When budgets are cut, weak leaders cut people to make up the shortfall. Strong leaders ask the people to help figure out a better solution. We are not defined in the good times. We are defined in the tough times. Leaders are no exception to this rule. They are defined in the bad times. Paal failed the test of bad times miserably.
Watch this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/t_gwRyS-anA
@Jaye: +1
Slb is becoming the IBM of the 80's. The lessons learned are not followed. It is too big and arrogant to change. Paal was instrument in the layoffs of 2008 which the company never really recovered from. The inflated oil pricing masked the issues. The company was making money. One post suggested Leadership and his failure through this downturn due to failed leadership. True. He is managing the stockholders and analysis well but not downward. There is the arrogance. There is no listening upwards. There is no empowerment of managers in the ranks. There is too many promoting of likeness and not merit. Too many good o' boys from the frat in positions who are all 'yes' people and will not challenge or present different points of view.
Paal has no direct field experience, neither does 80% of his executive staff. The majority of the managers now in top positions have no solid operational experience. The promotion criteria certainly is not based on solid qualifications for positions versus political selections.
Paal himself has not communicated downward a plan to his employees to get through the downturn.
Great leaders communicate. Good or Bad news, they communicate. Then they lead. They are the first ones out the door.
Paal, as indicated in an earlier post, was the first one to secure his financial stock arrangements.
He does not deserve $18M when tens of thousands are loosing their jobs and the company is loosing profitability. He himself should be taking a pay cut and showing initiative in this area. Perhaps then some of his employees would have some respect for him.
His actions and prolonged cuts have damaged morale more than he will ever know. Oh, that's eight, he can never know, he never worked in the field, with a crew, or had to depend upon each other to do parts of a task correctly so that the entire job completes on time and on budget! He does not understand camaraderie, staying up 50 hours on a rig, the buddy system, teamwork to make the impossible happen like working the field in Slb or being in the military. He and all managers should have gone through the field.
Perhaps then there would not be a Paal as CEO because I doubt that he would have made it through to his GFE.
This is best comment that truly reflects the attitude of Schlumberger management today, toe the line and obey the latest mantra, knowledge, skill and positive hard work count for very little recognition any more, very sad for all the good people who have worked hard for this company over many years.
Lean management is central to the policies that Schlumberger is following today and one of the reasons that they have not been able to capitalize on their successes during the good times. It's at the core of what is taught to the Key Executive trainees at Herriott-Watt in Edinburgh. The problem is that it doesn't work when applied to non-manufacturing enterprises, such as technical project management. Lean management and it's contemporary, modern HR, is what is bringing the company down. How long has it been since anyone reported to people who actually knew what the job was about? And think about this, how much of your appraisal is about how well you do your job, and how much of it is based on how well you toe the company line?
this is an industry that has always taken the easiest and quickest path to affect revenue. with so much money riding on a quick decision, why not. outside of this industry you see manufacturing companies that have really had to work hard on processes, procurement, inventory management etc, to affect their bottom line. It is THESE. companies that have embraced the techniques of 6sigma, lean and whatever the current hot technique was . these companies use SAP or MRP or whatever system they have as a tool to help them manage efficiencies in their daily operations as opposed to a system that lets them manage inventory and spit product out the door. The big behemouth service companies you and i are a part of? not so much, they cling to what they know and what helps them make a buck, too focused on making immediate gains to worry about the future. companies like these are stuck in the past, those at the top, reaping too much reward to concern themselves with improvement. Those other companies adopted techniques of efficiency to protect themselves. Not just to adopt things such lean or six sigma for appearanes or bragging rights. change?? only if the people at the top buy into change. whats the chance of that? to affect a change, your gonna HAVE to start with those at the top. and as we have seen, you can be guarandamnteed that wont happen, to guarantee the survival of the money grabbers exactly the opposite must be done.
Find other jobs folks. This horse is not gonna run much longer. Experience does not matter to big blue. Bring on the newbies and let them handle it. After all, look what a great job Sch young leader has done, he is shining example of what future holds for us all. I think I will just wait till next layoff, hope they pick me and find new job. This time I will be a lot pickier. Too all thw world watching let me say this Mamas, don!t let your babies grow up to be Schlumberger employees.
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SCH laying off people that will take all their knowledge and make other company great.People in upper management are making poor decisions and will go down with the ship, and if they come out alive, who will ever trust them to lead another company.
Supply chain is the most important key ti success. Obi wami gah
When I was a teenager many years ago I learn't a great lesson. When times are good everyone is your friend they talk to you they drink with you but when the sh-- hits the fan then you see their true colours {English}. Go figure SLB's colours they are not blue,
I agree, they want robotic followers and command executioners.
SLB does not want leaders.