A great company, at risk but no doubt worth it.
Pros
EFI is to the image of its CEO: very friendly and concerned about people. EFI has a very good work ethic. EFI is to digital printing what Microsoft is to operating systems. EFI was the early emerging leader. EFI cannot be avoided. If you want to be on the side of Goliath, join EFI. This is a dominant player that can stay for years, although it can still fall fast, from high. A new General Manager has been hired in March 2009. This person will likely make a difference. The initial perception of this GM by the base is excellent. Practically all managers are very, very good human beings.
Cons
Downsides are also at the image of EFI management. Good engineers have been named managers as the company grew, starting with the CEO himself. But engineers are not always natural communicators or managers. Creativity has been killed by this kind of management over the years. At EFI, management skills are learned by trial and error. Training, when it is allowed, is associated with technology, not with management skills. The company performance and motivation has been slowed down by too many well intentioned managers interfering because they continue with their technical work, focusing on technical solutions, driving instead of inspiring their employees (those supposed to do the actual work). Outside of management, very few feel empowered and accountable. A bureaucratic culture of meetings and process-making has flourished at the management level. Watch out for the number of processes that are asking for resources that are not available! These processes invariably end up with trimmed-down, cancelled or late projects.
