Cable & Wireless – “Good company lacking effective organisation”

Pros

Great pioneering history. Good flexible benefits package. Great international infrastructure that continues to expand and develop. Capable of delivering the basics well.

Cons

Multiple systems. Complex and confusing processes. No clear understanding of who does what. Too many possible points of failure in each chain. Communications from management not always informed or realistic. Different areas pulling in different directions due to a lack of overall vision, mid or long term strategy to rally behind. There is little trust within the organisation and many cliques that are more interested in securing their position rather that in the overall benefit of the business. Senior managers should look further down the ranks if they want honesty. Could be great.

Advice to Senior Management

A true 360 performance evaluation may help you to understand where the weaknesses in middle management are. You will lose some of your best people when streamlining your business if you don't understand how effective your managers are at choosing what is good for the business over and above what is good for themselves.