Electronic Data Systems Reviews

Pros

Big company, you can hide

Cons

Ranking and raise system flawed

Advice to Senior Management

get rid of the old ranking system

Pros

I do not believe that there are any pros for working at EDS. At the time I initially joined, it seemed to offer significant professional recognition and advancement opportunities. I quickly found out that this was not the situation at all. I am not sure if this is still the case, but workding at EDS was not a positive experience.

Cons

Poor management created a very negative and toxic work environment. Ultimately became the worst work experience of my career. Wound up doing the work that was formerly performed by 8 others (were laid off or left voluntarily). EDS tends to burn you out until you break.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat employees as more than nameless and faceless entities and provide professional advancement and recognition for extraordinary work. Also, provide feedback and direction on work. Too often there is no management communication to staff.

Pros

You meet and work with people all over the world. You learn to work under pressure. Great vacation and time off policy.

Cons

No training. A new system was put in and as there was no money for training so we never learned to troubleshoot. Management unhappy because system constantly breaking down. Unholy hours. They have laid off many people and lay offs are continuing. i don't think EDS will exist in a year's time. Human Resources sorely lacking. Every month more people I worked with are being let go.

Advice to Senior Management

If the economy ever picks up people will jump ship. Be prepared to pay a lot more or get used to hiring people with no experience.

Pros

Work life balance is good. Several highly experienced personnel who are happy to help with your growth.

Cons

EDS was overtaken by HP and was never the same again. Salaries got slashed across the board, experienced employees got laid off, customer lost their confidence.

Advice to Senior Management

If you're slashing people's salaries, don't give your selves bonuses of millions of dollars. Don't cut cost at the expense of the quality you provide to the customer. Don't cut costs from programs that make you money. Stop micro-managing. Get your priorities in order. Don't promote incompetent people to management positions.

Pros

I started this job right out of college and it is perfect for newbies as an introduction into the corporate world.

Cons

The job came with on the job training as opposed to being sent off for training. Also, the salary is not very competitive.

Advice to Senior Management

Management was great and I don't have any real complaints. Communication was excellent and they let you know every step of the way how you were performing.

Pros

Was a professional environment with dedication to excellent work and dedicated customer service.
Pay was relatively competitive. Changes in management too frequent.

Cons

HP has changed the game for the worse. Sloppy work in communications. Would not say there's much room for personal growth. You might advance if you're good at ignoring people's needs, quality work and can cut costs and make a profit. Find it a cold, mechanical place to work.

Advice to Senior Management

Get ready to lose your workforce if economy turns.

Pros

Very professional company with good people. Many opportunities to work with new technologies, and to move around within the company.

Cons

Long hours are expected. You will likely be on-call and work nights and weekends. The customers can be very demanding.

Advice to Senior Management

Give employees recognition for their hard work. It's important for employees to know that management appreciates their extra efforts, such as overtime.

Pros

Spurts of real movement and enthusiasm
Lot's of great people went through there
Opportunities to learn and grow
Was a good first and third job, but, not so sure anymore

Cons

Constant executive churn
No consistent executive leadership
EDS was never realy able to take advantage of any strategies and it kept changing the organization and their focus
Way too much spent on internal ratther than on external (market) matters

Advice to Senior Management

EDS needs to find its way again. Are you in the services business anymore? If so, which services? Have you given up on consultiing services?

Pros

Great place to learn new things

Cons

Pay is decent but not as good as other companies pay for the same type of work

Advice to Senior Management

Try to respect employees more

Pros

Early on great company with ample opportunities and real pay for performance (early 80's).
Great culture and some really bright and dedicated coworkers
At time I left it was still a good place to learn business skills and technical skills especially for young first-time entrants to workforce/technology

Cons

Started downward spiral during reign of Dick Brown
Continued into a downward spiral since by continual denigration of management's policy toward employee treatment
Management totally focused on short term gain at expense of long term viability and employee retention
Employee morale very poor at time I left (2005) and appears to have gotten even worse after HP acquisition (from friends who still work there - there number is dwindling).

Advice to Senior Management

Need to seriously examine core management philosophy in regards to employee treatment. It seems that employees are only considered "cannon fodder" to get the job done with minimal levels of quality for the project at hand. Although management appears to say all the right words, their actions do not support those words.