Is it just me? Or are people in different parts of the company feeling this weird feeling of disconnection?
Feels like people don't communicate anymore. Even the executives don't. Like they've given up. People seem to be going through the motions.
Haven't really sensed this before 2025 but I am really feeling it and I can't shake it. Just wondering if I'm the only one.
@hm Not a “dumpster fire” — a profitable though slowly declining revenue stream.
A software company is a difficult asset to inherit, particularly a declining one. So it seems to me that owners must sell it.
They may prefer to sell it privately, but there has been plenty of time for that, with clearly no acceptable offers.
So at this point an IPO seems the more likely outcome.
@hm As a long time market watcher I agree with you in principle, but I wouldn't call SAS in such harsh terms as a "dumpster fire". SAS had been a great employer for a long time because of private ownership and it had been taken advantage of by bad leaders calling them ELT. They slowly destroyed the company while enriching themselves and promoting people just like them.
Viya could be the major reason for layoffs. Viya was possibly the biggest capital investment ever made at SAS and few see any returns from it.
The surprising thing is not the layoffs The surprising thing is that there is not way more layoffs. Give Big Jim some credit for his compassion.
That heaviness you feel, that could be from folks shunning you. They do that when they know you are on "the list"; they know, but you don't. If you ask others about it, they'll tell you that you're crazy. That's how this place operates.
IPO readiness does not mean a public offering. Likely readiness for acquisition and the selling off of large contracts and portions of the business since the previous acquisition attempt failed due to old systems and processes that caused the checkbook to close.
The CEO promised no layoffs during the global financial crisis of 2010. At that time, he kept his word, and was able to avoid layoffs when almost every other tech company was doing them.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe he has made the same statement in recent years.
Also, he never promised that SAS would never do layoffs. His business changed, so he changed his position.
I believe he still personally hates layoffs and tries to minimize them. But I don’t blame him for doing them, to avoid running his business at a loss.
The issue is not layoffs. The issue is the CEO goes on record and says we don't do layoffs success. A nice important people asset are peole. Just dont bullsh-t and be honest
@tt+1k5d3dmbf Most big companies do layoffs, voluntary retirement and have attrition.
I said that the layoff side is incredibly small at SAS. But I’m aware that isn’t what most on this forum believe or want to hear.
My point is that growth or no growth those things are common.
@tp “It is the same strategy used by virtually every big tech company”
Actually, almost no big tech company uses SAS's strategy.
Big tech companies do mass layoffs. One of the greatest benefits of working at SAS is that they do not.
Also unlike SAS, most of the big tech companies aren’t shrinking.
“ Through layoffs, buyouts, and attrition, SAS has reduced headcount more than 20%. That’s not a growth strategy, but a shrinkage strategy, in progress.”
It is the same strategy used by virtually every big tech company in existence regardless of shrinking or growing.
And for what it’s worth two of those three things are voluntary. The third (layoffs) are ridiculously low compared to the others.
Promoting “sycophants and incompetents” into management and leadership roles which likely contributed to some of the best and most hard-working talent leaving over the years.
Overall, SAS has not been well managed since the mid-to-late 90s. After that, SAS rode on the momentum and uplift of MVA innovation (what is now SAS9) as market tail winds carried the company and its software to its zenith around 2010.
Sadly, it’s been mostly downhill since.
The four founders of SAS earned their rewards, and the majority owner earned the right to run the company. They all took the risk of starting a business, which is indeed hard.
In its early years, SAS made a series of brilliant decisions that produced its success. In its later years, SAS promoted far too many sycophants and incompetents. The growth strategy produced by this culture was Viya.
Through layoffs, buyouts, and attrition, SAS has reduced headcount more than 20%. That’s not a growth strategy, but a shrinkage strategy, in progress.
“ He’s earned that right”. Not to be too semantic but it isn’t a question of earning it. He owns it. He can do whatever he wants.
Everyone on here is in charge of their life’s and their assets. They can leave and run their own companies however they choose. But they won’t. Because that is hard.
I have no issue with the “Big Cheese” continuing to take an active role in the company. He’s earned that right. However, when he is the only voice, that raises concern. While Viya has some good attributes, it is too costly/different as compared to SAS 9. If it met expectations, nobody would be posting on this board now. When you are the “Big Cheese” you get to be on 60 Minutes when things are going well. You also get the blame when things stagnate.
He should have focused on philanthropy or “Data for Good.”
Is there a growth strategy? If so, what is it?
Awww, people actually still believe this dumpster fire will IPO. That's cute.
@fp Yes. Even with an IPO, a PE buyout or acquisition is the long-term outcome — because once a company goes public, it can be acquired.
All software companies eventually get acquired, except the very largest.
Yes. There is a looming sense that we’re on the verge of significant disruption. Either PE buy out or acquisition is my guess. Only time will tell.
I suppose there is no communication because there is nothing new to communicate.
Management has said that they are preparing to IPO. That means they will also listen to private offers. There’s no need to repeat this.
Management will do more layoffs, if revenues continue to decline. But they may reasonably wait for 4th quarter estimates before making decisions.
Good luck to all.
“ Even the big cheese is phoning it in via pre-recorded update”
Give the guy a break. He is old. You have to manage some of the complications that come with age.
Not necessarily impacting ability but certainly smoothness of delivery.
Can verify. Nothing has been the same since covid.
Even the big cheese is phoning it in via pre-recorded updates.
Yeah that's about how it feels in my part of the business too. The higher up a person is the less they communicate. That is what I have observed anyway.
felt like that 10 years ago. can only imagine it must feel worse now.
Me three
You are not alone. I feel this daily.