Pros

It was an interesting place to work at. They fostered growth and peer / team work. New challenges always popping up which kept things interesting.

Cons

Although there was team work, there was also lots in politics to deal with, people trying to position themselves over others to get ahead, etc.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the politics to a minimum. Try to recognize achievements without showing favoritism and keeping people as "the chosen ones". Spread the recognition to many people on the team.

Pros

Salaries were respectable and benefits decent. Has some great people, and the work life balance is ideal if you have a family - no one was seen in the office past 5:45.

Cons

Large company complancency, little to no career opportunities if you're not in sales, and a definite old boys club atmosphere at the management level. If you're actually looking to strive, work hard and make it to the top somewhere, this isn't the place. If you're looking for a stable place where you can come in at 9 and make it home in time to make the kids' dinner, it's fine.

Advice to Senior Management

Be less complacent, always work as hard or harder as the people under you.

Pros

Relatively stable, nice perks, experienced workers.

Cons

In reactive mode as it figures out how to shed print legacy and move ahead with online.

Advice to Senior Management

Not to be so secretive about why certain job roles were cut. More cohesive leadership.

Pros

You are also working with extremely bright and talented people - who have a passion for putting out the very best product. One of the best reasons to work at IDG is their benefits program. They do have bagel Friday's. And there's a good work/life balance.

Cons

It use to be a place where you were proud to have put in years of service. However, it's no longer true (is it true anywhere?). The Publishing industry is changing, and so is IDG. So be prepared for a roller coaster of a ride.

Advice to Senior Management

You can't replace experience.

Pros

Good networking opportunities - and they are large, you can move around within the corporation. They offer training classes which was great. Ranging from technical trainings to career/personal development opportunities.

Cons

Pay was not very high, room for growth was limited and there was little to any communication to employees about things that were happening. It was difficult to get HR involved with management issues as well.

Advice to Senior Management

The training was great

Pros

IDG's employees hold a great amount of respect for one another; overall the office culture is very comfortable. The company is very accommodating to your personal needs in terms of benefits and getting time off. It's a great company to work for if you're a seasoned professional with a family.

Cons

Office comfort works as a double-edged sword. The company's leaders seem to be primarily interested in customer (i.e. readership) retention rather than expansion. In doing so it falls short when it comes to embracing new, original ideas, which would in effect attract a new set of regular visitors.

Advice to Senior Management

To let go of the old regime and develop a clearer vision for a new one. To seek to both retain and expand its reader base.

Pros

very good career opportunities there

Cons

I can be somewhat decentralized

Advice to Senior Management

Give more opportunities to others

Pros

The benefits and atmosphere were fantastic. Quarterly bonuses, 401k and ESOP were all very much appreciated.

Cons

Our group was given goals that constantly changed, and resources to pursue projects but not complete them.

Advice to Senior Management

Decide on your objectives, and stick to them. Show some deference to the specialists who work for you when you're over your level of understanding.

Pros

pro-family, interested in worker retention; decent salary and above-average benefits; dedication to quality trade journalism (i.e. no obvious quid pro quos to tech advertisers and companies we cover, lots of freedom to journalists to report and write as they like) over gossip and rumormongering ala some newfangled blogs

Cons

difficult to advance if not based in Framingham; journalism market in upheaval and IDG not immune; company sometimes too paternalistic to employees and thus less urgency to adapt quickly (outgrowth of Uncle Pat's personality, good and bad); there is some tolerance of underperformers (almost inevitable result of freedom given to journos, but still...)

Advice to Senior Management

more urgency to keep adapting to Web publishing;

Pros

It is a great company and people are very very professional and friendly. It still has a small company field because it is decentralized, so as a techie you get to be involved with a wide range of technologies and business problems. I actually really enjoy my job for the first time. One reason for this is I finally have lots more work to keep me busy. Ice cream truck comes during the summer and is free. Pool table downstairs. The job is not in Boston so there's parking and you have a reverse commute -- less traffic.

Cons

Downsides are few. I'm having trouble finding anything bad to say.

Advice to Senior Management

The problem with all tech employers is that it's always better for employees to jump ship to make more money or get advancement in their careers. Also the program in CIO.com to have employees enjoy profits from their business ideas is a great leap forward. I think all employers should have such a program. I look forward to that program's success. Employees really should enjoy the profit from their contributions in a fair way. Success should be shared, and this promotes hard working employees with numerous profitable ideas. Lunacy that other employers don't do this. Absolute lunacy.