[Info-vax] Micro Focus Merger with Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Software Business Segment

[Kerry Main]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Info-vax [mailto:info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com] On
> Behalf Of IanD via Info-vax
> Sent: 09-Sep-16 7:41 AM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: IanD <iloveopenvms at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] Micro Focus Merger with Hewlett
> Packard Enterprise's Software Business Segment
> 

[snip]

> 
> lol, 'Merger'
> 
> That's the term HP used too when they merged with the
> company I once worked for. Not long after the original
> 'merger', we simply ceased to exist and had to wear the
> HP branding on everything
> 
> Micro who?
>

Having gone through the Dec-->Compaq-->HP  "mergers", I can say from experience that it's always painful when the company or dept. one works for is put up for adoption. 

The unspoken challenge is that one has to adopt to different cultures, different drivers and in some cases, a resentment by the existing family to the new kids who have been adopted by the "parents".

I remember a DEC sales type who told a story of their Sales teams' first meeting with the local Compaq Sales team. The DEC team each explained who they were, their backgrounds dealing with various Customer Directors, ADM's and other Senior Execs. At the end, the Compaq Sales manager made the comment (paraphrasing) "Wow, with all this talent, we are going to kick some serious Dell butt!"

The DEC team just looked at each other because their competition was not Dell, but primarily Sun and IBM. Dell was not even on most of the DEC Sales teams radar. And then the culture shock of a company's product focus (server HW dealing with mid-tier Cust purchasing) vs. a Solutions focus (HW + SW + Services & dealing with senior Cust Execs) really kicked in.

Fwiw, the transition from Compaq to HP was actually easier for the DEC background folks because HP (at the time anyway) had a much better understanding that Solutions Selling was important. 

Moral of the story - while change is often difficult, it is inevitable. The only constant in life is change. One can either adapt and/or move forward in a different direction or not. It's all about choices.

:-)


Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com