Thread regarding VMware layoffs

"We have not added one smart homegrown product in the last 7-8 years. "

Mostly true, but we did release Skyline in 2017, which is actually pretty good. Ironic that we don't charge for one of our best product releases in the last 7--8 years.

Diversity? What's that ? Some organizations have majority of the engineers from the very bottom to the top at VP level are from foreign country. I once referred a good prospect. After meeting with the team, the person said not a good fit. That person claimed that would not be able to blend in and declined further interviews. When you see the entire team setup with everyone from the same race/background and speak foreign language that you can't possibly understand, it is a sign that you should head back to the revolving door and never came back. It would be a big culture shock to work in such a team. Later, I looked at the organization structure and the person was right, I felt bad having to refer that person. I am no longer referring anyone since then. I am not sure what is the definition of diversity at VMW. But my understanding diversity is the blend of different background, races, expertises, age, religion and genders. But what I am seeing is hiring through one type of visa from the same foreign country and with same race from top to bottom of the organization. Tata Consulting might be more diversify in comparison.

If anyone can solve the world’s social problem, the C suite is at the top of the list - said no one ever, yet this is what they think and act upon.

I’m happy I didn’t go down the management path and kept an engineering role. I can’t imagine dealing with all this DEI showmanship as part of my day to day. Nothing to show for it afaik, but who can actually separate the signal from the noise?

Remember, when Magoo took over Diversity was made a KPI for bonuses. Of course they talk nothing but DEI now. They all want their bonuses and some. As long as you talk about it, you are visible and management have no choice but to pay up.

if vmw leadership put the same level of effort into innovation and engineering as it does into DEI the stock value would double

It is interesting how the concept of diversity is applied. Eng/PM are made up of a majority of people from two Asian countries - neither of those count in terms of diversity goals.

We have not added one smart homegrown product in the last 7-8 years.
That is so true

This isn't true.

We shut down barely working internal homegrown services and replace them with inferior homegrown services all the time.

Oh, sorry. I missed 'smart'. I rescind the comments.

We have not added one smart homegrown product in the last 7-8 years.

That is so true

There is a new VP of DEI now. I’m sure she will ignite more propaganda and we will be flooded with more DEI messages.
One special thing to note - only 40% of VMware’s world wide employee population is from one country. That’s pretty diverse lol.
Anyways, for success, caliber matters more than anything.
VMware was quite diverse till 7-8 years ago before all the DEI talk started. Now it’s a becoming mono culture as the stats show.
We have not added one smart homegrown product in the last 7-8 years.
VMware has a lot of innovators before the DEI initiative.
Borathons used to have real ideas till 7-8 years ago, now, most teams just use these hackathons to do their day to day work and present it as innovation.
VMware is a classic example of how DEI focus converted a truely diverse and innovative company into just the opposite

The CMO gets up at MWC and talks about DEI and not marketing. She talks
about changing standards to get more diverse hires. DEI is an epidemic.

vmware is less diverse now than in 2005.
It's a sub-continental mono-culture now.
Back then it was very diverse.

The CMO gets up at MWC and talks about DEI and not marketing. She talks about changing standards to get more diverse hires. DEI is an epidemic.

I could argue diversity disconnected from common values leads to utter garbage...

"There is documented and vast academic literature that prove that diversity drives innovation and companies need it to survive:"

Oops! You made a classic error here. You made a citation that someone can follow.

Well I did follow, and guess what? Nowhere, and I mean nowhere in your list of citations is any such thing proven. In fact, here's the abstract of one of the most cited studies:

/Abstract/
This study has carried out a review of the literature appearing on diversity in the last 50 years. Research findings from this period reveal it is impossible to assume there is a pure and simple relationship between diversity and performance without considering a series of variables that affect this relationship. [emphasis mine]

The myth that diversity somehow empowers profit is just that- a myth. Your own citations prove it!

drives innovation and companies need it to survive

Hahaha, if our future PE overlords have made anything apparent, all companies need to survive is ruthlessness and to treat all people like sh-t.

There is documented and vast academic literature that prove that diversity drives innovation and companies need it to survive: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=studies+diversity+driving+innovation&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart.

The problems is that the usual suspects whine they don't have the privilege of less competition of the past when they were hired simply by being male and by the colour of their skin.

Now,if we have a different kind of diversity like the OP posts, then they whine as well. Cry me a river.

OP is spot-on.

People of One Color and People from One Country - for sure!

Absolutely shocking. And terrible for the effectiveness of the company.

In so many areas of life, it is concentration that produces progress. Not diversification. Diversification is usually a strategy that produces safety and security, not growth or multiplication. Imagine the sheet storm that would occur if a scientific study came out showing that businesses who bypassed DEI'ness were significantly more successful.