It just keeps getting better

IBM has apparently decided that their problem isn't substance, it's image. They have created the role of Chief Brand Officer to convince us that we aren't seeing what we're actually seeing.

From the article: "Iwata, who started in the role on August 1, is focusing on stewarding the IBM brand across stakeholder groups including clients, investors, employees, and communities, as well as transforming the company’s culture. He is also working to shape its strategic dialogue with the outside world on issues and policies at the intersection of business, technology, and society."

Transforming the culture. Shaping the dialog. Nothing about fixing the actual problems, just about how they deflect attention from them. Why not add "rearranging the deck chairs".

Read more at http://www.prweek.com/article/1441582/ibm-names-jon-iwata-first-chief-brand-officer

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NEWS FLASH: IBM is currently rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Seriously though. Management keeps drinking the Kool-Aid and blindly believes things will get better. Big Blue is laughably outdated and is slowly going down the tubes. It's a case of too little, too late.

I met with Iwata several years ago. It was during the days of the "IBM Diversity Groups". He was in our area and wanted to understand why there was no Asian Diversity Group. So a colleague and I, who were selected as "Asian leaders in the community" (still have no idea what that meant) went in for an hour long meeting with him. We ended up staying all afternoon. He's actually pretty good guy. Sharp and insightful, too. But he's had a pretty thankless job during the Ginni years as there's been virtually NO good news to report. I think the reason for this promotion is two-fold; 1) a lot of companies are starting to have a "Chief Brand Officer" role and IBM wants to appear hip and trendy and 2) to have someone focus full time on IBM's image because Ginni's destroyed it.

IMAGE ! This is laughable and bittersweet. IBM laid off highly skilled, extremely dedicated & loyal staff for the past 7+ years and now they are concerned about image. They relocated job off shore for cost savings . Yes they reduced the payroll but hired junior people placed in mid management and higher positions before they had ample experience to rely upon to perform their jobs well. So payroll down plus the cost of fixing and re-fixing poor quality work cost even more funds.

His role is just to make Ginni’s brand better - that’s all Iwata really cares about.

Translation: Horn Broke: Watch for Finger.

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It just keeps getting better

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