Sun Microsystems Reviews

Pros

high employees recognition and consideration, not only "financial" recognition. - High human values - very good life balance
The time I spent with Sun was a great period , with large project to manage .

Cons

sometimes, too US minded company in short term "profit" management against investment for the future growth
The internal promotion system was a little bit "old schcool" : not sufficiently driven by "performance", more on seniority

Advice to Senior Management

Keep human values in scope

Pros

Very technology driven and innovative
Innovation and R&D comes first
People are individuals, not an army
A lot of room for creativity and ideas generation, implementation

Cons

Poor operational alignment has made the company less profitable
Flexible working hours have also impacted the overall success of the business
As a result there is no more Sun Microsystems

Advice to Senior Management

If you get together to create another Sun, I am willing to join!

Pros

Interesting, never the same issue or problem to resolve. Great clients, good teaming internally.
All the Systems Engineers had different roles as the job is client based- so you might cover aerospace and federal or retail companies... that alone shifts how much travel, and extra time you spend researching information for your clients.

Cons

The past few years have been confusing for the company with management change out and layoffs.
Moral has been lower consistently year over year in the past 3 years.

Advice to Senior Management

The company was just bought out by Oracle and so I expect that changes will take place. I'm hoping that this is a better direction for the company.

Pros

The teamwork and individual recognition is excellent. Salary is above average for the position. Sun Microsystem believes in giving compensation for a job well done.

Cons

Teams are in individual areas sometimes making it difficult to know others. Working from home also dissects the workers. Sun Microsystems should offer more interaction between the teams.

Advice to Senior Management

Regular interaction between individual teams would encourage a more cohesive environment. Many individuals did not know who others were in the hierachy.

Pros

Work and Life Balance
Autonomy
Creativty and Innovation Encouraged and Rewarded
Great Supervisor
Collaborative Teams and Peers
Professional and Intelligent Employees

Cons

Endless Reorganizations
Too Many Management Layers
Lengthy Decision-Making Timeframes
Processes Limit Speed, Opportunities and Results
Outsourcing for the Sake of Outsourcing
No Concern for Incompetent Outsource Management/Contractors, High Costs and Sub-standard Performance.
Frequent Layoffs with Management untouched
Management out-of-sight and unheard from beginning April 2009 Oracle Acquisition Annoucement to Company Sale in January 2010.

Advice to Senior Management

What's the use?

Pros

Bright people, good working conditions including lots of flexibility. Broomfield a great campus.
Great technology and respect for good work

Cons

Lots of weak middle management
Endless conference calls
Many talented people let go whilst "yes" managers stay
Poor overall execution and strategy

Advice to Senior Management

Value strong managers, cull the "yes" folks. Focus, focus, focus.
Get out of non core business, trim the portfolio, and execute

Pros

Great work at home policy, and great projects made for a very happy work environment for me and most that I worked with.

Cons

Too much management overhead, and sometimes the direction was not clear, or changed while in the middle of a project.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn from your mistakes, and listen to your employees. There is too many managers in relation to the number of employees.

Pros

The vision (the network is the computer) exemplifies what Sun does.
The technologies and products are the best.
The people are really good to work with.
The integrity.

Cons

Sometimes it takes too long to reach a decision, and then the seemingly perpetual infinite appeal.
Not being able to monetize on all the IP.
Re-organized too often.

Advice to Senior Management

Get a simple organizational structure. Focus on the decision making and execution afterwards. Find a way to truly monetize on all that IP.

Pros

Excellent employer. Good benefits compared to other IT companies. A lot of day offs, unlimited number of sick days. Flexible work hours. Warm atmosphere.

Cons

No bonuses. Poor salary increases. Failing business, and too many product lines. Lay off after lay off. Messed up internal search. (on internal network)

Advice to Senior Management

* Reduce bureaucracy, by removing steps needed to integrate code into products.
* Improve bonuses
* reduce number of products

Pros

Work from home facilities
State of the art amenities and work environemnt

Cons

No bonus as company did not make any money
Too many contractors and average employees

Advice to Senior Management

Why Oracle?