How Should You Expect to Be Managed

We have chosen a particular IT-related company offering a position whose description on their website boasting of a job scope which is precisely what we are looking for. However, we recognize that the work environment may not be one in which we would be able to adapt well and fit comfortably in. Hence, we decided to find out more from some friends who are working there, about the company's corporate culture, organizational structure and any other relevant information that could help us better understand the work environment.

XYZ Company (actual name of company kept confidential) is one of the top companies in their industry, with offices all over the world. They manufacture and sell computer hardware, software, infrastructure and consulting services for a wide variety of clientele.

The external environment is one where innovation and quick response is the way to stay ahead of competitors. As such, the reduction in time-to-market of a new product would create significant competitive advantage for the company. Groups have been proven to be pivotal in the process of coming up with new innovations and the synergies between team members enables the team to adapt quickly to market changes. Hence it can be expected that the company would place great emphasis on team work on the organizational level.

The importance the company places on team work is further reinforced by their matrix organizational structure. We are expected to work in groups, with people whom the upper management believes we can work best with, due to the compatibility of skills or personality or both. The manager does not dictate, lead or specify the team's actions, but rather, be the team's facilitator, with the team working together to accomplish the tasks set. In part, we would