@1pjv - just stating facts, no reason to take it personally. Asking you to do a task is not micromanaging, its part of an overall business strategy that either you are not exposed to, or don't take the time to really think about. You should be given time to do it, but are not always and i get that. You may in your job role be paid to do task work, not brainstorm how to make a profit on the business. In the past it has been found to move the business things have to be done differently, which most people are resistant to. When gaps are found in what you do policies are made to correct those gaps. Are they perfect? No. Are they effective? if the gap closes they are. You generally don't see the bigger picture in some of these things because you aren't shown that , don't care anymore, or resist all change except that which makes your job easier. The focus is on the customer, and your job has to change to adapt. If you have a manager that hounds you and you are a good employee that really solves problems and helps customers, then I do feel for you, and hopefully that will change. Not all managers micromanage, most don't have the time. Are all the metrics good? of course not , some are very short sighted, but some do have value. Are some business units worse than others? absolutely. I would bet your job is not as bad as you make it out to be. I also don't agree with the companies direction on some things, especially at much higher levels, so just play the game. Younger people are lining up to work here don't kid yourself friend. They are also more flexible than some older employees who pine for the old days that are dead and gone. You will make it another 9 years if you stop wishing for things you want to happen, control whats in your wheelhouse, and keep investing in yourself. It is not easy to give a customer the same experience across the country without making policies that everyone needs to follow, but that's the goal. Thats the reason for regulations and policy.
And to the other poster who wonders how we managed to be here for 100 years "without regulation"... its was directly a result of regulation, you may want to read up on that. We made sweetheart deals with the federal government and were a regulated monopoly, that's the reason so many good ideas came out of Bell Labs.The money went back into the business, and universal service was the name of the game. That's dead and gone, except when they want to use it in advertising.
The real issue with the company today in my opinion is the continued push that the investor returns rule above all over the customers and employees, which can k–l new ideas and make risk taking by middle managers almost nonexistent. This leads to shedding the most valuable resource which is an engaged workforce, and dragging it out. it leads to infighting and burnout.
Wish you all good luck in any regard.