Comments on: HP printing out 14,500 pink slips

Sales and support workers are hardest hit under restructuring plan intended to save $1.9 billion annually.

[Philips]

Funny.

I'm just trying to guess: did HP after merger with Compaq layed off as much people as it gained during the merger?

I find it funny that such corporate America adopted such sily policies. It seems that middle management have no control at all over situation. Shareholders shuffle top management. Top management jump onto board, and try to kick start company. Normally they fail. Shareholders shuffle top management again. And doomed circle is closed.

Why big companies pay so little attention to middle management? This is the people closest to development, products and spendings.

Indicative of the Real problem in corporate boardrooms.

No one in corporate America can see past this quarters' earnings report. Having a long range strategic goal that focuses on providing goods and services desired by those annoying customers never seems to factor into the equation. Apple seems to be the only tech company with any imagination or spirit.

[pmchefalo]

Same Sentiments Re Middle Management

Ho, hum. Since Hurd already got his reward, he has to satisfy the blood lust of the Board of Directors.

And so, he fired 10% of the people making individual contributions, probably actually putting their responsibilities on the remaining.

It's a failed strategy, played out at many old-line US companies already, and I wonder why Wall Street continues to award the Boards for their short-sightedness.

Here's the thing: if these folks weren't contributing something (which I suggest is unlikely), why were they still there? Why didn't day-to-day managerial analysis relieve the problem?

If they had 14,500 non-contributors on-board, the fundamental culture of the company is the problem: the management caste (which surely will largely survive) just couldn't get it done. So, it's the middle management that's at fault, and erasing workers who probably worked hard at what they did, will probably affect customer service, new product development, product quality, pricing.

Already HP is behind Dell in many of their common markets. They don't compete everywhere, but everywhere they do compete, HP will be hindered by the fear and overwork of the survivors of this purge.

And their new CIO gets paid at least $15.3 million?

Wow! I just re-discovered my career path!

"Mott, who before becoming CIO at Dell spent 22 years at Wal-Mart Stores, will have a base salary of $690,000, an option to buy 500,000 shares of HP common stock and a targeted short-term bonus opportunity of 100 percent of base salary guaranteed at target for the remainder of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006, according to the filing.

Randall Mott"In order to replace benefits that Mr. Mott is forfeiting by leaving his current employment, HP also agreed to provide a signing bonus of $2.2 million," HP, the No. 2 computer maker after IBM, said in the filing."

[EdShaffer]

Independence is the key to long term success.

This move is expected from the Management of American Companies. The key to security comes from your ability to produce in the real world, not some corporate job. I found that out in 1976.

We have a company of personnel working together through a limited partnership agreement and the corporation is owned by the active partners.

We are looking for personnel for nearly every city in North America. If you are looking to have security based on your ability to produce, contact me at Technology USA.

Ed Shaffer
President

Technology USA
13455 Noel Road, Suite 310
Dallas, TX 75240
[e-mail]
www.technology-usa.com
972-386-1812
888-386-1812

[mlsolomon]

HP Cuts 14,500 Jobs

WHY IS THIS NOT FRONT PAGE NEWS???

[GGGlen]

Can't say that it will matter much...

But based on this news, I'm not buying an HP product again.

[twasserman]

Last throes

Dick Cheney misspoke. He said that the insurgency in Iraq was in its last throes. What he meant to say was that H-P is in its last throes.

[mcc777c2]

No HP

15 million for executive while 14,500 laid off. Thanks HP for simplifying the choice of my next computer by eliminating yourself.