My take based on what’s going on. Anybody can be impacted, no matter if a manager says, “currently we are not impacted”. It is going to be big, and everybody is theoretically at risk, no expectations.
Dell has always been this way, so don’t see this as a ‘sudden’ change in style or industry behavior. This is Dell’s DNA, you are only valuable as long it serves a need, and typically this is a financial need.
Dell employees are shareholders’ best friends. Amazing workforce, moving mountains, and always able to win from the competition. Making shareholders rich has always been a core priority: shareholder value rules.
For good reasons Dell always messaged that you need to able to deal with ambiguity: change is the only constant, often even called out in our IDP’s.
With all of this you can read MSD’s book through different lenses. Only a few are winning....MSD himself and our shareholders. O yes, MSD himself being a large shareholder too, so a double win.
In a very smart and clever way, MSD managed a business from nothing to an empire, where hundreds of thousands worked for him and making him one of the riches people on globe. Huge credits to him, indeed by playing it nice, and win.
Through the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation his image got polished as him being a Good Samaritan, spending a lot of $ on society for those needing it.
But when it comes down to this own workforce (moneymakers), not that much of a loyalty ands and appreciation. Money rules, always was, always will.
Don’t blame anybody for this. This is not a secret, it is even written in books, you should have known this. So best is to benefit personally on his yourself as long as you can or allowed to do so.
Enjoy your commissions or IBP’s to the max. Use your high salaries (above industry) to send your kids to college, travel and buy cars/houses as long as you can…..tomorrow can be different.
Keep you network active if case you need it, mentally prepare for a ‘worst case’ scenario and hope for the best….and if you survive this round, no guarantees you will the ones after.
This is the Dell way, so take MSD’s advice VERY seriously: Play Nice But Win (but now for yourself)