Novartis Reviews

Pros

I think is a great place to work because you can learn from the best people in the field. There are many Scientists and you can learn a lot from them

Cons

have to work long hours to finish project as any workplace. It was a long commute for me that
s why this new job is better

Pros

Overall, Novartis as a whole is not a bad place to work: employees tend to be fairly compensated, the benefits package is good, the vacation policy can be fairly liberal, and the work tends to be interesting and meaningful. Additionally, depending upon which site you are, you might get some extra vacation time between Christmas and New Years which is always a plus.

Cons

There is a great degree of differences between groups at Novartis and getting or not getting a promotion tends to depend more upon your group than upon your actual performance. While this is pretty much true no matter where you are, the problem seems to be exasperated at Novartis and senior leadership doesn't seem to do much to prevent it. Additionally, group leadership can be quite toxic and work to actively drive high performance out of a group if they are seen as a political threat.

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure standards are being evenly applied across the company

Pros

Upper management is generally friendly, multilingual.

Cons

Middle of nowhere location, extremely long transit if you live anywhere that isn't the boondocks. Not a lot of direction as to what you should be doing.

Pros

Great location, good knowledgeable people

Cons

I can't believe how disorganized things are. I was a hard worker and believe in getting the job done but there are certain resources I need in order to do it. I feel like I was merely treading water..not getting anywhere.
- the process are the wrong process for clinical trials
- too much unnecessary extra work due to process
-The company does not value its employees or experience
-drive unattainable and unreasonable goals. (poor project planning)

Advice to Senior Management

A lot more effort needs to be put into streamlining many of your business practices. Most processes here are so drawn out that it can take you half a day to perform simple tasks.Most of the the time it is because the resources aren't available or the process isn't written down anywhere

Upper management: Treat personnel as assets, instead of means to your ends.

Pros

- Flexible hours and scheduling
- Discounted NVD products
- Average benefits. New gym.
- Limited opportunities for projects abroad (nationally & internationally)

Cons

- Little recognition of effort and work. Management is quick to blame and provides little support to their own groups.
- Promotions given even if individuals are not fully qualified
- Work is done and prioritized in a constant "crisis" mode, providing little time and opportunity to get "normal" work done.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide mandatory performance review of managers from the people they manage! Provide better management training. Stop hiring contracts and then extending their contracts for years with no end in sight. Stop running around like chickens with their heads cut off, you'll hurt yourself and others.

Pros

Relaxed work culture. Chances to learn new things when they implement new products. Easy to get average ratings during appraisal cycle. Senior management understands issues if explained properly. Good allowance limits for hotel booking when travelling on business trips

Cons

When it comes to IT, senior management is too much vendor oriented. They want to outsource as many applications as possible, without even looking at what is good for company and existing Technical employees. International assignment options for someone working in India are too less. Lack of technical exposure for technical IT people. Too much of documentation. Technical work in a project will be only 10% and documentation will be 90%

Pros

As it just started there is a lot of opportunity to do different things and there is more opportunity for promotion.

Cons

It seems oversea experience is critical to get a good position. Local accociate has great disadvantage even they might equally competent or better.

Advice to Senior Management

It is true that talent is the most important for the company. But you'd better do more than say that.

Pros

Very professional. Good methods. Excellent products. Strong values and standards. Effective promotion of diversity.

Cons

Too much movement of associates and management.

Advice to Senior Management

Maintain people longer in their position so that they are fully accountable for their decisions, and they build solid relationships with others.

Pros

Focused on science. If one believe to have a scientific persona then Novartis is the place to be at.

Cons

Not too transparent in some of the aspects.
Salary-wise : Not as competitive as the competitors.

Pros

Good science. Good resources. Good management training opportunities.

Cons

Most toxic work environment I have ever experienced. Managers only focus on managing "up" to move ahead, often at the cost of their reports. No internal promotions and little recognition for quality work. Speak up and be cut off at the knees culture, even private discussions with manager. Employee review process generally used to punish those who do not fit the "Stepford" employee model. HR's primary role is to protect the abusive middle management corps.

Advice to Senior Management

There is such a dramatic disconnect between the stated Novartis values and behaviors norms and those demonstrated by management up to the SVP level that it must be condoned by top management. This must change or Novartis will loose it's innovation culture and become another lock-step big Pharma with a failed internal R&D pipeling.