Comments on: AT&T: The T-1000 of Corporations http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2007/10/24/att-the-t-1000-of-corporations/ public domain playground. friendly entities welcome. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:27:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Tim Boucher http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2007/10/24/att-the-t-1000-of-corporations/comment-page-1/#comment-86410 Tim Boucher Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:10:41 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2007/10/24/att-the-t-1000-of-corporations/#comment-86410 <blockquote>However, they will work the system with long range planning that’s *confusing* in certain eyes.</blockquote> I totally know what you're saying: certain plans look foolish when viewed at the improper scale. In fact, making your plans look foolish is, in itself, a highly important element of strategy. Sun Tzu calls war the "art of deception" after all.

However, they will work the system with long range planning that’s *confusing* in certain eyes.

I totally know what you’re saying: certain plans look foolish when viewed at the improper scale. In fact, making your plans look foolish is, in itself, a highly important element of strategy. Sun Tzu calls war the “art of deception” after all.

]]> By: jet http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2007/10/24/att-the-t-1000-of-corporations/comment-page-1/#comment-86409 jet Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:03:18 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2007/10/24/att-the-t-1000-of-corporations/#comment-86409 I worked as a computer consultant with AT&T from 98-01. After fixing their 2000 issues on the HR systems, next order of business was the "secret" project. Secret meaning we couldn't tell the salaried AT&T folks about it. Essentially the AT&T project entailed coding the employees into one of these business divisions: Local & Long distance, wireless phone, internet, r&d, and one other one I can't remember. The plan was to split off each of these businesses, with wireless being the one spun off first (layoffs/realignments and employee benefit changes coming later with our analysis lending a hand). Hell broke loose when AT&T spun off Wireless. The going price of the wireless stock was $20, which the employees were granted based on the stock options or stock benefits they received as group ownership (some just buying at the start), but within a month and all the way for the next 6 months, the stock never hit above $15. AT&T is a very well run organization, probably the best I've worked at, with a strong focus on planning being ones of the keys. However, they will work the system with long range planning that's *confusing* in certain eyes. "All your bases are belong to us". I worked as a computer consultant with AT&T from 98-01.

After fixing their 2000 issues on the HR systems, next order of business was the “secret” project. Secret meaning we couldn’t tell the salaried AT&T folks about it.

Essentially the AT&T project entailed coding the employees into one of these business divisions: Local & Long distance, wireless phone, internet, r&d, and one other one I can’t remember. The plan was to split off each of these businesses, with wireless being the one spun off first (layoffs/realignments and employee benefit changes coming later with our analysis lending a hand).
Hell broke loose when AT&T spun off Wireless. The going price of the wireless stock was $20, which the employees were granted based on the stock options or stock benefits they received as group ownership (some just buying at the start), but within a month and all the way for the next 6 months, the stock never hit above $15.

AT&T is a very well run organization, probably the best I’ve worked at, with a strong focus on planning being ones of the keys. However, they will work the system with long range planning that’s *confusing* in certain eyes. “All your bases are belong to us”.

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