Is there anyone out there who took all the WF2020, AGILE and nano-degree training and then wound up in a well budgeted, stable, productive project; or was it just JD's pipe dream?
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That was the point of 2020. Get yourself prepared to go work for another firm. That is what JD is doing.
I took classes and increased my tool set. A close coworker/friend did not. I got surplused, they did not. I don't think there was ever a real plan for 2020 except to scare people. I was able to use my knowledge to find another internal job, but it did bother me that even though I put forth the effort, it didn't give me any security.
it's like this - does the company need you wasting your time taking classes that they will eventually look else where for the same skills or is any time spent doing your work during the day doing existing work maximizing shareholder value and recognized in the chain of command?
you mean nothing but jack sh– to randall and this company.
Though I complained at the time, about having to take all the endless WF2020 classes... I thought it was very forward thinking.
But to date... there has been 0 follow through on any of the training. Which had probably been forgotten by this point.
Which tells me it was either a waste of time, waste of money, or there never was a firm plan for 2020.
Having employees take classes to supposedly prepare themselves for WF2020 was just a big scam on JD's part to make them think that they actually had some control of their destiny within AT&T. There was no way that he was going to create thousands of trainee positions for people to move into simply because they completed some online courses when his goal was to reduce headcount through automation. Managers with open slots want people with relevant experience and are not going to take an unknown person without it unless forced to do so or are just desperate for a body. It would have been great if the company added headcount to some groups specifically for internal transfers so some with the aptitude and training for a new position at least had a chance.
At this point in time, nothing makes a difference until we see how Elliot's pressure changes the business. Anything that may have worked or was perceived as having worked in the past can't be relied upon now. It's half-time and we're waiting for the locker room yelling to start.
it was just propaganda and cya. everything here is a negative spun into a positive so it becomes leadership's fantasy.
I have to imagine there's some kind of "training expense" tax break/credit for the company. 95% of it is worthless, but they keep pushing it . I do t know a single non-manager who takes it seriously and most managers just roll their eyes when the subject comes up.
I’m not familiar with a nano degree or any of those other training classes you mentioned, but I did use AT&T’s tuition reimbursement to pay for a Bachelors and Masters degree. While there a lot of negatives to working for AT&T discussed here, their tuition reimbursement program is a great benefit.
As mentioned below, there’s no reason to get a degree from a bogus non-accredited school like Columbia Southern when AT&T will pay for you to attend school at legitimate colleges and universities.
I took the Data Foundations course. It touched on SQL, Tableau and some math. The course was challenging and I learned A LOT. Before I took the course, I used to bug people who were specialized in these role to edit SQL or change a Tableau reports. Now I have a solid foundation in what these roles require and I think I can better focus their time (or at least no waste it). Will this lead to a promotion? Who knows. Will it help me help others get out of work sooner and get home to their families? Definitely.
education nothing to do with current events.with Stankclown ..employees, and shareholders need to expect a shift in the business to occur and likely for the bad.
The stock has capped upside around $40 when the dividend yield reaches 5%. Outside of the peaceful retiring of the CEO with a replacement willing to follow the Elliott Management playbook, AT&T isn't going to see $60 in the next few years.
Fools–Any " degree" from a non accredited program has the value of single ply toilet paper Use there tuition money to get a real degree.....My question is "Shouldn't Union Officials on the payroll be required to get educated ..so they can maybe win a few agreements???
kcumming
2/26/2016 | 5:51:38 PM
Excellent overview of ATT technological evolution
I enjoyed listening to John's insightful presentation of ATT's approach. I especially appreciated the comments relating to the human side of the equation - admirable efforts by AT&T to reskill their people. AT&T's efforts to help people participate in the business in a meaningful way that leverages their strengths will pay dividends in efficiency, retention, culture, morale, and engagement.
Great strategy without execution is meaningless. Successful execution without the full engagement of people is impossible.
Nicely done John Donovan and AT&T!......................licking your own wounds must be hard .... LOL what a s—up!!
@ -luq
The Most royal post I've seen in awhile
"There is no small irony in the fact that "JD's pipe dream" as the OP put it didn't even help him. He got passed over for next in succession to the emperor in favor of an undisciplined, loose cannon like the Stank. Imagine how that must have stung. The Stank throws a childish tantrum because Warner execs don't treat him like Kim Jong-un and they make him the heir apparent to his majesty Randall the Vandal."
Oh, and by the way, companies that are poorly lead by layers of incompetent toadies and are deeply in debt don't have stable, well funded projects at all. It doesn't matter how well you did "pivoting" there is nothing left for well funded projects and stability involves have "leadership" that can stay focused long enough to follow through with a project. AT&T has lost its way and the current crop of executives has not clue one on how to pull out of the death spiral.
There is no small irony in the fact that "JD's pipe dream" as the OP put it didn't even help him. He got passed over for next in succession to the emperor in favor of an undisciplined, loose cannon like the Stank. Imagine how that must have stung. The Stank throws a childish tantrum because Warner execs don't treat him like Kim Jong-un and they make him the heir apparent to his majesty Randall the Vandal.
I know people who did that and they got surplussed or outsourced. Any project that has money the sycophants and nepotist get it first.
Hopefully will some updated skills they were able to get a better job at a better company.
None of that training did anything - even being enrolled in continuing education and getting tuition assistance made any difference. I was still furloughed. Don’t believe any of the “getting ready for 2020” hype. It’s all a lie.
it was a joke. I'm an IT person, they had me taking courses I.could teach. If you want me to pivot, teach me accounting....
@dtw Almost spit my drink out over "Tech Dev skills pivot coach" and "Collaboration Manager". Surely those titles are a joke?
Great in concept, poor execution. JD and others had great fanfare when talking up about 2020 with media and bragged how much AT&T is doing to retrain the workforce. In reality, who knows how many had the opportunity to change careers. I know personally folks who had finish the programming nano degree, did they becoming programmers? Nope. Are there junior programming jobs? Nope. Can they find programming work out in the industry? Tough competition, and mostly likely a drop in pay and benefits.
There was a video about a woman who started in retail, who has a math bachelor, earned a master degree and landed a data science job. Great story, pretty sure she worked hard for her success. Can her success be replicated on a massive scale, no way. We had one of the 2020 yahoo said we don’t need any more data scientists. We are all grown ups, stop pitching the cool-aide, no one in their right mind is buying.
I have a Tech Dev skills pivot coach told me to pursue training for a Collaboration Manager role. Hilarious, this isn’t a real job role. The promise that HR and BUs will deliver role demand numbers never materialized. That would require hard work and planning, apparently not part of the management job description.
Stable lol good one
“Doesn’t matter”
It’s the AT&T way.
Doesn’t matter. Take your degrees elsewhere if necessary.