Hewlett-Packard – “Bad approach to cost-cutting destroys teamwork”

Pros

HP TSG has great technical people, and good technology, and it is rewarding to be part of the team solving interesting technical challenges. There is a healthy, no-nonsense focus on operational improvement since Mark Hurd's arrival that is energizing.

Cons

Pooly managed cost cutting, and a new focus on differentiating the performance of individuals has produced a toxic, dysfunctional climate of individuals and local teams competing for scarce resources and rewards. While saying all the right things about working together for the good of the organization, management forces bad behavior by making us compete with each other.

Advice to Senior Management

Look deeper for the reasons why HP operates in "silos" -- it isn't due to low competence of people, it is due to bad systems -- your systems.