RE: Midrange Computing Closed

The problem is how long it takes for the market to react.  A free market is
free only in the infinite sense: there are discontinuities and imperfections
everywhere, like insider trading, savings & loan fraud, and business
partners abusing the system...and there are laws for two of the three
offenses.  In the long run, the market will reject companies not providing
value to the four groups you've mentioned (and I agree with the order in
which you've presented the significant parties).  But a lot of innocent
people can get hurt while the free market is evaluating its participants.

When I call a PC software vendor with a problem, I can't begin you count the
number of times I've heard, "If Microsoft would tell us how this stuff
worked..."  Here's an example of manipulating the priorities: heavily
compensate the MS business-partner-arrangement guy, heavily compensate Steve
Ballmer (man...let's get this dude working on the iSeries.  Is that a dream
or what?), and heavily compensate everybody else.  Customers?  Give 'em
fluff and vaporware.  Business partners?  Who cares?  Manipulate the market?
Why not?  Our technology is mediocre.  So how long will it take for the free
market to reach equilibrium with this outfit?  Stockholders?  They're greedy
(like me, an MS stockholder).

I'll assume we all agree the IIR stopped providing value to its employees in
a user-unfriendly manner.

Yes, there are plenty of businesses with socially acceptable goals.  Look at
one of my favorites: Southwest Airlines (no connection to or with, direct or
indirect).  They do a great job, and they support their employees' and
passengers' communities.  But don't try to take your
assistance-dog-in-training on a Southwest flight: you're screwed without a
kiss.  This is a very minor bump in the road to most people but it's a thorn
in my side.  Otherwise, their actions and attitudes have been great and they
deserve their success.

Now, let's see...do your sale people provide expensive lunches at seminars
for nurses?  Nurses don't have the knowledge (in many cases) or authority
(in most all cases) to write prescriptions.  So why take them to lunch?  Do
your sales people provide expense-paid trips for doctors to attend half-day
seminars (all the IRS requires, by the way) at exotic locations on your
Company's products?  Does this marketing activity increase the cost of your
products to your customers?

I don't know all the answers; I don't even know most of the questions...

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com [mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On
Behalf Of Marshall Akins
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 12:14 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: RE: Midrange Computing Closed


Oh give me a break.   This is off topic and out of hand.   Aren't we
supposed to be a little bit smarter than to make generalizations about
every corporation?

If a company does not provide value to its customers, employees, suppliers
and stockholders then it will cease to exist.

At www.tredegar.com I find that Tredegar Corporation is a profitable
developer of technology for drug delivery and other medical applications.
Thanks, those products may save my life or the life of  someone in my
family.    In return, you will be compensated for your time and effort and
will continue to make products that improve our lives.

For more information on capitalism read Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand.





                    jpcarr@tredegar.com
                    Sent by:                   To:
MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
                    midrange-l-owner@MI        cc:
                    DRANGE.COM                 Subject:     RE: Midrange
Computing Closed


                    07/30/2001 07:54 AM
                    Please respond to
                    MIDRANGE-L







>>  Al Barsa said:
>> All of the employees were terminated yesterday, and they're all
>> looking for jobs now.  They got no severance, or anything.

>Is that legal in the States?  It wouldn't be here (UK) -- at least for
>employees who had  two years+ service.   Cheers,
>Martin. Martin McCallion


How quaint.     Martin,  Businesses in the US (Global business strategy
soon)  is motivated by one thing.  Greed.  Money. Profit.  If you want to
rent the movie that defines this, rent "Head Office"  (Danny devito, Rick
Maranis, Jane Seymour, etc).

Businesses no longer(if ever)  care about;

Product Value
People
or anything that doesn't contribute to the bottom line.

Personal development at companies now is equated to "What can you learn to
help us make more money?"





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