[RJB55]

imo they are out of time for lean and mean; maybe a year or so ago but now they're in survival mode I believe. They have to stop the bleeding by slashing expenses (heads are the the biggest expense they have, this is true of most any size company, and therefore cutting heads delivers the quickest and biggest savings) and focus on a new marketing plan for their products and immediately execute it. The technology stuff of course has to be solid or it's all for naught imo. I really love my BB and I very much hope RIM survives and flourishes and BB10 exceeds expecations in every way.

[h20work]

imo they are out of time for lean and mean; maybe a year or so ago but now they're in survival mode I believe. They have to stop the bleeding by slashing expenses (heads are the the biggest expense they have, this is true of most any size company, and therefore cutting heads delivers the quickest and biggest savings) and focus on a new marketing plan for their products and immediately execute it. The technology stuff of course has to be solid or it's all for naught imo. I really love my BB and I very much hope RIM survives and flourishes and BB10 exceeds expecations in every way.

I agree 100% with what you said including loving my bb and hoping they pull a hail Mary and survive. The people they cut weren't the big salary/department heads, they were the grunts in the field. These were the people who were pushing bb to the carriers, governments, and companies around the world. These are usually the next to the last people to be let go, right before hr and accounting. Oh and the janitorial staff who have to clean up and switch off the lights.

[Bla1ze]

Why does he need to get in front of this?

The number over all is irrelevant they are hiring and firing at the moment, at the earnings summery we will see how many total employees give or take are on board and can do the math as to the number of layoffs

But if RIM lets go 4000 people and hires 2000. The focus will be on 4000 loss, not the net 2000 loss.

Yup, and they are indeed hiring. As sad as it is for those on their way out, they're old school RIM and some just don't fit any more. Hopefully there isn't too many in-betweeners in the mix.

[ptpete]

How come you don't know the company is called RIM not RIMM. RIMM is the NASDAQ ticker name for RIM.

Because my point is that this is a stock price issue. The CEO needs to give clarity on what he's going to cut because it indicates what he expects the size of the future company to be. No dribble like today. It hurts the stock.

[vray8181]

Any more news about those that are going through the RIM layoffs?

[ptpete]

Don't get me wrong... I'm picking up shares on weakness, but 2000 rumored layoffs at 10 rumored a week = 200 weeks = 4 years = Media hype heaven =Chinese water torture = Heins needs to clarify.

[rickbansal]

Don't get me wrong... I'm picking up shares on weakness, but 2000 rumored layoffs at 10 rumored a week = 200 weeks = 4 years = Media hype heaven =Chinese water torture = Heins needs to clarify.

Totally agreed. I don't like to see anyone lose their jobs but doing it in this fashion is completely stupid and is even far worse for morale. It's really hard to understand RIM management. Why is that RIM cannot even downsize in a decisive and efficient manner?

[PineappleUnderTheSea]

At places where I have worked, every downsize typically spared sales and marketing (except for one time where they decided to become full commodity and simply fired every single marketing person). The reason is that it takes nearly a year for new people to learn the products, re-establish contacts with customers, especially if the new people are right out of college (and typically they are, since you can pay them less).

So not sure what RIM is doing if they are laying off sales/marketing staff, the one to fire would be the guy/gal on top, not the lemmings who do their bidding.

[hpjrt]

At places where I have worked, every downsize typically spared sales and marketing (except for one time where they decided to become full commodity and simply fired every single marketing person). The reason is that it takes nearly a year for new people to learn the products, re-establish contacts with customers, especially if the new people are right out of college (and typically they are, since you can pay them less).

So not sure what RIM is doing if they are laying off sales/marketing staff, the one to fire would be the guy/gal on top, not the lemmings who do their bidding.

Correct me if I'm wrong here ... but the former head of marketing left RIM some time ago ... and the new head of marketing just began work this month.

[kbz1960]

I'd say the sales and marketing people are bad. What have they done that inspires anything? Have you seen many blackberry ads?

[h20work]

At places where I have worked, every downsize typically spared sales and marketing (except for one time where they decided to become full commodity and simply fired every single marketing person). The reason is that it takes nearly a year for new people to learn the products, re-establish contacts with customers, especially if the new people are right out of college (and typically they are, since you can pay them less).

So not sure what RIM is doing if they are laying off sales/marketing staff, the one to fire would be the guy/gal on top, not the lemmings who do their bidding.

My point exactly! I wont get into specifics, but the "lemmings" were doing very well and exceeding goals. Switching up marketing teams is one thing, but cutting outside sales reps before the launch of the product RIM is betting their future on is another....

[lnichols]

Something drastic needs to be done with anyone involved with Sales and/or Carrier Relations in the US. Here the sales reps in carrier stores don't push Blackberry at all, if people want a Blackberry they tell everything they can to try to get them to go with Android or iPhone. Does RIM have people that visit the carrier stores, and if so WTF do they do other than apparently pissing off the carrier's sales people.

[ptpete]

They re rigged the Developer Relations team and they've done their job well so far whipping up interest in BB10. This is no small feat and immensely important. We'll have to see if this bears fruit. (Blackberry goodness!)

They need to do the same across the whole company. Be clear and be decisive.

Heins good so far.

[Thunderbuck]

My point exactly! I wont get into specifics, but the "lemmings" were doing very well and exceeding goals. Switching up marketing teams is one thing, but cutting outside sales reps before the launch of the product RIM is betting their future on is another....

The reality is that sales in the US are down considerably, so presumably there is less demand for Sales/Marketing staff there.

Otherwise, if we're talking about staff that have been consistently meeting/beating targets, then it makes little sense for the company to let them go, agreed, but there may also be larger considerations about value-for-dollar; a new Sales/Management structure that can produce comparable results with, say 30% less staff is kind of a no-brainer.

RIM simply cannot afford to keep everyone it has on its payroll right now, and Sales/Marketing has been seen as a significant weakness.

[moretreelessbush]

this is a painful but necessary, RIM needs to move ppl to where there is still growth.

[h20work]

The reality is that sales in the US are down considerably, so presumably there is less demand for Sales/Marketing staff there.

Otherwise, if we're talking about staff that have been consistently meeting/beating targets, then it makes little sense for the company to let them go, agreed, but there may also be larger considerations about value-for-dollar; a new Sales/Management structure that can produce comparable results with, say 30% less staff is kind of a no-brainer.

RIM simply cannot afford to keep everyone it has on its payroll right now, and Sales/Marketing has been seen as a significant weakness.

It's a page or two back, but the people I was talking about were dealing with emerging markets and not the US. The critical ones that RIM has been banking on to make up for list market share in the US.

[gorang]

No rumors guys, my bro got a lay off on Monday but he is still supporting RIM all the way, he is young and without much debt so it's not that big of a loss, more of an opportunity to get more education. On the other side there was quite a few people that are much older and will have harder time finding new job while still having to pay big bills.
Bro still supports RIM and is sad to leave, his status says it all
We are both impatiently waiting for BB10.
Hope RIM comes out with a bang and flips the game upside down.

[needforbbx]

A story looking into the activity @ QNX central vs. Waterloo:

OTTAWA — The capital appears to have escaped the latest round of jobs cuts at Research In Motion Ltd.

While the Waterloo, Ont.-based company wouldn’t spell out exactly where cuts will be made, a spokeswoman confirmed that RIM plans to move ahead with its construction plans for a new 172,750-square-foot building at 5050 Innovation Dr. in Kanata. The building is in addition to a recently completed facility at 4000 Innovation Dr. The company owns more than 16 acres of land in the area.

It also recently moved its QNX Software Systems Inc. subsidiary into nearby 1001 Farrar Rd., a 150,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by Dell Inc.

RIM wouldn’t comment on the number of employees it has in Ottawa, but recent estimates put the number as high as 1,600. As well, it appears to be continuing to hire in the capital. RIM had 32 Ottawa job openings on its website Wednesday, while QNX listed another 33.

Ottawa is crucial to the BlackBerry 10 phones and software that are to be released later this year and that many believe will make or break the company.

“Ottawa is, I would say, really the epicentre of BlackBerry 10 development,” RIM’s new chief executive Thorsten Heins said In an exclusive interview with the Citizen in January.

Heins also called Ottawa “one of the key development centres for RIM” and said it will be at the centre of future product development, supplanting the company’s traditional base in Waterloo.

Read more: Ottawa appears spared in RIM job cuts

[shlammed]

Waterloo talent only goes so far. The whole reason they expanded the campus in Mississauga was to hire talent that didn't want to live or work in Waterloo.

[Sucroid]

Waterloo talent only goes so far. The whole reason they expanded the campus in Mississauga was to hire talent that didn't want to live or work in Waterloo.

Ottawa is closer to government agencies and high tech firms (and those in Montreal as well). It makes sense to expand operations in Ottawa.

[ptpete]

Give me a number!

Published rumors are between 2000 to 6000. That's a huge range. Heins needs to get in front of this before earnings this week.

Clarity is good. In this case a big number is better. I like this news.

BB7 is legacy - recognize and cut accordingly. They confirmed they know this and are acting.