McAfee – “Typical large software company with smart senior management but crumbling middle management”

Pros

Stable 9-5 job

Not a highly political environment (but this depends on your team)

Senior management is sharp and so the overall direction of the company seems to be well thought out and well communicated (compared to many other companies) barring isolated mistakes

Sr. Management is not uncaring (e.g. Relatively generous severance packages were given to the few people, even entry level employees, who were laid off in 200)

Cons

Very middle management heavy

Middle managers are "managing up" in several instances

The "innovation" group is almost divorced from the "engineering" group and there seems to be a total lack of realization on part of the management that this is happening.

Depending upon your group, little to no flexibility in hours although HR claims otherwise

Middle managers overwhelmingly seem to have learned management from a textbook and have little to no ability to make a real connection with subordinates

In my group, middle managers are an even spread between apathetic, textbookish, those who require a 1 hour powerpoint presentation (no exaggeration) to communicate things that can be said in a sentence and one malicious individual.

Advice to Senior Management

- Build closer ties between innovation group and all engineering groups so "innovation" can be translated into features for all products
- Let managers who can't communicate well be engineers
- Try to really implement HR policies on flexible timing so employees don't feel like this is just another 9-5 job.
- Anonymous feedback or at least suggestions for improvement from subordinates for managers

- Most of my feedback applies not to the San Jose, CA location but to another company recently acquired where I spend most of my time. Sr. Management will know what I am talking about.