Pros

The products work. They have great customers. On the whole peers are talented and skilled. Work life balance is impressive. It is one of the few places in Boston where the employer does not demand that you make your work your life. Benefits are quite good. They have freshly baked cookies on Friday afternoons.

Cons

The firm is in the midst of a transition between medium to large company. Given the consensus driven, non-confrontational culture, I'm not entirely sure if the tough decisions will be made. Very long term employees in middle management means there is very little exposure to other employment environments, strong not invented here syndrome and rank is not necessarily tied to effectiveness. Premium on consensus and loyalty often means that people are reluctant to make politically incorrect recommendations. Low turn-over in management translates into little upwards mobility for senior staff. Profit sharing program spreads the fruits of one's labour across the firm like peanut butter, everyone gets a taste but no one is really satisfied.

Advice to Senior Management

Everyone in management needs to get out of Natick and meet with your major accounts across product lines and industry. Listen to what your major customers say, how they are really using the product, what are their business goals -- build a relationship with these firms and become a trusted supplier. this is going to require a bit of humility, if you want to be a big firm you’re going to need to start building account management and negotiation skills in the executive suite. You would generate more revenues with an autonomous team that include sales, marketing, engineering and support to attack different market verticals -- compensate those individuals appropriately, allow these teams to design their go to market strategy, middle and sr management should set objectives and let the teams figure out how to meet them. The creativity and entrepreneurial spirit is there amongst the employees – but the inflexible processes, endless meetings, and marginally competent middle-management is converting that passion into bitterness.