Pros

The culture is very relaxed and comfortable, in the country head offices and especially in the corporate center. The work environment is also highly international and most colleagues are socially competent.

Internal networking can bring good opportunities to a lucky few.

Cons

The matrix organization is overly complex and reporting lines are often unclear. This is due in part to the ongoing shift from a organization based on independent country units to one trending towards global functions. Also, much of ZFS management comes from accounting or consulting backgrounds and thus have recreated a sort of academic partnership-style of leading which does not emphasize individual accountability.

Due largely to continuing organizational changes and poor communication between reporting units, McKinseys permeate the place both as consultants and as internal hires (ZFS is one of their largest global contracts.) Given the tradition of employing masses of consultants, management has been coddled to the point that decision-making is viewed largely as commissioning another set of slides. Major initiatives rarely get pushed through to completion given the lack of management ownership.

Data is also fairly poorly coordinated / unavailable on most levels.

Advice to Senior Management

Increase follow up on initiatives to streamline operations, promote and appropriately mentor internal hires.