Seagate Technology – “Seagate, Just wait for the end of the shakeout.”

Pros

In Santa Cruz County, CA, Seagate is a large corporate employer with decent benefits; and a definite plus was not driving over the hill to work. The non-management people, in general, are dedicated and loyal employees, and work together well. Many of the managers also work together well and support their work groups. Pay rates are competitive with the rates for large companies over the hill in Silicon Valley. Upgrades to the Scotts Valley site included building of an on-site Cafe/restaurant which is much enjoyed by all as the food is good and is reasonably priced. Seagate also works with local non-profit organizations and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and provides opportunities for employees to help support charitable organizations. Seagate also donates money to these organizations.

Cons

The Scotts Valley site is a corporate business location and as such the job titles most unaffected by economic downturns are Account Management (supports Sales and Customers), Order Management (processes Customer Orders), and Upper Management (work with Customers, Sales, Strategic Planning). During the recent downturn all other departments were subject to RIF (Reduction in Force). The Disc Drive Industry is very immediately affected by downturns and the survivors are the companies that are running a 'tight ship'. Seagate has been Vice President (top management) heavy for a very long time. A top heavy management structure does not respond as quickly to economic conditions in the market place in the way a more lean organization is able to do.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't hire your buddies. Don't depend so much on the charts and graphs. Know what is happening by talking to the people getting the work done, not the manager of their manager's manager.