Pros

nice folks to work with - friendly, trustworthy - nice town to work in for families - everyone knows each other - it's really a close-knit community

Cons

no/low tolerance for outsiders - the company has really become inbred over time - real aversion/fear of new thinking and ideas - the market and competition have passed them by and they don't even know it

the company is completely inwardly focused - there is no real connection to the marketplace

Advice to Senior Management

the game has completely changed - you have to recognized that what has worked in the past is not going to work now - you must be open to new people and new ideas - you have to be willing to hear bad news and believe it

also, "work harder" is not a strategy - the company needs a clear new direction instead of grinding away at the same old tired ideas