unnamed side-thread ("exit Stephen Blair?")

[Bellsey]

(Moderator edit: I've split the following from this thread Bellsey's remark was a follow-up to the following quote, the placeholder thread title isn't meant as a joke, it's merely lack of inspiration - HB)

WTF??!!! If I had known this last week I never would have renewed my subscription. I feel cheated. DOnt have to be a rocket scientist to see which way he wiond is blowing. But as Selina Kyle said. I'm adaptable.

which way is that, because I'm not a rocket scientist.

[iamVFX]

which way is that, because I'm not a rocket scientist.

I think this is the main issue here - nor you or we know wtf is going on, who made such a bad dicision (lay off people which were communicated with customers directly and more effectively than other members of the team) and what would give in return.

[iamVFX]

But one think we know for sure - 2013 release sucks and the company have to lay off some people to cut budgets, it just doesn't mean that 2014 will not suck, "decision makers" are stay the same and they are not understand the needs of the industry and their customers still, as we can see from this news.

[Bellsey]

well I know more than most, but that doesn't mean I know the rationale and criteria for the selection of the 7%. From the comments I have seen, many seem to assume that this 'decision' is some kind of personal and deliberate attack on Softimage, and frankly it wasn't. The types of people affected was very widespread, and the people I knew were good people. I've experienced company layoffs before, and sometimes it can simply be that the people affected were just unlucky. My head, along with the people in my team was probably (and still could be) on the chopping block as well.

But one think we know for sure .......

Well that's the thing, you don't know for sure and there's too much assuming going on.

[iamVFX]

well I know more than most, but that doesn't mean I know the rationale and criteria for the selection of the 7%. From the comments I have seen, many seem to assume that this 'decision' is some kind of personal and deliberate attack on Softimage, and frankly it wasn't. The types of people affected was very widespread, and the people I knew were good people. I've experienced company layoffs before, and sometimes it can simply be that the people affected were just unlucky. My head, along with the people in my team was probably (and still could be) on the chopping block as well.

i.e. it was someone's random decision, that is the problem I'm pointing out

But one think we know for sure .......

Well that's the thing, you don't know for sure and there's too much assuming going on.

No, 2013 release sucks, it's not assuming. I used it, I tried to close eyes on some flaws, but there was too many for one release to ignore. It's the fact for me at least, I don't know is it true for you, did you ever used Softimage or not.

[SreckoM]

@bellsey
So, how many people from 3dsMax or Maya team are out after this?

[Bellsey]

i.e. it was someone's random decision, that is the problem I'm pointing out

That wasn't my meaning at all

I don't know is it true for you, did you ever used Softimage or not.

is that a joke, lol

[iamVFX]

@bellsey
So, how many people from 3dsMax or Maya team are out after this?

Nononono, first things first I want to know the list of people who made decision to lay off people like Stephen and Guillame, then questions about AD love for SI

[Letterbox]

Constantine

What happens is the 7% are selected from many departments based typically on salary, and an overall reduction in that departments budget. It really does not have anything to do with Softimage (G.LaF was maya.), nor believe it or not how good the staff member is. All the managers do is meet the given budget.

Whats typical of these situations is the ceo nor senior managers 'walk the shop floor' ie actually know what the staff do, how much they are an asset to the business and how much customers value them.

Interestingly there was a BBC tv series that show just how many ceo's and senior managers have no clue...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Floor_%28UK_TV_series%29

Series 5 Hoover showed it the best, when the ceo found out just (in time) what an asset some staff were he didn't let them go.

So please dont blame Bellsey. Thanks.

[iamVFX]

nor believe it or not how good the staff member is.

Then it means it's just poor decision making. It's like lay off core developers with "it was the luck case" excuse. Yes, it was, but you just fired people who made your product valuable

[Letterbox]

nor believe it or not how good the staff member is.

Then it means it's just poor decision making. It's like lay off core developer with "it was the luck case" excuse. Yes, it was, but you just fired people who made your product valuable

Yes it's bad because it does not always take into account ability. Typically senior staff, people who've been there a long time have high salaries, and new staff as they get the current market rates (typically high too, depending on skill set, and global demand). So many managers look to minimize by selecting these people as maybe in their department they only have to let one go, vs otherwise maybe two to meet the budget numbers.

[Bellsey]

@bellsey
So, how many people from 3dsMax or Maya team are out after this?

Nononono, first things first I want to know the list of people who made decision to lay off people like Stephen and Guillame, then questions about AD love for SI

if you guys think I'm going to actually list people by name, then think again. There's no way I could do that.
Different locations, divisions, and departments and teams were affected and unless anything specific is made public that's all I am saying.

[Letterbox]

@bellsey
So, how many people from 3dsMax or Maya team are out after this?

Nononono, first things first I want to know the list of people who made decision to lay off people like Stephen and Guillame, then questions about AD love for SI

if you guys think

SINGULAR, not pural. Thank you.

[iamVFX]

Yea, it's just me being dumb by asking who make stupid decisions in the company you working for.... Never mind, good luck, Graham

[Letterbox]

Yea, it's just me being dumb by asking who make stupid decision in the company you working in.... Never mind, good luck, Graham

Its not a dumb question, and my comment does answer it, that's the way it works in multinationals, your dealing with 7000 people on different continents, Imagine if you only took 1 hour to get to know people, that's 7000 man hours. You have to delegate.

Further to that if he did answer it, and someone saw it, he get fired on the spot. ie dont clean out your desk, we'll mail it to you. As it would show gross bad judgement on his part, these things are a personal matter, they are not always for public consumption.

I hope that answers most of your questions Constantine. Watch the programs youtube? you'll learn a lot.

[Bellsey]

Yea, it's just me being dumb by asking who make stupid decision in the company you working in.... Never mind, good luck, Graham

I know it can appear all too simple looking in from the outside, but there are rules that I have to adhere too. If you were in my position you would have to do the same.
Also it's worth mentioning that there are different legal and employment regulations regarding redundancies for different countries, and it's certainly possible that some people are still going through a consultation process. It would be wholly inappropriate and unprofessional for me to breach any confidential agreements and name people.