Pillar Data Systems Reviews

Pros

they pay you very well and less stressful management. as it's small company, it's family oriented work environment

Cons

Managements are conservative and not opened to new changes

Advice to Senior Management

Be brave to adopt the changes, well it's bought by oracle now.

Pros

Pillar Data Systems data storage solutions are very good. I believe in the products and the solutions. Great management and people at Pillar Data Systems are supportive.

Cons

Pillar Data Systems products are still growing. The maturity of the products and solutions is close, but they still have a long way to go. Overall company is very good and generous. Pay is competitive, but Pillar needs to compensate for overtime and weekend works.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall company is very good and generous. Pay is competitive, but Pillar needs to compensate for overtime and weekend works.

Pros

Lot's of freedom to innovate - You have to earn the right though, and that's a good thing
You can work wherever you want to.
Lot's of chances to interact with customers - Important to me
Very approachable Management

Cons

At times, a lack of accountability when things go badly
Too much process for a company of Pillar's size

Advice to Senior Management

Better, and more frequent communication with rank and file employees on status of company

Pros

Pleasant environment, some really good people. Funding for projects and infastructure was available. Product was relatively reliable and had some compelling technology behind it. Growing market with large available TAM. Good working hours, maybe too good.

Cons

There is a fraternity atmosphere within the C-Level ranks. This club like atmosphere breeds cronyism and discourages less popular, but more productive employees.

Goals are often unrealistic and there is little accountability when they are not met. . There is a level of Arrogance and Elitism within the R&D side that prevents the company from adequately addressing market needs.

They are still working on the "If you build it , they will come" business model but its been 10 years and the only people making money are the executives and the printers who crank out the latest marketing glossies. What was a cuting edge product is beginning to look like an Edsel.

Advice to Senior Management

Shrink your expectations. Stop pretending to be a Netapp or EMC and focus on profitability. It may mean retrenching with 75-100 good people but carve out a niche and nail it. Put our egos away and stop making excuses for your failures.

Pros

pay is ok...that's abt it.

Cons

Incompetent senior management who are so engrossed in technoligy that they do not understand mkt conditions.....nepotism is the way to go ...appntm promotions....though they think they are the comapany of the future...truth is futue is not very bright for em.

Advice to Senior Management

be realistic

Pros

Salaries and benefits are good
Flex time/working from home allowed
A good place to learn how an enterprise level storage system works

Cons

Management ignores feedback from anybody below Principal level
Schedules are ridiculously over optimistic
Overtime expected
Funding is an issue. Layoffs are becoming a regular occurrence

Advice to Senior Management

Stop waiting for a buyout to save the company. Save the company yourselves. Competition is profitable so Pillar should also have no problems standing on its own.

Pros

Nice group of people to work with.

Cons

People need to be held accountable regardless of tenure or position.

Advice to Senior Management

EVERYONE need to be held accountable!

Pros

I really met some wonderful people at Pillar.
Great place for junior/intermediate staff to learn about cutting edge storage tech
Being in a Larry Ellison owned company has upside

Cons

Good Old Boys runnin the show in many areas
This place is middle of the the road as far as places to work are concerned. In the early years, it was a much better environment than it became post 2K8.

Advice to Senior Management

keep improving/evolving the product and you never know! lets face it though, its a tough market.

Pros

Product Just Works! This is a big deal since product is next gen and getting it to work is THE biggest hurdle to a franchise.

Cons

Lack of promotion within my career after many years of service.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't typecast employees into roles.

Pros

Salary is competitive.
Funding is strong and consistent (almost too forgiving)
Benefits are good.

Cons

Do not promote from within. Management team brings in "buddies" without giving teams opportunity to interview.
Management and technical leadership are weak
Poor communication and working relationships amongst management, functional areas and geographic locations
Good people you want to work with and learn from usually leave

Advice to Senior Management

Start including your employees in company decisions
Invest in employee development
Don't call yourself a startup... it's been over 10 years of product development at this point