Comments on: Dunn, Fiorina lash out at HP board

Both women blame former board members George Keyworth and Tom Perkins for their troubles at Hewlett-Packard.

[WmPoet]

Pattie Dunn--Hero!!!

RE: Pattie Dunn

It seems the media attention of Pattie Dunn?s actions are
focused on the tactic rather than the strategy.

For the past several years the government has closely
scrutinized public companies for their reporting methodologies
and obligations to shareholders. Corporate officers and boards
have been under extreme pressure, walking on eggshells,
spending enormous amounts of money to operate within SEC
regulations hoping to avoid legal action

With this in mind it?s completely understandable that Pattie
Dunn?s actions were to protect Hewitt Packard and the
shareholders. Had she not investigated it?s as likely she could
have been charged with negligence. She clearly had a mandate
to protect the company?s assets.

Frankly, board members of public companies are in the public
eye and are responsible to their shareholders. They need to
expect this type of investigations much as politicians are subject
to public scrutiny. Generally board members are well paid to sit
on the board and their behavior should be of the highest
professional standards, if they?re not willing to be subjected to
this type of investigation they shouldn?t be on the board.

Bottom line she did an investigation and uncovered the leak.
She should be applauded rather than condemned for her
actions?she?s a hero!

If one isn?t the FBI, CIA. Or NSA how are they supposed to gather
the information necessary to close the leak?

Furthermore, the government should be criticized for wasting
taxpayer?s money to investigate her?her actions should be a
standard for public companies. I?d be proud to be a
shareholder of a company with the morality she?s demonstrated.

Clearly there?s a story here!

[brcollins]

Mark Hurd - The Anti-Fiorina

It's amazing that these two women went on national TV and flat out embarrassed themselves and their prior company, further validating that they should have never been in a position of power. Neither claimed any accountability for what happened.

True leaders understand that they're ultimately accountable for the actions of their respective organizations, whether they were directly involved or not.

Mark Hurd understands this and that is why he's in charge and the two jersey girls are out. True leaders don't go on national television and pass the buck. True leaders stand up and take accountability for their actions. During the congressional hearing, Hurd said (paraphrasing) - I/HP made a mistake and we'll make more...The true test is in how we fix those mistakes and make ourselves better as a result'...That is true leadership.

[alegr]

Just like JWB

Dunn just used a page from JWB book: "those are our enemies, screw the law for your own good".

[tigerz2006]

Spare me

Because you're not the FBI, CIA, or NSA you cannot break the law and violate the civil rights of others! How do you find leaks? The same way IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and others do - you create a bunch of silly code names and disseminate information using said names to different folks at different times and then find out where they show up.

[treet007]

Dunn was stupid, Fiorina was overaggressive...

In reading this article, Dunn and Fiorina were ultimately squashed by the good ol' boy network, as it was called. However, it still does not excuse Dunn for being stupid in doing something so illegal, unethical, and immoral. I believe her actions alone is an insult to the working women of America who are trying to work legally, ethically, and morally to earn a living.

Fiorina was not like this. Instead, I believe she was way too overaggressive in purchasing Compaq and getting rid of the Scientific & Measurement division ... the culture shock, together with the major dip in the profits (in response to the overpriced purchase of Compaq), would have been enough to doom any CEO. She just so happened to be a woman CEO who got nailed.

Both should use their experiences as a lessons learned and not blame anyone about their demise. Then move on with life.

--GIF