarchical, but has some employee owned features. The company is typically organized in relation to projects associated with longer-term government contracts. As a technical consultant there may be limited opportunities to rise in the management hierarchy. But technical consulting competence and relationships with clients is well recognized. There is a good esprit de corps among the consultants and a good deal of attention to employee welfare. Alion does emphasize skills development and pays for educational opportunities and development that may enhance technical and managerial skills.

Cons

The company is highly distributed in relation to its different locations and projects. There is relatively little communication across managerial divisions in relation to the ordinary levels of consulting support. Because of its rapid growth and related expensive acquisitions, line is under some financial pressure to meet predicted revenue and profit targets. Possible constraints on defense industry growth amay have effects on Alion's growth, hiring, and promotional opportunities.

Advice to Senior Management

There seems to be little strategic analysis of the existing competencies, which can and need to be leveraged across divisions. While the emphasis on business development in terms of contract wins is important, the future of any consulting organization depends upon developing and leveraging specialized skills and capabilities that differentiate it from the competition. Alion needs to do more in terms of identifying these existing high-value competencies, and growing these capabilities in terms of skills development and hiring strategies.

Pros

Great co-workers who were working hard to support each other, generate work, satisfy customers, live up to the code of ethics, and meet the goals of employee-owners

Cons

Alion was so poorly run that earlier this year when forced to refinance the only option was to sell junk bonds at 12% interest. The net result is almost $60M per year in interest payments, required principal repayment of $600M at the end of 2014, and 20% loss in stock price. Nonetheless, the executives continued to take millions in bonuses and other perks, and not once answered any questions directed to them.

Advice to Senior Management

Only a wholesale change in the board and top management will suffice. The fact that you have willfully ignored very specific questions about the companies financial condition and the unfairness of the bonuses and other top management perks is clear indication you do not deserve your positions of responsibility.

Pros

People you work with are part of a small team

Cons

Not a colaborative environment, lack of collaboration

Advice to Senior Management

Restructure to focus on skills

Pros

decent place to start I guess

Cons

low pay compared to other companies

Advice to Senior Management

they were ok, could be better

Pros

Company allows workers to telecommute for part of their work week, with manager approval (although I am not sure if this is still available).

Cons

I didn't feel that it was a very respectful, positive environment. And, as far as my type of work, I felt like I went back in time, that they were not on the cutting edge. Also, I didn't feel that they had very good benefits.

Advice to Senior Management

You need to emphasize fairness and respect. Also, it's 2010! When I worked there I felt like I was in a 20-year time warp as far as practices and procedures.

Pros

The only reason I feel fortunate to work for Alion is because of the people in our office. We are like an extended family.

Cons

Alion upper management has for years been taking away from the so called "employee owners..." They reward themselves with excessive bonuses, raises, company cars, and paid health club memberships - who knows what else...They appear to be a mini-Enron - if the company survives the "bad times" they are experiencing the upper management will continue rewarding themselves - if they take Alion down on it's knees and the company fails, they will still be rewarded.

We as "employee-owners" have absolutely NOTHING to say about the government of the company, nor how the upper management takes their rewards.

Advice to Senior Management

Start giving to the people that make money for Alion and stop making yourselves wealthier at our expense.

Pros

Alion has a knack for hiring some great individuals and excellent talent. Many people are experts in their fields and are quite approchable. The work tends to be interesting though some projects are quite long and become tedious.

Cons

Alion can be frustrating to work for as a technical employee as they seem to be confused in the direction they wish to bring the company. This makes it difficult to know what they will and will not support.

Advice to Senior Management

Better communication and work sharing must be accomplished between the diffrent buisness groups in order to grow the business and expand the abilites of the company as a whole.

Pros

I work in a great group. This is my 3rd group in the company and it has been the best experience. I thoroughly enjoy my position, I work on a great team with exceptional leadership. My current group is very knowledgeable and always willing to assist. This company has been great about educational advancement.

Cons

I worked with two groups that were not that great. Those groups were led by poor management, and the team was not strong. Morale was very low and the work was not interesting, also it was very difficult to get management to place qualified people on their desired teams or projects. There was no consideration given to personal growth, only the needs of management. I have a friend who has a finance background but has been passed over for 3 finance positions to maintain a position that she hates in operations.

My biggest gripe however is the compensation. Essentially, this company simply does not pay adequately.

Advice to Senior Management

Some management is great at this company. The leadership is outstanding in my current group and I thoroughly enjoy my work, my customer and my team. There are some people in other management positions however that have very poor leadership skills, they are under utilizing highly qualified people. For instance I have two masters degrees and was essentially handling administrative tasks. I transferred groups and I am now handling a $1.6 billion contract working on SCN funding for my customer. My customer and manager are VERY pleased with my progress and have even allowed me to train new members to our team. My advice is value your employees, listen to them and make them want to stay with Alion. In my short time with the company (3 Years) I have seen a very high turnover rate, and I understand why.

Pros

Benefits seem adequate. Sufficient coverage geographically and functionally to allow options for mobility.

Cons

As with any organization, function and productivity is highly dependent on the regional leadership. Minimal ability to leverage expertise in different segments of the company.

Advice to Senior Management

Foster communication. When information is present anywhere withing a company, it should be available to all.

Pros

The work atmosphere at Alion can be characterized as friendly, collegial, and collaborative. The hours are very reasonable, and it is rare to work on the weekends.

Cons

A lot of the projects are boring. Many projects last for a year or more, and it is very difficult to change projects once you are staffed.

Advice to Senior Management

The company should focus on brining younger talent into the organization. The company should also look for opportunities to improve contact between mid-level employees and senior management.