Conference 7.286::digital

    
    
     re:0
    
             Well that has always been DEC's thinking. Well here's a
    perfect example. We layed off 1100 (sales people) indians on Monday
    and if you look at Livewire we hired a Chief (v.p.) yesterday...
    Makes sence to me...

    Don't managers, who haven't been in front of a customer for years,
    make better salesman/women. I'd like to see one try to do config/quote.
    
    And attempt to get resources. (are there any left?)
    
    

    how about when managers have to carry a tool kit?
    

    I think what we're seeing is a combination of two things.  
    
    First, there are a number of political appointees.  People are
    choosing to keep people that they know and have worked with in the
    past.  Hopefully they're considering qualifications for the jobs.
    
    Second, people are being moved back to jobs they have done before, and
    done successfully.  The reason people were promoted is that they are
    good at what they do.  So, I'd say that a sales manager should be one
    of the best sales people.  Running AQS is a small part of the job, and
    can be learned.
    
    Neither of these things is inherently evil, and both are natural.  Also
    natural is the feeling that good people are being let go, and that this
    is a personal loss.  It's possible that Digital might make some
    mistakes (my tongue is now coming out of my cheek).  The point is, we
    need to quickly figure out how we're going to be successful and start
    doing it!
    
    

    In my mind that is by far the S T U P I D E S T thing this company does
    OVER and OVER and OVER.  I have worked for Digital in 4 field offices,
    in 4 states and the same thing happens everywhere.  Even with the first
    layoffs 3 years ago they eliminated all of my buds in Sales Support,
    some of whom were very good employees, understood the market, the
    customers etc. and kept 6 figure managers who had not seen a customer
    for more than 5 minutes (when we catered lunch in the A.C.T.) in years.
    Now does that make sense??  Layoff the ones you pay less but do more
    and keep the ones that you pay more for?  
    
    I read over in over in the business pages how "such and such company" is
    laying off middle management.  But not Digital.  
    
    We all know we have to downsize, but this is just STUPID.  Could this
    be the reason we have been on a downward spiral for the last 3
    years????                                                            
    
    Gayle 

	Here goes silly question #1: What happened to that job code freeze
that was supposed to keep thoes managers tapped, indeed tapped? Or was it
just to keep ICs from moving side-ways?

The job code freeze ended sometime in July.

    What happens when someone is promoted into a job code that requires
    Digital to pay them a higher salary (ie; they are below the minimum
    range for the new job code).  Can they receive a "raise"?
    
    Anyone know how this works?  

    This happened to me a few years ago. Unless the policy has changed, you
    stay at the same pay level until the freeze is over. When the freeze is
    lifted, management has three months to bring you up to the minimum of
    that job code.  I worked nine months in a new position, getting quite a
    bit less than mininum, before finally catching up to the new (minimum) 
    level. 
    
    lt
    

    And it's not retro either.....
    
    Toodles.....JP

    .4
    
    Regarding people doing jobs they have done successfully before; I
    still have to ask the question, does Digital have the L U X U R Y 
    of time that will be required for these people to get back up to
    speed selling?
    
    Time is a commodity we don't have in abundance right now; if sales
    people's feet can't hit the floor running, Digital's doors may be
    closing for the last time by the time many of these folks start to
    sprint.
    
    I do pre-sales support, so I'm dealing with this situation every day.
    
    
    

    Must agree with -1.  Not only do we have no time to waste with those
    who used to sell, but even if they have prior sales experience, it's a 
    different world now.  Digital, in particular, used to be very much 
    a warm selling environment.  Not anymore, my friends.
    
    And, at least in my corner of the world, many of those
    managers-turned-IC haven't any prior selling experience, but are
    strictly people managers.  How much time have they spent in front of
    Digital (or non-Digital) customers, as opposed to how much they've
    spent at their desk compiling forecasts, writing PAs, in or planning 
    internal meetings, on con calls, etc.  How do those activities qualify
    one to sell hardware or services?
    
    Besides, we don't have any N E C E S S I T I E S anymore, never mind
    luxury!  -:)
    
    M.