OMFG . . . Sarah Palin redux
I first started using HP equipment in the mid '70s in grad school. At the time, HP and DEC had a lock on the lab and mini-computer market. To this day, I don't think that there has ever been equipment as well made and as of high quality as HP gear. And I mean both lab equipment and business and scientific computing. As my career evolved, I became more involved with the HP culture and "The HP Way" . . .
There had always been a tension between the technical side and the marketing side of HP. Along with that was the tension between the entrepreneurial psyche inspired by Bill and Dave and the realities of running a large and successful corporation. HP was forever undergoing restructuring of one sort or another, to the chagrin of the techies, the sales team and the customers. Having said that, it was all "in the family" and everyone realized that the universe was changing and everyone was struggling to deal with the changes. But there was always, way down deep inside, a sense of "family" and, well, here we go again, but we'll get through this one, too.
All of that changed with Carly. Looking back on it, the real problem was the Board of Directors. They were then, and are to this day, incompetent. They took an incredible organization and ruined it. When Fiorina was named CEO I was gobsmacked. Her track record speaks for itself. She is as qualified to run for president of the US as Palin was to run for VP. At least Palin had the sense to quit before she got fired . . .
Biting the hand that feeds IT
