Pros
Foolproof business model Dedicated, experienced staff Great brand name -- definitive data and research, and a career boost
Cons
NIH Syndrome -- Not Invented Here --> Not Interested A lot of conservatism and resistance to change and innovation Really not very innovative in analytics at all Resistance to investing in additional training or participation in professional activities (like conferences) The decentralized model of research centers and virtual company doesn't work very well. Oh, it might reduce costs, but when people never are physically in the same location, it doesn't foster the trust necessary for collaboration. Everything is by remote connection, and often very inefficient. I never met an actual HR person, not even on my first day. There is a resulting lack of social cohesion in the working environment. The company-sponsored health program, as of 2011, was a nightmare to deal with. It cost many many hours of what should have been productive time fighting with an unnecessarily restrictive and rule-bound program.