Let’s be real about the state of the org right now. If KKR is actually looking to trim the fat and keep the talent that matters, they need to stop looking at the IC level and start looking at the middle-management layer.
VMware spent years handing out titles and raises like candy to keep people from jumping ship. Now, we’re stuck with a "Managerial Chimney" problem:
• Mini-Teams: We have Directors and Senior Managers overseeing teams of 5 people. That isn't a department; that's a huddle.
• The Messenger Class: Most of these middle managers have zero technical input. They aren't clearing roadblocks or architecting solutions; they are just human routers relaying info to VPs.
• Jira Policing: When these folks realized their roles were redundant, they pivoted to micromanaging Jira tickets just to look "busy" in the logs.
If cuts have to happen, it should be the people whose only contribution is "status updates." Down-level them to IC roles or let them go. The engineers actually building the product shouldn't be the ones on the chopping block while a Director of 5 people collects a check for being a glorified secretary.
Bottom line: Protect the talent, cut the bloat.
7 replies (most recent on top)
@n0 At least half of the marketing team feels the same way. We need a better leader.
They just let a bunch of middle mgmt go in the last round.
@dp renu in particular is in over her head
Wait! There’s a marketing team?
@af Our marketing teams are not fit for purpose. Most of the senior folks were hired by VMware, when business performance wasn't measured and real skills didn't matter. They are all friends with each other and spend their days consumed by internal meetings. You could terminate the whole lot with virtually no impact on our revenue.
@OP most also aren’t directing or leading. They are just a point in the communications channel, very reactive. Also very little IC development.
The company is overstaffed by probably 50% You have the same people doing the same things in product and in marketing and in tech marketing and instead of being honest and trimming these roles, the company just creates complicated handoffs where each team is doing a little bit before passing it over or just duplicating the same effort 3x. The majority of marketing roles are glorified project managers who are paid to sit in meetings all day without getting anything done on time or on budget. The need for all these people management roles is also bloated by the fact that they have to manage a bunch of ICs that don't do the work of an actual FTE.