RIM to cut 40% of workforce as another top exec resigns

aaront wrote: post #3

While I don't use any RIM products personally, the Canadian in me wants to see them turn around this slump and be innovative again.

They were incredibly arrogant and are now paying the price for it.

I remember going to the CUTC conference (Canadian University Technology Conference) and having one of the ex-ceos (don't remember which) lead a chant on stage of "Waterloo! Waterloo! Waterloo!" during his keynote. To say that alienated the conference-goers not from Waterloo would be a bit of an understatement.

From what I've heard of people who have worked there if you went to Waterloo you're golden. Almost all upper management is from there. If you're not you're going to have to fight many times harder to get promoted. It's an old boys club and an incredibly short-sighted one. Just last year I met some Waterloo people working at RIM who were convinced that the company was doing just fine, that the Blackberrys were just as good as the iPhone and the stock tanking was just temporary. They spent way too much time in their self-congratulatory bubble and now it may be too late. I could see Microsoft buying them up, forcing them to get great exchange integration and be the "Windows Phone for Enterprise" provider.

After witnessing their arrogance I definitely won't mourn their loss. I just wish my taxes and mutual funds weren't pumped into them so much.

Re: RIM to cut 40% of workforce as another top exec resigns

#7

Post by icki » Tue, May 29, 2012, 2:57 AM UTC

Every single one of these articles has provided no sources for these layoff figures. Sure, many of the C-Level's and SVP's have been leaving their Waterloo coop, but isn't it expected when the company has recently suffered under the current management? Surely RIM still needs it's employees to support BB7 (with devices still being launched globally [1]), while also building BB10 their next-gen OS.

Sure, their might be another round of layoffs. But almost half the company? Doubt it.

[1] http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/blackberry-curve-9320-...

Re: RIM to cut 40% of workforce as another top exec resigns

#8

Post by aaront » Tue, May 29, 2012, 3:03 AM UTC

smokinn wrote: post #6

aaront wrote: post #3

While I don't use any RIM products personally, the Canadian in me wants to see them turn around this slump and be innovative again.

They were incredibly arrogant and are now paying the price for it. I remember going to the CUTC conference (Canadian University Technology Conference) and having one of the ex-ceos (don't remember which) lead a chant on stage of "Waterloo! Waterloo! Waterloo!" during his keynote. To say that alienated the conference-goers not from Waterloo would be a bit of an understatement. From what I've heard of people who have w…

I just feel bad for the smart people there that may be out of a job soon.

And yes, most of my desire to see them succeed is because a lot of public money is invested in them, and it would likely send a ripple effect across the tech sector in Canada (specifically the Waterloo area).

Re: RIM to cut 40% of workforce as another top exec resigns

#9

Post by recoiledsnake » Tue, May 29, 2012, 3:05 AM UTC

This is really sad. Their dev tools were really horrible though and they weren't able to come out from their nice of mail and messaging which other smartphones started doing as well if not better leading to a BYOD(Bring your own device) culture at the workplace. Who wants to carry two phones and keep them charged?

On the bright side, they're still making money with a steady and increasing BIS revenue stream, BBM is getting popular in Europe and Asia and BB10 is on the horizon, I doubt it can save them unless BB10 is leaps and bounds better than the rivals. They have improved the user experience and the dev tools, but remember what happened to Palm with their excellent WebOS, it's really hard to sell phones because of network effects and few available apps(chicken and egg problem).

Re: RIM to cut 40% of workforce as another top exec resigns

#10

Post by cleaver » Tue, May 29, 2012, 3:06 AM UTC

aaront wrote: post #8

smokinn wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They were incredibly arrogant and are now paying the price for it. I remember going to the CUTC conference (Canadian University Technology Conference) and having one of the ex-ceos (don't remember which) lead a chant on stage of "Waterloo! Waterloo! Waterloo!" during his keynote. To say that alienated the conference-goers not from Waterloo would be a bit of an understatement. From what I've heard of people who have w…

I just feel bad for the smart people there that may be out of a job soon. And yes, most of my desire to see them succeed is because a lot of public money is invested in them, and it would likely send a ripple effect across the tech sector in Canada (specifically the Waterloo area).

I doubt the smart ones are out of a job for long.