Electronic Data Systems Reviews in Ottawa, ON Area

Pros

Ability to work with multiple clients with state of the art computing environments
Automation of mundane task by tools to free up resources to concentrate on enhancing customer service
Flexible work agreements (flextime and tele-commuting)
Paid vacation and ability to take time-in-lieu for (some-billable) OT hours worked

Cons

Long hours, with almost no advance notice given for after hours/weekend work, not because of crisis situations (which are part of the job) but due to lack of planning / proper communications by project managers / upper management / client delivery managers
Deteriorating benefits and pension plan (from free to paid, from DB to DC)
Very little advancement options unless you are a management fave
Lack of training on new technologies needed to perform job functions
Inefficient use of new tools and technologies, which, on the paper, look great, but fail to certain degrees in implementation.

Advice to Senior Management

Management needs to understand that price is not the only important factor when delivering services. The Wal-martization of the IT services industry has already lost the company clients, due to below par support received from some (not all) outsourcing locations outside North America. A global organization to provide around the clock support is a very fine idea, but that shouldn't come at the expense of quality of service and the "I can employ 10 (indians/brazillians/filipinos/<insert favourite offshore location inhabitants du jour> for the price of one US/Canadian employee" mindset.

Pros

I cannot really think of a good reason to work for EDS. I seems that everytime you turn around the benfits are reduced (or you have to pay for them). The salary increases are minimum.

Cons

Never really sure how long you will be employeed (i..e, Layoffs are always around the corner). There is not of lot of technical work now. Most of the work has beem transfered overseas. So I am currently doing non-technical work.

Advice to Senior Management

Remember it is the employees that are billiable and generating the Revenue.

Pros

At least they pay you... just not very much. Some of us have reasonable work at home options, although Corporate does not seem to want anyone to telecommute anymore.

Cons

Very poor salaries and compensation compared to EDS competitors and other IT companies in North America. Management are aware of this deficiency but explain to employees "we should be happy we are employed." Management are only concerned about "The EDS Way", which is apparently to treat employees like unwanted commodities, off-shore what you can and expect the clients to remain happy with lower quality service. EDS off-shores labor to cheaper countries with no plan of action and expects service to remain the same.

Advice to Senior Management

Start thinking about your employees and how they affect the success of the company. Consider their potential and what they are worth in a competitive market. And while you are at it, remember that unhappy staff equals unhappy clients.