Joined in 1996 and was so glad to be part of a company with a well known name. I met Dr. Bose several times in the cafeteria and got to see him speak many times. He was a true visionary and loved his employees, he just wanted everyone to have a good place to work. Then when he passed on the sharks started circling, Tom Beeson worked to keep the local plants going and then Brian "Outsource everything" Fontaine was hired. When Beeson retired they pulled out plans they had already drawn to move everything to Malaysia. Then, they took a beating on quality and costs with Malaysia and decided to sell everything to FLEX. Gone was their ability to change products on a dime, gone was the innovation. It is a matter of time before this company is sold.
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The product related decisions during my tenure (15 years) baffled me. Most recently why force people to use an app for QC 700?
I saw so many lousy mangers get a free pass because they were 'learning' and yet so many great ones were moved out of management because re-org.
Yea unfortunately products slated to come out this year and beyond are not “save the company products”. Too slow, too average, too expensive.
I think alot of the product delays and the desire to go low end hit us hard.
We once were known as the place that "my grandma has that table top radio"
Now we have headphones that de-laminate and fall apart. SoundLink Micro which is a flop. Products that have constant issues. Even NC 700 the firmware on it is destroying units, the silver units tarnished. And then some of the big flops the CineMate15! That bombed! It was a damn CineMate GS with a new bar! LOL Innovation my a–.
Nothing this year will be a landmark product, maybe Olivia/Vedder will do good. Revel/Lando are too little too late. Lando might be good, but Revel is just an average at best!
I worked for Bose for over 30 Years, it was my first proper Job. I had the privilege of meeting Dr.Amar Bose several times, what an unassuming/ inspiring Man. He always asked questions about making a difference and improving the lives of Consumer's and making Bose a fun/ great place to work for all Employees. When he passed away in 2013 the Academic's in the Company decided it was time to do things their way, now in the space of 7 Years they have crushed the foundations of the Company.
I was responsible for over $200m revenue in my time, near the end of my tenure all my New Manager wanted to do was dilute everything I was doing, even ideas and plans we 100% agreed together, following all strategies set by Corporate. Bose was always a great place toi work for me until Dr.Bose passed away, after that it was about daily survival and keeping your head down. The bean counters never valued any individuals, they caressed their ego with Power.
Their reputation as a Leader in Audio innovation has been eradicated by poor decisions from the Board, hence the Job cuts huge delays in launching New Innovative Products.
I honestly hope the Company identifies the culprits for the demise and take action to weed them out, so they can continue the legacy Dr. Bose created.
"So many bad managers", so true. The culture at Bose is toxic. I've seen many people simply strive to be a manager. They are bossy to co-workers and try to dominate. Finally, he becomes a manager, got an office with door, manager one or 2 people. After one of his report quit, he was embarrassed and sent email to everybody "Don't talk about xxx's departure, if you have any question, ask HR". I know several managers "Manage" one other person. Bose should cut 3 more layers "Managers", they are expensive, not effective and incompetent.
Bose Guiding principles
Innovation and technology —> When was last time innovate something that changed the industry? Noise cancelling? That's decades ago. Wifi speaker? Sonos did it earlier.
Teamwork and collaboration —> Really? Take credit from other people's hard work? I worked like a dog to finish the product and you present it on the stage?
Growth —> Down or up? Lay off hundreds of people every year. Is that growth?
Financial viability –> Are you kidding?
Actually, when they started shipping MFG elsewhere I heard Bose stood for
Building Our [Censored] Elsewhere.
So many bad managers. A bunch of incompetent men who only saw things through their own lens and couldn't imagine greater.
BOSE = Better Off with Something Else