Both Microsoft and Oracle are increasing their stock price massively to increase their market capitalization. They are also laying off employees to be less cash poor.
On the other hand, SAP is performing several steps to prepare for an acquisition. there have been share buybacks to negotiate a better deal. There are regular layoffs planned to stabilize the share price to negotiate for a better deal. HPOM and other reorganizations are bringing SAP closer to how Microsoft, Oracle and Salesforce operate. SAP is also cutting down salary hikes and benefits to match those at Microsoft and Oracle. The new performance management system is a vehicle for moving away from role-based compensation and adopt region-based compensation. This is in line with what Microsoft and Oracle does as they determine compensation based on zip code. The newer acquisitions by SAP are also inline with the offerings from Microsoft and Oracle. In fact, SAP is bridging the gap so existing SAP products and products from these acquisitions can be easily rebranded. SAP is also steering away from European worker protections and want a more Silicon Valley like approach where employees live in fear and the executive board makes millions to create more disparity and give them more power.
Do you think that all these actions are taking place to bring SAP into an acquisition mode for Microsoft or Oracle? What do you think the impact would be on SAP layoffs?