Pros

Within headquarters, there are many opportunities to move around to different departments. If you prove yourself, and don't rock any departmental "boats", or upset any departmental heads, you shouldn't have a problem gaining experience and building your resume.

Cons

The systems are becoming increasingly outdated. In order to compete in business today, the employees need to have access to accurate information on a daily, if not real-time basis. This would also help to retain and attract talent. The people that talk a good game go further than they should. If you do good work, you need to hope that your boss is good enough to see it, if not, you better start blowing your own horn or get out.

Advice to Senior Management

Upgrade the systems. Recognize that the profit margins of the greeting card industry and the overall market is declining and develop strategies to address this reality. HR has organized manditory courses aimed at encouraging managers to challenge and question direction, as well as developing other skills. This is good for the organization, but there are many, in senior levels within the organization that dislike subordinates challenging their views. So the talk is there, but the walk is not. Senior management needs to send the message that employees in the "trenches" can offer some of the best suggestions. Or, maybe they truly don't believe this? There are too many managers that are interested in defending their kingdom and not doing what's best for the company.