@bbm the prediction that a layoff will happen, and that some areas could see deep cuts, is based off known strategy discussions, some of which has been leaked (e..g, the Bain and Company presentation). Also there's definitely a lot of financial restructuring going on within the company. The T&P head is now CFO for a reason. My sense is that the GTS/GBS merger into IBM Services is the start of the largest restructuring IBM has gone through in a long time, if ever. The move toward a "leaner and meaner" IBM seems very likely through arrangements like those made with Persistent and HCL. The specifics on when things happen and what areas will be targeted are kept very close to the chest and could change while execs wheel and deal for their units, so those predictions will always be off and vary for each unit, but don't dismiss the overall warning that something big is in the works.