Pros

A mature, large organization with stability, resources, and capital. Opportunities abound if you're willing to move to other metropolitan areas, primarily in the Midwest. Senior executives make an honest attempt to communicate frequently with staff on current events within the business and industry.

Cons

UnitedHealth Group is a bureaucratic nightmare. Approvals to do anything require complicated forms (usually found online after days of searching), requesting the approval of managers scattered across the country and maybe around the world. If the non-business units -- Accounting, IT, HR -- aren't creating new and more complicated processes and forms to use resources, they are demanding you provide details about existing business practices for 'audits.'

Senior executives' use of frequent emails to highlight trivia or administrative tasks, -- volunteer opportunities, employee surveys -- turns minor issues into 'must do' actions at the expense of focusing on the core business operations.

Advice to Senior Management

Cut back on the red tape. Allow business units to run as businesses. Set standards, don't write operating procedures. Senior executives should keep in mind their communications generate energy -- make sure it's on the right things.